I joined the Unique team as an Information Officer (Family Support) in August 2019. My role is dedicated to Unique’s helpline and listening ear service. I am very passionate about supporting people and empowering them with information. At Unique, I answer queries from families and professionals, provide information about specific rare chromosome and single gene disorders and help match families on the basis of their rare chromosome and/or gene disorder, symptoms or treatments. I also give talks and presentations to a variety of professionals to help raise awareness of rare genetic disorders and the psychosocial impacts these can have on individuals and families.
I have an MSc in Genetic and Genomic Counselling, graduating in 2024, from Cardiff University, where I focused my dissertation on the psychological and social impact on Unique siblings. This work was awarded the Professor Lauren Kerzin-Storrar memorial award in 2023 and presented at the annual Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors Conference. I am an honorary tutor at Cardiff University and since 2025 am supervising students undertaking their dissertation in the Genetic and Genomic Counselling MSc.
Before joining Unique, I worked at The University of Cambridge on the IMAGINE ID (Intellectual Disability and Mental Health: Assessing the Genomic Impact on Neurodevelopment) research project as a study coordinator and research assistant. 3,400 individuals with rare chromosome and single gene disorders joined the research study looking at behaviour, development and mental health.
I have a varied professional background having studied and worked in medical biochemistry, intellectual property law, palliative and end-of-life Care, and most recently, genetics and genomics. I also have lived experience of being diagnosed with a rare condition (cancer).
