MAIN TENT SPEAKERS

  • Neelam Heera; Tedx Speaker, founded Cysters after facing her own battles around getting her diagnosis and care for PCOS, Endometriosis and PMDD. She saw firsthand the disparities in healthcare for people of colour and other marginalized groups, thus Cysters was born.

  • Black Women Rising Lived Experience Ambassador Breast Cancer. Helena Boyce is a mother of two, a dance teacher, anti rasicm and racial literacy educator. She has experienced breast cancer three times 2014, 2017 and 2023, during which she has had a mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, exercision biopsy and other breast surgeries. Through all her experiences, Helena has a real passion and determination to change the narrative surrounding breast cancer in the black community

  • Sarah Graham is an award winning freelance health journalist and the author of Rebel Bodies: A guide to the gender health gap revolution. She specialises in health, gender and feminism, and has written extensively on these subjects for the I newspaper, Refinery29, the Telegraph, Grazia, Guardian, the BMJ and many others.

    X:@SarahGraham7 / Instagram & Facebook:@SarahGraham7Writer. Website: Sarahgraham.co.uk / hystericalwomen.co.uk

  • Dr Georgina Forbes is a Specialist Doctor in Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare working in Aneurin Bevan University Healthboard, South Wales. She is the Chair of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Committee for Wales. She lectures locally and nationally about contraception and sexual infections.

  • As a health psychologist, Dr Sula Windgassen specialises in incorporating the mind-body connection in her therapeutic practice, using CBT, mindfulness and EMDR to provide pragmatic and nurturing support.

    She is a visiting lecturer at King's College London, University College London and the University of East Anglia, delivering training on the use of psychological approaches for chronic health conditions.

    PhD, CPsychol, MSc, PGDip, BSc .Health Psychologist, CBT Therapist and EMDR Therapist

    www.healthpsychologist.co.uk

    Instagram @the_health_psychologist_

  • Dr Lisa Das is a Consultant Gastroenterologist at One Welbeck and an expert in endoscopy, bowel cancer screening and general gastroenterology. She is the author of 'Managing IBS' a book in the Penguin 'Life Experts' series. She has contributed to TV’s ‘Dr Christian Will See You Now’ and has been featured in Cosmopolitan, and the Liz Earle podcast on Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Formerly an NHS Consultant at the Royal London Hospital, she trained at Guy’s Hospital London before completing her medical residency in Boston, USA.

  • Diane Danzebrink is a personal and corporate consultant, speaker, and educator, passionate about menopause and mental health. She is the founder of the purpose over profit organisation Menopause Support menopausesupport.co.uk and has led the call for better menopause care and support in the U.K. with her national #MakeMenopauseMatter campaign.

  • Christine Webber; news presenter at Anglia TV and agony aunt before training as a psychotherapist and then setting up a practice in Harley Street with her late husband, psychosexual specialist, Dr David Delvin. She appeared regularly as an expert on mental health and relationships on BBC Breakfast, The Good Sex Guide…Late and various other programmes, and wrote 8 self-help books. Since 2016, she has penned 4 novels exploring the transitions and turmoil, as well as all the possibilities, of mid-life. Now 76, she is ageing as positively as she can.

  • Dr Liz O’Riordan she was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer whilst working as a consultant breast surgeon in 2015 aged just 40. Her first book, ‘The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer: How to Feel Empowered and Take Control’, was her way of helping women when a local recurrence forced her to retire. Her best-selling memoir, ‘Under The Knife’, shares her experiences of life as a female surgeon before becoming a patient herself. She’s of the top 100 Female Key Opinion Leaders in Oncology to follow on social media and continues to help patient with her podcast and YouTube channel.

    Speaker, Author and Storyteller - liz.oriordan.co.uk / Podcast Host – So Now I've Got Breast Cancer / YouTube @DrLizORiordan / Instagram @oriordanliz / Twitter @Liz_ORiordan

  • Kathryn Pinkham is the founder of The Insomnia Clinic, a leading specialist insomnia service in the United Kingdom. Drawing on over 15 years of experience, Kathryn has dedicated her career to helping individuals overcome the challenges of poor sleep and attain a better quality of life. Beginning her professional journey in the NHS Her commitment to improving sleep led her to develop the Sleep Well Live Better Course, a widely acclaimed programme that has positively impacted the lives of over 4000 individuals.

  • A sparkly, raucous celebration of every-bodies.. body! 

    Introducing Cardiff Cabaret Club with their unique blend of satire, wit and plenty of sass! Hosted by FooFooLaBelle, who for 15 years has helped the people of Cardiff love their bodies – this show boasts some of best of local cabaret stars. You’ll be delighted with the mix of strip-tease, humour, live music and dance talent that’ll leave you whooping, cheering and grinning ear to ear.  The line-up includes funny and feminine acts from Lunar Ladybell and FooFoo LaBelle,  sultry stylings from Gigi LaClare, binary breaking boylesque from Sir Dezperado and a saxophone striptease from Goldie Luxe.

    FooFooLaBelle/Stephanie Gawne founded Cardiff Cabaret Club in 2007: a unique and inclusive community of friendship, insight & understanding which empowers and nurtures self development, creativity and positive body image. Creating shows and classes where performers of all ages and experiences are welcome. FooFoo has unleashed the inner show girl in 100’s of Welsh performers!

  • James Kinross is a Reader in Surgery and Consultant Surgeon at Imperial College London. His clinical interest is in robotic surgery for colorectal cancer, and he holds a PhD on the gut microbiome. He is a visiting Professor at the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. James’s first scientific love is the gut microbiome, and he studies how the microbiome causes chronic diseases such as cancer. James’s has published extensively and regularly presents his work internationally. His first book Dark Matter: The new science of the microbiome was published in 2023.

  • Molly Fenton is a 21-year-old multi-award-winning activist who runs an international platform for breaking down stigmas and starting vital conversations about young women’s topics that are often overlooked. Molly lives with an inoperable brain tumour and multiple chronic health conditions and documents her journey of learning to truly live and thrive, instead of just survive. 

  • Karen Hobbs is the number one fan of her vagina and became the nation’s (self-appointed) cervical cancer sweetheart after she was diagnosed with the disease at 24. She performs stand-up comedy about the whole debacle and gave birth to her debut solo theatre show 'Tumour Has It' in 2016.

    Spreading the message about gynaecological health as widely as possible and hopefully with humour. Karen works with The Eve Appeal charity.

    Leicester Square New Comedian of the Year 2021 Finalist, One of Glamour's 7 Funniest Women at the Fringe 2019 and Funny Women’s 2020 ‘One to Watch’.

    @karen_hobbs on Instagram / X @karenhobbscomedy on TikTok

  • After publishing award-winning research on vaginas, vulvas and wellbeing- Emilie had a creative calling...and has been on the cutting edge of feminist poetry ever since! Her words have been seen on the back of London cab seats, featured on the Sky Arts' BAFTA-winning show ‘Life and Rhymes’ and heard in many weird and wonderful spaces across the UK. She couldn't be more excited to be part of The Everywoman Festival and is ready to titillate, move and excite you with her shame-free spoken word.

    PERFORMANCE NAME: My Hairy Vulva and Me

    PHOTO CHOICES: https://we.tl/t-I05EmJe8kb

EDUCATION TENT SPEAKERS

  • Menstrual Health Project is a UK charity founded in 2022 by 2 endometriosis sufferers (Anna and Gabz). With the aim to give practical support to those suffering with menstrual health concerns and conditions. Their mission is to provide educational tools and resources to help people navigate more comfortably through whatever stage in life.

    @menstrualhealthproject / www.menstrualhealthproject.org.uk

  • Tilly Fenton is a Cardiff school pupil and young carer who advocates in the girls rights space through lived experience. She is a leader at the Love Your Period Campaign, leading school pupil voice on schemes such as Period Proud Wales and the English Period Products Scheme. She’s had Prime Ministers Recognition for her volunteering and the project has recently been awarded UNICEF UK X Child Friendly Cardiff’s Social Action Project of the Year 2023.

  • Becci Smart @disorderedbrain_ is a member oI the nternational Association For Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD). IAPMD was founded in 2013 as the National Association for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (NAPMDD) by Amanda LaFleur and Sandi MacDonald. What began as a collective of fellow sufferers has grown into a comprehensive lifeline of support, information, and resources for anyone impacted by the core premenstrual disorders: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and Premenstrual Exacerbation of underlying disorders. In 2018, we became the International Association for Premenstrual Disorders to broaden our focus to the global premenstrual disorder community.

    iapmd.org @iapmdglobal

  • Dr. Aziza Sesay is an NHS General Practitioner, GP educator, Honorary Senior Clinical lecturer, host, speaker and health content creator. She has a strong passion for health education, awareness, advocacy and empowerment. She channels this through her platform 'Talks with Dr. Sesay' where she shares short informative videos, infographics, live discussions and tips on a variety of topics with a particular emphasis on women’s and gynaecological health, cancer awareness, mental health and health inequity. She has hosted and presented as keynote speaker for women’s health events and has been featured in multiple podcasts and radio and television interviews as well as written and contributed to health articles to spread awareness.

  • Suzanne Vernazza is a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist and Founding Director of Know Your Floors - a not-for-profit company aiming to improve awareness and education in pelvic health. She has over 20 years experience of working in the NHS and privately, and has worked solely as a specialist pelvic health physiotherapist for the last 8 years.   Through her work in Know Your Floors She has created the #squeezealong on social media which now has a following of over 630K people on TikTok. Suzanne hopes to dispel myths, get people talking about pelvic health, promote prevention and encourage people to access support for any symptoms they develop. 

     

  • Tanya Simon-Hall, founder of The Adeno Gang is a zealous women's health campaigner. She is a passionate advocate for Adenomyosis, a menstrual health educator, and speaker. Tanya is dedicated to educating young people about menstrual health & raising awareness of Adenomyosis. She is driven to end the stigma surrounding periods.

  • Originally a graduate nurse, Kirsty has since completed, a diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, and is trained in CBTi. She recently completed a MRes in Research Methods in Psychology, at Goldsmiths where she conducted her own research into the factors that affect sleep in early adolescence. Kirsty is interested in the promotion of health and wellbeing, and in particular the role that sleep plays in creating a healthy mind and body. Alongside her private practice, Kirsty works closely with a number of professional partners and enjoys delivering training.

  • Dr Golnoush Golshirazi is a Cambridge graduate, scientist and entrepreneur who advocates for women’s equality within the healthcare system. After struggling for many years with undiagnosed Endometriosis and upon completing her PhD; Dr Golshirazi went on to establish ScreenMe, where she has used her expertise, experience and passion to revolutionise women’s general, vaginal and reproductive health. @screenme.co.uk

  • Gillian McCabe is a specialist pelvic health physiotherapist, co-owner of Gillian McCabe Physio Ltd & Station House Health & Wellbeing. She has a degree in Physiotherapy from the University of the West of England, Bristol (2004) and a Masters level qualifications in pelvic health physiotherapy from the University of Bradford (2015). She is passionate about helping women achieve their pelvic health goals and loves seeing women grow in confidence and become more active and lead healthier lifestyles.

  • Drawing upon her 20 years experience as a qualified teacher, qualified SENDCo, headteacher and post-graduate study of psychology Elizabeth works as a teacher, coach and education consultant to find or create learning and working environments that empower neurodiverse people to thrive. Neurodiversity includes, but is not limited to, ADHD, autism and dyslexia.

    Her professional expertise is combined with her personal experience as a parent of a child with complex needs and her lived experience as an adult with ADHD

  • Amy Stuart-Torrie is a youth worker who for the past 10 years has been specialising in supporting young people around relationships and sexual health through her role in YMCA Cardiff Healthy Relationship Service. In addition to this she works delivers Relationship and Sexuality Education lessons in schools with her company ISH education.

  • to be completed

  • Workshop for parents, raising awareness of sexual health and young people. The YMCA Healthy Relationship team will cover information such as contraception, STI’s, consent and sex and the law. Exploring engagement tools and conversation starters to empower parents and carers to have open conversations around sensitive topics

CANCER & SURVIVORSHIP
TENT SPEAKERS

  • Trish Duncan is a Consultant Liver Surgeon in Cardiff. She is the surgical lead for Prehabilitation and ERAS. She is passionate about patient outcomes in cancer surgery and the positive effects of prehabilitation for patients.

  • Nazanin Derakhshan is a Professor of Experimental Psychopathology at the University of Reading, and Founder and Director of the award winning Centre for Building Resilience in Breast Cancer (BRiC). Naz’s pioneering research has focused on discovering the neurocognitive and social mechanisms underlying anxiety and depression and has developed new interventions to promote resilience in women affected by breast cancer. Naz has held prestigious fellowships and won multiple awards for her research and teaching. She was voted a key transformational figure in 'Birkbeck Inspires, 200th anniversary', for transforming the lives of thousands of people through the research she conducts at BRiC.

  • Lorraine Grover is a Psychosexual Nurse Specialist with an interest in how a cancer diagnosis and treatment impacts sexual identity and sexual relationships. For over 25 years Lorraine has been a passionate driver in helping to improve the way sexuality and sexual function is managed within healthcare. Sexual difficulties can have both psychological and organic causes and she is able to consider both aspects of management.

  • Dr Liz O’Riordan she was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer whilst working as a consultant breast surgeon in 2015 aged just 40. Her first book, ‘The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer: How to Feel Empowered and Take Control’, was her way of helping women when a local recurrence forced her to retire. Her best-selling memoir, ‘Under The Knife’, shares her experiences of life as a female surgeon before becoming a patient herself. She’s of the top 100 Female Key Opinion Leaders in Oncology to follow on social media and continues to help patient with her podcast and YouTube channel.

  • Dr Anisha Patel is a GP, specializing in women's health, menopause and cancer. Anisha received the bombshell diagnosis of bowel cancer at the age of 39. Since then, her energy has been focused on raising awareness of bowel cancer while sharing her own story, from diagnosis through life after cancer, initially through @doctorsgetcancertoo. Today, she is an author, speaker, campaigner, and health content creator/educator. Her debut book, Everything You Hoped You'd Never Need to Know About Bowel Cancer, was an Amazon bestseller. Anisha appears regularly as an onscreen TV doctor on ITV’s Lorraine, as well as BBC, ITV news, and Talk TV. She has also be featured in podcasts, magazines, and print media, breaking health taboos and talking all things health, women’s health, and cancer.

  • Dr Michelle Olver is a Consultant in Sexual and Reproductive Health working in Newport, South Wales. She is the lead for the menopause service within Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. She is an accredited menopause specialist and trainer for the British Menopause Society and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health. She holds the Advanced Certificate for menopause care issued by the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health.  

  • tbc

  • Zoe Barber is a consultant Breast Surgeon in Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. She was awarded the Phebe Todd scholarship to study medicine at the University of Oxford. She undertook her surgical training with a specialist interest in oncoplastic breast surgery in Oxford, the South West of England and Wales before taking up her consultant post in . In 2019, she was awarded the ASGBI (Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland) Gold Medal for the best performance in the FRCS (Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons) examination, a prestigious national award.

LIVING WITH…
TENT SPEAKERS

  • We are the UK’s leading charity for all those affected by endometriosis, determined to ensure that everyone gets prompt diagnosis and the best treatment and support. We work to break down barriers to access - whether information, treatment or support - wherever endometriosis impacts on lives. We are a powerful voice for those with endometriosis, driving up care standards across the UK. We lead collaboratively across our community, acting to inform, empower and advocate for all those affected by the disease. The endometriosis community is at the heart of all we do, and we strive to support and represent all experiences. We fight to make change happen for everyone with endometriosis, to end chronic menstrual related pain being brushed off as normal and raise awareness of endometriosis with the wider public.

  • Emily Elgar - @thewomankindphysio -Emily is a Pelvic Health specialist Physiotherapist, with a specialist interest in pelvic pain conditions including Endometriosis. She is the clinical lead of WomanKind Health at @kbellphysiowellness - an award-winning physio and wellness clinic - in Sheffield. Her team provides pelvic health wellness that supports and empowers people in their pelvic health journey. Working in physiotherapy for over 15 years, she has seen how conditions like pelvic pain and incontinence can hugely impact women’s lives.

  • Victoria Hardy, author of My Menopause, My Journal, My Rules, keynote speaker and women's health content creator, founded  @ginge_unhinged on Instagram to bring a more inclusive lens to the women’s health conversation. 

    Mixing relatability, empathy, and a whole host of empowerment, Victoria is spit your tea out funny in tackling taboo topics. Whether sharing her own premature surgical menopause, endometriosis, and mental health experience, @gingeunhinged on TikTok, or bringing her creative vibe to workshops, retreats, or corporates through Gingeunhinged.com, her moto is, ‘Disrupt the norm, humanise the mess and find your fierce!’ This is how we change up the conversation.

  • Laura Teare Jones is a fierce women’s health advocate and hormone & mindset coach, living with PMDD, and based in North Wales. She runs the My Hormones My Health podcast and is a champion for women in business with the Get **it Done Club.

    tearejonescoaching.co.uk / @lauratearejones

  • Melissa Wright (MSc, PhD) is a Research associate at Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC)

    Her research focuses on vascular health and functioning across the brain and eye and how this interacts with hormonal profile. In particular, she is interested in woman's health and under-researched groups. Her current projects focus on understanding how the fluctuations of hormones across a menstrual cycle influence vascular health, and how vascular functioning is impacted in conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

      

    Twitter: @MEW_Neuro

    My pronouns are she/her

  • Diane Danzebrink is a personal and corporate consultant, speaker, and educator, passionate about menopause and mental health. She is the founder of the purpose over profit organisation Menopause Support menopausesupport.co.uk and has led the call for better menopause care and support in the U.K. with her national #MakeMenopauseMatter campaign.

  • Tanya Simon-Hall, founder of The Adeno Gang is a zealous women's health campaigner. She is a passionate advocate for Adenomyosis, a menstrual health educator, and speaker. Tanya is dedicated to educating young people about menstrual health & raising awareness of Adenomyosis. She is driven to end the stigma surrounding periods.

  • Jen Moore is an endometriosis and adenomyosis educator, campaigner, and speaker. She works with policy makers, clinicians, educational institutions, and the national media to raise awareness of these diseases and encourage action to change the landscape for current and future care. She is regularly asked to provide a patient voice to pharmaceutical companies and national organisations and is a sought-after speaker for events. Jen visits companies to explain how they can create a more supportive environment for those suffering with endometriosis and/or adenomyosis and is also the first UK endometriosis ambassador for Go Fund Me. Follow Jen on Instagram at @Jen.dometriosis or contact her through her website www.jenmoore.co.uk

  • Dr Natasha Hammond-Browning is a Senior Lecturer in Law at Cardiff University. Natasha’s research in healthcare law specialises in reproductive technologies, currently, the regulation and ethics of uterus (womb) transplants. Natasha has published on different aspects of uterus transplants including selection criteria to access clinical trials, establishing a registry for uterus transplantation, and access to uterus transplants and the workplace. Natasha is co-editor and contributor to ‘International Legal and Ethical Aspects of Uterine Transplantation’ (Edward Elgar), publication due 2024.

  • Passionate about women’s health and fertility Jodie, has worked as a fertility nurse in both the NHS and private sector since 2008. Jodie completed her post graduate qualification in Gynaecological Ultrasound in 2011 (Cardiff University) and went on to complete a masters in Advanced Fertility Practice (Edge Hill University Liverpool) in 2018.

    Jodie is a former steering committee member of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Fertility Nurse Forum where she co-authored RCN publications and guidance for fertility nurses. She has also written articles for the British Fertility Society (BFS) and the RCN.

    Jodie strives to empower women with information and supports them during their fertility journey.

    Linkedin.com/in/Jodie-parry-a05596a3

  • Monica Busse is an academic physiotherapist in Cardiff University. She is also an accredited executive coach with an interest in developing teams and leaders working in research. Her research seeks to enable people living with chronic health conditions to sustain an active lifestyle while staying connected and engaged in meaningful aspects of their lives. She co-led the Long Covid personalised self-management support co-design and evaluation project. She has also recently opened a new study which is testing a support programme for older people with joint pain and additional health conditions

  • Dr Yansie Rolston has a depth of experience and expertise in health equality development and provides technical expertise to various levels of government, business, civil society and international agencies. Yansie is the founder of https://www.youandmenopause.org/ raising awareness of diversity in menopause. She is the executive producer of 4 menopause documentary films -Our Menopause -the Black Woman; Queer & Menopausal; Migrant Women – periods and cycles in transition; and Survivors of Domestic & Sexual Violence. She is the co-editor of Black & Menopausal-intimate stories of navigating the change; and her chapter Peep Inside the Menopause Vulva features in More Than Talk. She is the executive producer of Our Grief – a documentary on the intersections of Black women’s grief, and set up and manages https://www.bayo.uk/ a platform that provides wellbeing support for Black young people.

  • Ally Hensley has written for leading publications on mental health, infertility, body positivity and has become a regular speaker on how to transform trauma into triumph. She co-founded Global MRKH and is a Board Member of UK charity MRKH Connect. Her podcast Stigma Shakers recently launched, and just one season in, Ally’s stigma focused show has reached over 90k views. Now, Stigma Shakers is recognised as not just a taboo-tackling platform, but a social movement in exposing Ally’s infectious campaign that, “the only thing normal in this world is difference”. Ally works to reduce the stigma surrounding sexual (mental) health and prompts conversations that matter.

  • Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales (FTWW) is the only patient-led charity in Wales dedicated to female health equality. They provide support, information and help to those needing to access women’s health services, empowering patients to advocate for themselves and others, raising awareness, and campaigning for better.

    Dee joined FTWW as Engagement Officer in 2021, having previously volunteered for the charity and benefitted from its peer support during her long battle to be diagnosed with endometriosis. She is also a patient representative for ME and fibromyalgia on the Women's Health Wales Coalition.

    ftww.org.uk or search FTWW Wales

  • Maureen Anderson; sister, mother, grandmother, and adult orphan. Through Parent Lab Ltd she holds spaces for struggling and confused parents assisting in solutions to find harmony and understanding. She also hold spaces for people to explore, learn and find solutions to their experiences of menopause and grief and loss. Maureens degree is in Anthropology gives her ‘permission’ to delve into often unspoken experiences which in turn facilitates knowledge, confidence, improved well-being, a sense of community and the journey to healing.

  • Dr Sanam Kia is a consultant Rheumatologist at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital & The Harley Street Clinic, London. Her specialist practice is in EDS and hypermobility, as well as complex regional pain and fibromyalgia. At RNOH she supervises a national referral service for EDS and a multidisciplinary in patient rehabilitation programme.

    She studied medicine in St Bartholomew’s’ Hospital . Her practice was shaped by training London and south Wales.

    She aims to change the narrative around women suffering from chronic pain in a service often poorly designed for their needs.

GUTHUT TENT SPEAKERS

  • Jody Parker is a consultant colorectal and emergency general surgeon at the University Hospital of Wales. As a bowels and bottom doctor she can answer your questions on common conditions. She has a specialist interest in advanced colorectal cancer. At home she lives with her husband, two children and a miniature dachshund.

  • Gillian McCabe is a specialist pelvic health physiotherapist, co-owner of Gillian McCabe Physio Ltd & Station House Health & Wellbeing. She has a degree in Physiotherapy from the University of the West of England, Bristol (2004) and a Masters level qualifications in pelvic health physiotherapy from the University of Bradford (2015). She is passionate about helping women achieve their pelvic health goals and loves seeing women grow in confidence and become more active and lead healthier lifestyles.

  • Emma Carrington is an academic consultant colorectal surgeon with a specialist practice in pelvic floor disorders, neurogastroenterology and inflammatory bowel disease.

    She works in St Marys Hospital and is a Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London.

  • Brigitte has over 25 years’ experience in the field of bowel dysfunction. Her career has progressed from working within an acute colorectal ward to becoming a CNS in Stoma Care and up until just over 5 years ago was the Lead Nurse within the Biofeedback service at St Marks Hospital, London for 14 years, where she was able to complete an MSc in GI nursing and degree module for Nurse Prescribing.

    Since 2018 she has taken up the post of clinical education and is now ‘Head of Clinical Education’ for Qufora Ltd.

  • Monica Lyons is an accomplished healthcare professional with over three decades of experience, she currently has a private practice at the London Bridge Hospital, offering Bowel Function Clinics and a Proctography Service. Qualifying as a nurse from the Sussex Downs School of nursing in 1989, she has worked as a theatre nurse in rural Africa with the British Red Cross and spent 20 years as an Aeromed Nurse reservist with the Royal Airforce serving tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Monica’s key areas of interest are constipation and the mind-gut link and its effects on gastro-intestinal disturbance which lead her to undertake a degree in Psychology in 2000.

  • Jess is a Specialist Pelvic Health Physiotherapist working in private practice and the NHS, specialising in bladder, bowel and pelvic pain. Jess is ambitious to educate and break stigmas in all aspects of women's and pelvic health, supporting and empowering those on their journey with personalised and holistic care.

  • Dr Emma Short is a consultant doctor in the NHS, specialising in gastrointestinal and soft tissue pathology. She is also a researcher at Cardiff Metropolitan University, where she is working on the classification and staging of age-related pathology. Emma studied pre-clinical medicine at Cambridge University and clinical medicine at Oxford University. Emma also has a PhD from Cardiff University in the genetics of bowel polyps and is passionate about improving gut health to improve overall health, wellbeing and happiness.

  • Nicola Reeves is a senior colorectal surgical trainee with an interest in pelvic floor surgery, working in South Wales. She has a research interest in post operative complications and their early diagnosis.

THRIVE THROUGH SPORT
TENT SPEAKERS

  • Esther Goldsmith is a Sport and Exercise physiologist as well as being a qualified Pilates instructor. One of her main lines of work is with females and how they can get the most out of themselves by being in tune with their body and their unique female physiology; particularly focusing on hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle. Esther is also a keen runner and draws on this alongside her training as a professional dancer in her Pilates classes to keep them fun, interesting and challenging.

  • Dr Katy Guy is a Consultant in Emergency Medicine with a special interest in Sports Medicine and a mum. She has been working in sport since 2014 and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports and Exercise Medicine with Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2015. Discussions with athletes around fertility, pregnancy, training during pregnancy and post-natal return to exercise has shown how little information there is available to women at this period in their life.

  • Siân Vaughan-Evans is a Physiotherapist at Sport Wales and Sport and Exercise Science graduate with over 20 years' experience working within Sport and Exercise. Siân spent 10 years working in the NHS where she developed a passion for women’s health and being a mum of 3 knows first-hand the challenges of returning to exercise post-partum and the importance of being an active mum for her physical and mental well-being. Siân has supported athletes at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and Gold Coast and is looking forward to being part of the Great Britain Paralympic Medical Team in Paris this summer.

  • Dr Natalie Brown is a research associate based at Swansea University and Sport Wales, working for the Welsh Institute of Performance Science. Her research explores the menstrual cycle and sport across all levels of performance, whether that is at the Olympics or helping someone complete daily activity. Natalie promotes a positive perception of the menstrual cycle in sport, with an important placed on having a healthy menstrual cycle and find solutions for reducing or managing symptoms which are affecting exercise participation and sport performance.

  • Gillian McCabe is a specialist pelvic health physiotherapist, co-owner of Gillian McCabe Physio Ltd & Station House Health & Wellbeing. She has a degree in Physiotherapy from the University of the West of England, Bristol (2004) and a Masters level qualifications in pelvic health physiotherapy from the University of Bradford (2015). She is passionate about helping women achieve their pelvic health goals and loves seeing women grow in confidence and become more active and lead healthier lifestyles.

  • Matt Craythorne is a father, a partner and a strength and conditioning coach based at Sport Wales, supporting female athletes to physically prepare for Olympics, Paralympics and Commonwealth Games. He is passionate about supporting young female athletes to embrace the power of their body and develop a positive relationship with physical movement. Matt has also supported female athletes to continue to train whilst pregnant and return to sport after pregnancy.

  • Jane James is a Physiotherapist at Sport Wales. She has over 30 years’ experience of working in sport, supporting Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes. She spent 11 years working in rugby with Cardiff and supported Welsh Boxing at the last two Commonwealth Games. She has been involved in promoting the awareness of the menopause in the workplace at Sport Wales, as well as taking a keen interest in the growth and maturation of female athletes.