Minister for Schools and Skills
Maureen Watt was born in Aberdeen and is from a farming background. She studied both at the University of Strathclyde (Honours degree in Politics) and at the University of Birmingham (PGCE Post Graduate Certificate in Education degree).
She was a secondary school teacher in Social Studies in England and moved back to Scotland to work in the oil sector.
She entered the Scottish Parliament in April 2006 and was the first MSP to take the oath in Doric as well as English.
Ms Watt is the MSP for North East Scotland. She is married, with two children and lives with her family near Banchory.