We are so thrilled to announce the arrival of our new Chair of the Board of Trustees – Laura Russell.
Laura has worked with so many of us in the abortion rights and sexual health sector, we feel very honoured that she has come on board to bring her wealth of experience to Abortion Talk. Laura has a background in policy and research and currently works for the British Medical Association, the registered trade union for doctors in the UK. Before joining the BMA, she led the policy, campaigns and research teams at Stonewall (the LGBTQ+ campaigning charity) and at the sexual and reproductive health and rights charity FPA. In her previous voluntary and governance roles, she acted as Chair of Voice for Choice (the network of pro-choice campaigning organisations in the UK), trustee of young people's sexual health charity Brook, advisory group member of the Sex Education Forum and a volunteer with the abortion fund Abortion Support Network. "I'm incredibly proud to join as Chair of Abortion Talk, an organisation doing vital work to tackle stigma. I can't wait to start working alongside the charity's dedicated community of abortion researchers, providers, community organisers and advocates who, through the Talkline and workshops, have already done so much to open up conversations about abortion." A huge thank you to our outgoing Chair, Professor Lesley Hoggart, who steered our Board through our first year and a half of operations. Lesley will be continuing her involvement as an Abortion Talk Co-Director alongside Dr Jayne Kavanagh.