Marie Valente is the Chief Social Work Officer for Stirling Council and provides professional leadership for all social work services within the council. Marie began her career as a social worker in Glasgow where she gained experience working with people affected by drug and alcohol misuse and physical and sexual abuse. She then moved to South Lanarkshire Council where she had a focus on child protection, before going on to work for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde at both Yorkhill Hospital and the new Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.