Meet our Authority members

Julia Chain (Chair)

Julia joined the HFEA as Chair in April 2021 with over 30 years’ experience in legal and managerial roles in both private practice and industry. Among many senior roles she became the first woman managing partner of a top 100 law firm, Andersen Legal, and most recently led the UK and European operations of Advanced Discovery Inc.

Julia is also active in the charitable and public sector. She was for over 8 years Deputy Chair of Norwood, a leading learning disability and children’s charity, and was previously a Deputy Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality. Currently Julia is a Trustee at Sadeh, an environmental education charity and the Human Dignity Trust, a leading charity in fighting for and securing the decriminalisation of LGBT people.

Tim Child

Tim is Associate Professor of Reproductive Medicine in the Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health at the University of Oxford. He became an Authority member in January 2021 and Chairs the Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee (SCAAC).

Tim was a member of the 2013 NICE Fertility Guidelines Group. He is co-author of the UK’s highest selling Obs and Gynae textbook and has published over 100 research papers and chapters. Tim is a firm believer in Evidence Based Medicine and has undertaken many trials assessing assisted conception interventions.

Frances Flinter

Frances is Emeritus Professor of Clinical Genetics at King's College, London, and Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, where she worked as a member of the Pre-implantation genetic testing team for 25 years in addition to being the Trust's Caldicott Guardian for 12 years. She became a member of the Authority on 1st May 2022. Frances is also currently a member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, and previously served on the Human Genetics Commission. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and past President of the Clinical Genetics Society.

Tom Fowler

Tom Fowler comes from a public health background, with extensive experience in harnessing data, evaluation, quality standards, and technological innovation to improve population health. Throughout his career, he has taken leading roles in national initiatives such as the 100,000 Genomes Project, integrating public and patient engagement and healthcare transformation with cutting-edge health solutions.

In his current role as Deputy National Director of Health Protection and Screening Services, Tom has recently joined Public Health Wales, overseeing critical responsibilities in public health genomics, emergency preparedness, and planning alongside supporting the National Director. He plays a strategic role in shaping national public health policies and systems to enhance health protection and ensure preparedness for future health emergencies.

He also served as the Department of Health and Social Care’s first (interim) Caldicott Guardian.

Tom was previously Deputy Chief Scientist and Caldicott Guardian at Genomics England, where he played a pivotal role in the 100,000 Genomes Project, one of the UK’s largest healthcare transformation programs. His work was recognized with the 2019 NHS Healthcare Science Award for contributions to public health. His leadership in public, patient, and stakeholder engagement remains central to his approach.

With a PhD from Cardiff University, Tom's public health journey began in Wales. He remains research active with over 100 peer reviewed papers.

Zeynep Gurtin

Zeynep is a Lecturer at the EGA Institute for Women’s Health at UCL. She is a sociologist with two decades of research and teaching experience into the social, ethical, emotional, and relational aspects of fertility treatments and family making. She has published widely on infertility and childlessness, IVF and Islam, egg sharing, egg freezing, solo motherhood, later motherhood, and patients experiences of treatment delays and disruptions due to Covid-19.

Zeynep is a member of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE); the Convener of the Special Interest Group on ‘Reproduction and Society’ for the International Society of IVF (ISIVF); a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy; and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA). She also has ongoing research connections with the Reproductive Sociology Research Group (ReproSoc) at the University of Cambridge.

Zeynep takes an active role in public communication, runs informal information sessions for women considering their fertility options, and occasionally writes opinion columns for The Guardian.

She has had personal experience of pregnancy loss, IVF, and other fertility treatments on her long journey to motherhood.

The Rt Revd Graham James

Graham comes from a family of tin miners in Cornwall, and was ordained in the Church of England in 1975.     He served in parishes and then as Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury before becoming a bishop, first in Cornwall, followed by 20 years as Bishop of Norwich (1999-2019). He has now retired in his native county.

Graham has undertaken a wide range of other work alongside his ministry in the Church. He was a board member of the Countryside Agency, reflecting an interest in rural issues. He was also the main spokesperson on media issues for the Church of England, and a regular broadcaster, while also serving on the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications. More recently, he was asked by the Government to chair the Paterson Inquiry, an independent inquiry which examined the wider issues related to the malpractice of a surgeon who is currently in prison for wounding with intent. This reported in February 2020.

Graham’s interest in fertility issues is related both to his own pastoral experience (which prompted him to lead a General Synod debate on embryo research as long ago as 2003) and an increased sensitivity to wider issues in medical ethics deepened by his chairmanship of the Paterson Inquiry.

Alex Kafetz

Alex is a campaigner for inclusive use of technology to improve health outcomes and better transparency of data to improve the quality of services and ensure citizens have the same information as clinicians and managers. He advises UK and international organisations on better use of data, AI, and technology and is an Authority Member of the HFEA and an honorary lecturer in digital health at the University of Central Lancashire.

He has previously worked for Beamtree, the Healthcare Commission, Dr Foster and ZPB Associates. He was also an advisor to the Cabinet Office on open data policy and a member of the NHS National Information Board. In 2018 Alex was appointed as an advisor to the Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by breast surgeon Ian Paterson.

In 2006/07 Alex was an inaugural winner of the James Mayes award and spent time working on emerging models of accountable care for US healthcare company Premier Inc and on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services. A strong advocate of the publication of information to improve healthcare performance, Alex gave evidence on this to the public inquiry into Mid Staffordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Alison McTavish

Alison is Registered General Nurse and Midwife who is an experienced fertility nurse with management skills and has worked with Government and Health Boards to provide the best care to all who use fertility services. She worked in the Aberdeen Fertility Centre for 36 years and was the Manager, Quality Manager and HFEA Licensed holder.

Alison was a founder member of the Senior Infertility Nurses Group - which provides peer support, guidance and encouragement to its members, promotes education and training for all fertility nurses working and caring for individuals seeking fertility treatment and also a founder member of the Scottish Infertility Counselling Group. Alison worked with Scottish Government since 2011 to produce national criteria to ensure equity of service throughout the country. Alison was the first and only nurse to hold the position of Secretary of the British Fertility Society (BFS) and is currently a Trustee of the BFS, and also a Trustee of Progress Educational Trust. Alison is passionate about nurse education to ensure patients receive high quality care throughout their investigations and treatments. She is working with the International Federation of Fertility Societies to promote nurse education in Africa.

Geeta Nargund

Geeta is the Lead Consultant for Reproductive Medicine at St George’s Hospital NHS Trust and the Medical Director of Create Fertility and abc IVF which have clinics across the UK and in Denmark. She is a hands-on consultant in fertility and assisted reproduction and GMC Responsible Officer for Create Fertility. She has published nearly 100 research papers including book chapters and editorials. Her research interests include mild approaches in assisted reproduction, affordable and global access to fertility care, education in reproductive health in schools and advanced ultrasound technology in reproductive medicine. She has previously served on several national and international scientific and advisory committees.

She is a Trustee and Director of UK charities, Create Health Foundation. She is the Co-Founder and President of the International Society for Mild Approaches in Assisted Reproduction (ISMAAR). She is a Board member and Vice Chair of the British Red Cross. She is also the co-founder and medical advisor of the Ginsburg Women’s Health Board UK. She is passionate about women’s safety in IVF, making assisted reproduction treatments accessible and closing the gender health gap.

Catharine Seddon (Deputy Chair)

Catharine spent 20 years as a film maker. She started as a graduate trainee producer with the BBC and ended up running her own production company making documentaries for the BBC and C4.

After leaving television, she joined the board of the Human Tissue Authority, where she became Audit Committee Chair and Senior Independent Director (during which time, she also sat on the independent appeals committee of the HFEA.) In addition to sitting on the Determinations Panel of the Pensions Regulator, Catharine served as Senior Independent Director of the Legal Services Board, the Gambling Commission and, most recently, the Personal Finance Society. Catharine currently sits on the board of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) where she chairs the Private Law Improvement Programme. She also sits on the Disciplinary Committee for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. She is a tutor at the Civil Service College and a magistrate; she sits on tribunals in mental health and employment and as a lay assessor on civil cases in the county courts, and has also been appointed to the Health Service Products Appeal Tribunal. She is a long-standing trustee of CPotential, a special needs charity.

Anya Sizer

With nearly two decades of work in the fertility sector, Anya was most recently the lead for Fertility Network UK’s workplace initiative, overseeing delivery of training and support to a wide variety of organisation and groups. These ranged from large internationals, hospital trusts, charities, and SMEs.

Her work within the sector has included seven years overseeing patient care at the London Women’s Clinic, Harley Street. As well as authoring the book Fertile thinking and co-creator of two courses for people experiencing infertility, she is a Trustee for the Fertility Alliance and offers freelance consultancy in the sector.

Anya has championed the patient perspective in the media on fertility issues and has campaigned in Parliament on the fair provision of IVF for all.

Anya was the Speaker for London Borough of Hackney for the municipal year 2023-2024 and a local councillor for Hoxton east and Shoreditch and is the SEND champion for Hackney council. She has worked for three MPs.

Her passion for increasing diversity in politics has led to her being an executive member of the Fabian women's network for many years and she has campaigned to encourage more mothers into parliament.

She has two children from IVF, one from adoption and is a Champion for both the Saying Goodbye and Home for Good charities.

Stephen Troup

With nearly 40 years’ experience in the field, and a PhD in male infertility, Steve has served his time in the embryology lab and risen through the ranks to have held posts including the Scientific Director of Liverpool Women's Hospital’s Hewitt Fertility Centres – one of the UK’s largest NHS providers of fertility treatment.

As well as his day-to-day operational and research responsibilities (in both NHS-funded and private sectors), Steve has often provided advice to Regulators, educators, the commercial sector, and colleagues around the world.

Steve is particularly proud to have been both Chair and President of the Association of Clinical Embryologists and a founder member of the Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists (ARCS), from which he was recently delighted to receive honorary membership.

Steve now works independently as a Consultant Reproductive Scientist based in the UK.

Christine Watson

Christine is Professor Emeritus of Cell and Cancer Biology at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow Emerita of Newnham College Cambridge, where she served as Vice-Principal for three years.

She established her research group at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh and has focused on breast cancer and the developmental biology of the breast for over 30 years. She has a particular interest in stem cells, lactation, and programmed cell death.

She has also an interest in ethics and was a member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. Christine is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and a member of the University of Glasgow General Council Business Committee.

Christine’s term of office started on 1^st May 2023.

Rosamund Scott

Rosamund is Professor of Medical Law and Ethics, and Director of the Centre of Medical Law and Ethics, at King’s College London. She is a philosopher and a lawyer who has published widely on legal, ethical, policy and clinical issues in reproductive ethics and law. For the last 20 years her research has focused particularly on assisted reproduction, both nationally and internationally. A key strand has been to develop the strongest ethical and legal arguments to support those who need some kind of assistance in reproduction, whether using existing technologies, or forthcoming ones.

One of her books was on prenatal and preimplantation genetic testing, and her most recent work has been on genetic relatedness and new reproductive technologies, including in vitro derived gametes and heritable human genome editing. Aspects of her research have involved collaborative interdisciplinary work and engagement with stakeholders. She jointly led a large research programme on reproductive technologies funded by the Wellcome Trust, and her research has also been supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

She has been a member of various committees and working groups, often involving consultation and engagement with stakeholders and the broader public. She is currently Chair of the UK Stem Cell Bank Steering Committee. Other roles have included: Member, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Ethics Committee; Member, Nuffield Council on Bioethics Working Party on Donor Conception: Ethical Aspects of Information Sharing; and membership of a working group that drafted the first UK Code of Practice for the Generation and Use of Stem-Cell Based Embryo Models. She is a non-practising barrister.