Marie’s involvement with the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland (GOLS) began through her support in June 2026 for Paisley LOL District No.6 as it marked its 150th anniversary. Following a decision by Renfrewshire Council not to provide civic hospitality towards the anniversary celebrations, Marie stepped forward and made a personal donation, recognising the significance of the milestone and the district’s longstanding charity and community work across the town.

This led to Marie engaging further with GOLS and its work across charity, faith and communities. Through her dedicated Special Projects arm, Marie is currently supporting the Executive Team as it embarks on a strategic modernisation review, considering its future direction and how it engages with members and the wider communities it serves.

This subsequently developed into a wider programme of engagement and the creation of the inaugural Shared Heritage, Shared Future Summit, held in Edinburgh on 17th September 2026, where Marie was invited to Chair.

The Summit brought together representatives from the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from Northern Ireland. The gathering created a forum to explore the historic connections between Scotland and Northern Ireland, alongside current economic challenges and opportunities for closer cooperation.

Having previously lived and worked in Belfast, Marie brought her own understanding of the relationship between both parts of the United Kingdom to her role as Chair, alongside an independent business and civic perspective.

The inaugural Summit generated media and political interest across Scotland and Northern Ireland, helping to raise the profile of the discussions and the relationships being developed through the project.

For Marie, this work reflects the purpose of Special Projects: identifying opportunities and bringing people together to create the conditions for ideas and relationships to move forward.

Work on the project continues, with further developments and updates to be shared as the next phase of activity progresses.

Read Marie’s Statement and PR on the Summit