From project design to dissemination, I help organisations build trusted relationships with families and ensure lived experience shapes research, services and innovation.
As an experienced PPIE Lead and community engagement co-ordinator, I specialise in:
- building relationships and engaging with parents and community groups
- developing and facilitating parent panels and discussion groups
- planning and advising on involvement, engagement and communication strategies
- creating content, resources and dissemination information
- co-ordinating projects and involvement events
- providing ongoing engagement and guidance for parents
- research communications and dissemination
- translating research into accessible content and resources
My research roles include being PPIE Lead and community engagement co-ordinator working with a range of universities and healthcare trusts, along with providing training and support for NIHR and Newcastle Health Research Partnerships.
My current research work includes:
- SHAPES & SHAPES-Bio maternity studies: PPIE Lead
- PEPA maternity study: Co-applicant
- NECTAR paediatric dental study: PPIE Lead
- NIHR Maternity Disparities Consortium: PPIE Lead & Co-applicant
- Lived Experience Academy project: Project Manager
- NIHR Research Support Service: developing a community engagement model for maternity and family research
- Newcastle Health Research Partnership: PPIE training for researchers
- Northumbria University: PPIE training for midwives
- Organising and facilitating PPIE sessions for maternity & family researchers from a range of organisations: Birmingham University, Cambridge University, Newcastle NHS Trust, Newcastle University, Northumbria University & South Tees NHS Trust
“With a personalised conversation‑led approach, informed by my experience as an antenatal and postnatal practitioner, I focus on building connections with parents and creating opportunities for them to be involved, feel valued, and have their voices heard.”
Key Projects
SHAPES Maternity Study: PPIE Lead
Newcastle University and now the NIHR Maternity Disparities Commission
From 2018
- developed and delivered a parent involvement strategy.
- organised and facilitated parent discussion groups.
- supported researchers to embed meaningful public involvement and engagement.
- maintained regular communication with parents throughout the study.
- developed a research communications and engagement strategy.
Impact: Embedded parent involvement throughout the project, helping to shape the research design, support participant recruitment, co-produce public-facing resources and website content, and contribute to dissemination activities that raised awareness of the research and its potential impact.
Community Engagement Model: PPIE Lead & engagement co-ordinator
NIHR Research Support Service
From 2024
- developed a community engagement model for maternity and family health research.
- established relationships with local parent and community groups.
- created and managed a parent research panel to support involvement and engagement activities.
- organised and facilitated research discussion sessions between researchers and parents.
Impact: Established a sustainable community engagement model and parent research panel, providing researchers with access to PPIE support for research development, study design, and funding applications.
NECTAR: PPIE Lead
Newcastle University
From 2026
- Developed a PPIE strategy to guide involvement and engagement activities.
- Established a family panel involving parents and children.
- Organised and facilitated discussion groups.
- Developed a communications approach to keep families informed and engaged throughout the study.
Impact: Parent involvement has been embedded from the start and will continue to inform and shape the project, to support recruitment and to create public-facing resources and web content.
My involvement and engagement work is different for every project but at its heart is connecting with parents and families so they can share their experiences and perspectives, so they can feel part of studies by helping to inform and shape the different stages of research.
I am passionate about conversations that matter, providing safe spaces and the time for sharing and for discussion. And it is important to work with parents and families from different communities, to build those relationships and to value everyone’s contributions.
It’s a real privilege to hear everyone’s story and their feedback, thoughts and comments and to see the difference this makes to research development, delivery and dissemination.
If you would like to know more about involving families and parents in your research, I would love to work with you.
Join the Parent Research Panel
Would you like to help shape maternity and family research?
- Share your experiences
- Influence future studies
- Help improve services
- Participate when and how you choose