SURE

I'm a Sociologist with significant industry experience in the Third Sector and in education over the past twenty years. Throughout this time, I have been involved in the Third Sector in a range of charity management roles at both operational and senior strategic level. I have experience of fundraising, activism and campaigning, human rights documentation, working with vulnerable adults and children, international development, and community development work. Previously, I have managed community-based or charitable organisations such as supporting people living with HIV, educating the public on LGBTQI+ histories, and supporting LGBTQI+ Muslims in the United Kingdom. I have also previously worked in and developed youth projects with vulnerable young people, and I am a qualified teacher where I have taught in secondary schools as a former Head of Religion and Philosophy, and in HE colleges as an Access Course Tutor and Foundation Degree Leader. I have taken part in international development projects exploring topics such as child labour practices in Nepal through the rug and carpet-making industries, and I have explored access issues to education for girls in rural Kenya. Outside of work, I am currently the Founder, Chair, and CEO of ReportOUT, a global human rights charity for sexual and gender minorities. As an outcome of my HIV research, I have since developed 'Positive Allies' a new HIV charter mark for employers and volunteer organisations. This is in partnership with the University of Sunderland to ensure that UK employers, and organisations with volunteers, demonstrate that they are 'HIV friendly' and non-discriminatory in their employment practices toward people living with HIV. My qualifications: I originally studied for a BSc (Hons) Sociology and Social Research and following this, completed an MSc in Social Research at Northumbria University, as well as an MA in Gender Studies at Newcastle University. I have almost completed a PhD at the University of Leeds, exploring the life histories of older heterosexual people living with HIV. I am also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). I am a qualified secondary school teacher and trainer, and I have a degree-level certificate in volunteer management. Awards and funding: I was the winner of the 2016 North East Equality Awards 'Individual Who Makes a Difference' and the 2019 'Outstanding Contribution Award' at the North East LGBTQI+ Awards. I have also been shortlisted for awards at the Rainbow Honors Awards and a number of times at the National Diversity Awards. In 2021, I was very proud to be ranked at number 64 on the Pride Power List of the top 100 influential LGBTQI+ people in the United Kingdom. Teaching and learning: In terms of teaching and learning, I received the Vice Chancellor Teaching Fellowship (2020-2021) which is a funded project exploring gamification and games-based learning for staff to enhance curriculum design. I have also proudly won a number of teaching awards throughout my career so far. I am currently the Programme Leader for MSc Inequality and Society and module leader for several modules. Research interests: For research, I am primarily interested in the lived experiences of people living with HIV and AIDS, as well as LGBTQI+ identities, lives and human rights in light of global trans/bi/homophobia and state oppression. My other research interests also include the social impact of global health issues, global inequality issues, the role of sexuality in the development of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the sociology of religion and belief.