Ash is a unique facilitator: they combine careers in education, research, and NHS clinical practice with life as a trans non-binary person in the UK. This means they can interweave the most up-to-date and highest quality research evidence with real lived experiences, providing accessible and impactful learning with achievable “Next Steps” for service improvement. In 2022, Ash was a finalist for the Mary Seacole Award for Outstanding Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion.
Ash’s facilitation experience ranges from teaching non-English-speaking secondary-school pupils with distinct learning needs to supervising and lecturing final-year undergraduates at the University of Cambridge. They hold a PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status following graduation from Teach First’s Leadership Development Programme. Ash understands how to meet people exactly where they are on their learning journey, and how to make this learning relevant. They also specialise in sensitive communication to establish good working relationships, particularly where trust in institutions has been lost.
Professional Experience, Highlights and Distinctions:
- Organisations Ash has supported with LGBTQ+ and gender inclusion include White Ribbon Alliance UK, a people-led movement that asks, listens, and acts to advance sexual and reproductive health and gender equality, and safer pregnancy charity MAMA Academy.
- Ash proudly transforms experience and evidence into practice via in-person discussion and resource creation.
- They are the author of textbook chapter ‘Pregnancy loss’ in Pride in Birth: a guide to providing LGBTQ+ inclusive reproductive healthcare (forthcoming with Routledge)
- Panel chair on ‘Trans Healthcare’ at the Feminist Gender Equality Network conference (2022)
- Presenter of ‘Born in Pride: supporting LGBTQ+ families this month and beyond’ at The Intersectional Midwife conference, King’s College London (2023).
- Ash created a gender inclusive language guide and crib sheet that was circulated nationally to all Maternity and Neonatal Voice Partnerships in the UK, and regularly contributes to Local Trust and LMNS training and policy.