Leigh Dilks

Cairney Associate

Leigh brings over 25 years’ experience in the charitable, education and cultural sectors and is currently Director of Business Development at The Scotland College of Chiropractic Charitable Trust working with the Board of Trustees to bring a developing new Higher Education Institution to Scotland. Prior to this she was a Senior Consultant at Cairney & Company, and Head of Alumni & External Relations at Edinburgh Napier University.  Throughout her career Leigh has led in the areas of membership development, corporate events, alumni and supporter relations, and community engagement, where she has developed, implemented and delivered strategies in the UK and internationally.

Leigh has a great ability to collaborate effectively and an innate understanding of the benefits of an integrated approach in all areas of advancement. Leigh has extensive global experience in alumni and fundraising, and has over 20 years’ experience in delivering a wide range of high-level events, from exhibition openings, Chancellor’s inaugurations, philanthropic campaign launches, to highly anticipated public events and bespoke donor events.

Leigh’s experience in working with and developing integrated teams across alumni, fundraising and supporter engagement means that she understands the resources and processes required to demonstrate impact and success. Leigh has worked directly with Vice-Chancellors, University Chancellors, senior academics, leadership teams and international boards. 

She is an accomplished strategist and writer and has great skill, tact and diplomacy when working with high net worth individuals, alumni, volunteers, clients and senior leadership teams.

Leigh studied with the Cambridge Marketing College to complete her CIM qualification in 2014, and graduated in 2017 with an MSc (with Distinction) in Management. She is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and is an Advisory Board Member for community interest company Rock2Recovery.

 What inspires Leigh to think big?

“We've got a responsibility to live up to the legacy of those who came before us by doing all that we can to help those who come after us.”

– Michelle Obama