About Me
I have been at the centre of developments in men’s health in the UK and internationally since 2000. I have a deeply-held and long-term commitment to improving the quality of men’s lives within the context of greater gender equality.
- Awarded Men and Boys’ Coalition Activist of the Year 2020 for work with HPV Action UK.
- Recipient of the Royal Society for Public Health’s 2018 award for Outstanding Contribution to Championing the Public’s Health for role in achieving HPV vaccination for boys in the UK.
- Independent consultant on men’s health (2012 – to date).
- Director, Global Action on Men’s Health (2013 – to date).
- Consultant for European Cancer Organisation’s HPV Action Network (2020 – to date).
- Consultant for RSPH’s Gambling Health Alliance (2020 – to date).
- Trainer for Hampshire County Council’s Step-by-Step Men’s Health Champion training programme (2019 – to date).
- Consultant for Hampshire County Council’s Step-by-Step men’s health programme (2018-2020).
- Campaign Director, HPV Action UK (2013 – 2020).
- Associate, Men’s Health Forum (2015 – to date).
- Advisory Board member, The International Journal of Men’s Social and Community Health (2018 – to date)
- Advisory Board member, Centre for Men’s Health, University of Otago (2017 – to date).
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health (2009 – to date).
- Consultant for European Men’s Health Forum (2012 – 2016).
- Lead Reviewer of Ireland’s National Men’s Health Policy and Action Plan for the Health Services Executive (2014 – 2015).
- Chief Executive, Men’s Health Forum (2000-12). MHF is the only charity that provides an independent and authoritative voice for male health in England and Wales and tackles the issues and inequalities affecting the health and well-being of men and boys. I helped to transform both the influence of the organisation and public and professional perceptions of men’s health. I led the MHF’s establishment as a charity in 2001 and its successful bid to become a Strategic Partner of the Department of Health in 2009. While at MHF, I also played a central role in setting up the European Men’s Health Forum and was deputy editor of the Men’s Health Journal.
- Lay member, NICE Quality Standard Topic Expert Group on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (2012-13).
- Chair, Coalition on Men and Boys (2007-09). The Coalition brought together a range of organisations committed to putting issues of concern to men and boys (the problems they face and the problems they cause) on the public policy agenda.
- Advisory and similar groups (2000-12): Department of Health Prostate Cancer Advisory Group; Prostate Cancer Risk Management Scientific Advisory Group (lay member); Prostate Cancer Charter for Action Steering Group; ACEVO Public Health Commission; Self Care Forum Executive; Department of Health Gender Equality Advisory Group; Premier League Health Steering Group; Men’s Health Expert Advisory Group.
- Journalist and writer (1990-2000). I had a special interest in men’s issues and men’s health in particular and was the health editor of Maxim magazine (1995-99) and launch editor of www.malehealth.co.uk in 2000. I also contributed regularly to The Guardian, The Observer, GQ and a range of specialist health magazines.
- Author, two self-help books for men: The MANual: The complete man’s guide to life (with M. Cooper; Thorsons, 1996); Real Health for Men (Vega, 2002).
- Honorary Visiting Research Fellow in Applied Social Studies, Bradford University (1993-95).
- Press Officer, London Housing Unit (1993-97); Principal Research Officer, London Research Centre (1987-92); Senior Housing Advisory Officer, L.B. Camden (1982-87); Housing Officer, National Union of Students (1979-82).
- MA (Modern Social History), Lancaster University (1977-78); BA (History), Cambridge University (1974-77).
I live in Brighton with my partner and three children.
Read a short interview with me about my work in The Guardian.