Kirstie graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1996 and is an RCVS and European Diplomate in Equine Internal Medicine. As a passionate advocate for mental health and wellbeing she has also undertaken a PG Certificate in Counselling Skills, Mental Health First Aid Instructor training, a coaching qualification, and is a Trustee of Vetlife. Diagnosed as autistic in her 40s, Kirstie is passionate about neurodiversity awareness and received the RCVS MMI Sarah Brown mental health research grant to investigate workplace stressors of autistic veterinary surgeons. She founded Unedited Minds in 2024 to provide training in mental health and neurodiversity awareness.