Professor Adam Balen
Adam Balen is a consultant in reproductive medicine in Leeds and a former Chair of the British Fertility Society. In this role, Adam started the Fertility Education Initiative. Adam was on the Council of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and chaired the NHS England working group on funding for IVF. He is one of the world’s leading experts on PCOS and member of the Global PCOS Alliance and of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Infertility Guideline Group.
Professor Siladitya Bhattacharya
Professor Siladitya Bhattacharya MBBS, MD, FRCOG is Professor and Head of School of Medicine,Medical Sciences and Nutrition University of Aberdeen and Sir Dugald Baird Chair in Women’s Health.
As a Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine his main research interests include reproductive epidemiology and evaluation of clinical and cost effectiveness of interventions in reproductive health.
He has led several multicentre clinical trials in the United Kingdom, chairs the International Reproductive Medicine Research Network (INREM) and is Editor in Chief of Human Reproduction Open.
Natalie Gamble
Natalie is a leading fertility lawyer. Natalie is founder of NGA Law, the UK’s first fertility law firm, and of the non-profit surrogacy agency Brilliant Beginnings. Natalie chairs the UK and Ireland LGBT+ Family Law Institute, and is a fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (one of the very first to be admitted outside the USA).
Professor Nicky Hudson
Nicky is Director of the Centre for Reproduction Research at De Montfort University. Nicky is a medical sociologist with particular expertise in social and cultural significance of reproduction, infertility and assisted reproductive technologies. She has received funding for her work from the Economic and Social Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, Foundation for Sociology of Health and Illness and the National Institute for Health Research.
Marta Jansa Perez
Marta is the Director of Embryology at the Bridge Clinic and Treasurer of the British Fertility Society. Marta is a member of the Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists (ARCS) and the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). She is a member of the HFEA Licensed Centres Panel, working with the regulator on emerging issues in the sector, and an honorary senior Lecturer at Imperial College.
Professor Jackson Kirkman-Brown
Professor Jackson Kirkman-Brown is internationally recognised for his work in fertility and sperm (Andrology). He is Professor in Reproductive Biology at the University of Birmingham where he is Director of the Centre for Human Reproductive Science. Alongside research he is Director HFEA Person Responsible and Science Lead at Birmingham Women’s Fertility Centre, and Chair of the Association for Reproductive and Clinical Scientists (ARCS), the UK Professional Society for Andrology and Embryology.
Jackson’s achievements include creating the UK fertility preservation pathway for servicemen with traumatic genital injuries (for which he was conferred an MBE); being an Editor for the WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen; The ESHRE best practice guidance for donation; leading clinical trials in assisted conception and fertility; and answering key questions of sperm physiology.
Jackson is keen to do work that looks at improvements in assisted conception that are affordable as well as improve diagnostics so patients get the correct treatment. The clinical trial funding held in Birmingham also focuses upon outreach into the full range of communities and backgrounds across the UK.
He strongly believes that research into diagnostic and therapies in the area can have a rapid and direct impact not only on care, and therefore birth of the next generation, but also quality of life for the patients and children involved.
Victoria Macdonald
Victoria Macdonald is Health and Social Care Editor at Channel 4 News. Victoria is an award-winning journalist and has been covering health and social care issues for Channel 4 News since 1999. Victoria is originally from New Zealand and worked for the Sunday Telegraph before joining Channel 4 News.
Jane Plumb
Jane co-founded Group B Strep Support with her husband in 1996 and is its Chief Executive. Jane is the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists’ Women’s Voices Lead and Chair of their Women’s Network. Jane was awarded an MBE in 2012 for services to child health, a Fellowship of the RSA in 2020 and a Fellowship Honoris Causa of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists in 2021.
Anthony Ryb
Anthony is a Senior Accredited member of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society and an Accredited member of the British Infertility Counselling Association. Anthony has more than twenty years experience working within the counselling profession as an Integrative therapist.
Tracey Sainsbury
Tracey is a senior fertility counsellor and an Accredited member of the British Infertility Counselling Association. Tracey is the author of ‘Making Friends with your Fertility’.
Maria Satchi
Maria Satchi is a Consultant Urological Surgeon and Andrologist at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. She is a member of the Executive Committee for Andrology for the British Association of Urological Surgeons and a member of the Andrology SIG of the British Fertility Society.
Francesca Steyn
Francesca Steyn is the Chair of the RCN Fertility Nurses Forum. She has over 17 years experience as a fertility specialist, both in the NHS and private sectors and has published Department of Health guidance on surrogacy best practice and care in surrogate births.
She was awarded surrogacy professional of the year in both 2018 and 2019 at the National Surrogacy Awards and was awarded the RCN Award of merit in 2023 for her contribution to nursing and the RCN. She is a member of the legislative reform advisory group, appointed by the HFEA to modernise the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act and a member of the NICE Fertility problems: assessment and treatment (update) group.
