Meet the Team
Find Out More About UsOur Founders
Anna Cooper
Co-Founder
She/her
Anna is an endometriosis sufferer who is also a wife and a mum to an eight year-old daughter — along with two German Shepherds, a bunny, and a tortoise.
Since her early teens she has struggled with severe endometriosis symptoms, and was officially diagnosed with the condition two weeks before her 18th birthday. She has unfortunately encountered a huge amount of medical gaslighting and invalidation throughout her years of battling endometriosis.
As a result, she has now had a total of 17 operations due to the disease. She has had to have a permanent ileostomy and urostomy due to losing her large bowel and bladder, a sacral nerve stimulator, and underwent a full hysterectomy which left her in surgical menopause from the age of 28.
It was a passion of Anna’s to turn her advocacy into something more substantial, and she is incredibly proud of the work she and the team at Menstrual Health Project are doing.
“Endometriosis has sadly taken so much from me and has impacted a huge portion of my life. I do not want the next generation to suffer like I have and to be made to feel like they can’t discuss anything to do with menstrual health.”
Image credit: Alex Thurston Photography
Gabriella Pearson
Co-Founder
She/her
Gabz is an endometriosis sufferer who is also a wife and dog mum to two beautiful (but naughty) French Bulldogs. After a long battle of struggling with periods, bowel and stomach issues, and many years of gaslighting, she was eventually diagnosed with endometriosis aged 23 after years of misdiagnosis.
Since her endometriosis diagnosis, Gabz has also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), adenomyosis, chronic back pain, and bulging discs. She has had five surgeries for her endometriosis, due to the disease growing back so aggressively and rapidly each time.
Gabz’s chronic back pain and widespread pain has become so severe as a direct result of endometriosis, that she has have to have multiple procedures and injections to try and reduce her pain — but with no joy. Due to the damage endometriosis has caused her body and organs, especially her bladder and bowel, she is now under the care of an Endometriosis Specialist, Urogynaecology, Pain Management, Fertility, Gastroenterology and Colorectal.
“Along with having to seek support for my mental health which has been severely impacted and impaired, I have also had to resign from my job which was a huge part of my independence due to chronic illness as I cannot physically do my job anymore.”
Image credit: Alex Thurston Photography
Our Trustees
Kate George
Chair of the Board of Trustees
She/her
Kate is the Chair Person of our Board of Trustees – she was honoured to be asked to take up this role by Anna and Gabz after they announced they were setting up Menstrual Health Project back in 2022. Over the last 20 years, she has worked for various charities and gained a huge amount of experience in the management of charity governance, which she is able to use in her role for MHP.
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She lives near the beautiful Malvern Hills in the Midlands with her husband, two daughters and three spaniels (yes, she has three of them – and they are all mad as a box of frogs!) Kate is currently training to be a person-centred counsellor, which is something she has wanted to do for almost 20 years.
Kate was diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 18 when she was rushed into hospital in extreme pain, but she had struggled with period issues as long as she has had them. After that she had a number of surgeries in quick succession, and a variety of treatments before having her daughters. She was initially told at the age of 19 that she would never be able to have children and that she should have a hysterectomy, so she truly thinks that her daughters are her miracles.
She is now having another round of Prostap treatment ahead of a hysterectomy in the not-too-distant future, she hopes. Kate also has Rheumatoid Arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes chronically painful joints, swelling and stiffness, plus other unpleasant symptoms.
She does worry about her daughters dealing menstrual health issues when they get older but knows that through education and advocacy, things can be different for the next generation. It is helping young people like her daughters which makes her so passionate about the work Menstrual Health Project is doing.
Image credit: Dani Harry Photography
Evie Collins
Trustee – Treasurer
She/her
Evie is an aspirational finance professional with over ten years of experience in accounting. She holds the AAT certification, a first-class degree in finance, and will soon be fully ACCA qualified.
Her background largely revolves around transforming processes, implementing controls, and improving efficiency in e-commerce businesses. Helping businesses
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is a great passion of hers, but she also wanted to be part of a more honourable cause; hence the role as Treasurer at MHP.
She was aware of the importance of menstrual health from a young age. Her Mum struggled with severe endometriosis for almost ten years before receiving treatment, and so she witnessed the impact that this can have first-hand. She has been battling endo herself since the age of 15 and, due to her Mum’s guidance, was fortunate enough to be diagnosed and receive treatment much earlier than usual.
When she’s not got her head in a spreadsheet, you can find her doing yoga, reading, cuddling her cat Trilly, hiking in the Lake District, or spinning round a pole (ideally not all at the same time!).
She is hugely passionate about raising awareness, and reducing the stigma of menstrual health, especially for the young/disadvantaged people that are being affected.
Becca Donaldson
Trustee – Marketing
She/her
Becca brings her marketing skills to MHP along with an incredible passion for change.
Her day jobs make up near enough the whole spectrum of marketing: from search engine optimisation (SEO) and copywriting to social media and brand marketing. She loves learning more and upskilling in the industry.
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When she isn’t wrapped up in marketing, you’ll find Becca watching football – she’s from the red side of Merseyside – or Formula 1, reading anything from modern literature to Norse sagas, or binge watching an old favourite TV show.
Becca’s journey with menstrual health hasn’t been easy, but it’s a story far too many people share. She struggled to be heard and endured a long battle to diagnosis, finding both relief about being diagnosed and uncertainty about what that might mean.
She is incredibly passionate about raising awareness of menstrual health conditions and empowering people with accurate information and resources, recognising the importance of education in making this happen.
Holly Hostettler-Davies
Trustee – Youth
She/her
Holly comes to MHP with a background in student journalism, having written extensively on issues related to women’s health.
Her own experiences with menstruation stigma and shame growing up, as well as painful periods, shaped her passion in campaigning for better education around menstrual health. Her interest
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in better education comes from her engagement with young people like herself and she is now a leading youth voice in the sexual and reproductive health movement.
She has advocated for comprehensive sexuality education, including around periods, at the United Nations as the UK Government’s Youth Advisor on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. She has also sat on panel discussions with UNFPA to discuss the importance of listening to young people on menstrual and reproductive health issues and how to champion their voices.
As MHP’s Youth Trustee, she works towards empowering and encouraging young people to learn, understand and talk more about menstrual health.
Mr Amer Raza
Trustee and Medical Advisory Board Member
Accreditations: BSC, MBBS, MRCOG, DFFP
He/him
Mr. Raza is consultant Gynaecologist and distinguished endometriosis surgeon. He is leading a major BSGE accredited endometriosis centre with a large multidisciplinary team. Renowned for his unwavering passion and expertise
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in robotic laparoscopic surgery, he specialises in excisional surgery for endometriosis, demonstrating a profound commitment to advancing women’s healthcare.
Over the course of his illustrious career, Mr. Raza has amassed extensive experience in minimal access robotic surgery, earning accreditation as an esteemed endometriosis specialist. His relentless pursuit of excellence has led him to prestigious national and international laparoscopic surgical hospitals and endometriosis centres, where he has acquired unparalleled expertise.
He is an educator, researcher, and avid supporter of improving endometriosis care nationally and internationally. A stalwart advocate for excellence, innovation, and personalised patient care, Mr. Raza has left an indelible impact on the landscape of modern surgical practice. His dedication to advancing the field reflects a commitment to providing the highest standards of care, ensuring a transformative experience for each patient. He leads on many laparoscopic and Robotic courses nationally in the UK, and abroad.
Currently, Mr. Raza is leading a major Endometriosis centre at Cromwell Hospital, offering cutting-edge treatments and expertise. He spearheads a multidisciplinary team of exceptional surgeons, whose skills are unparalleled in the management of endometriosis. As one of the foremost experts in Robotic surgery, Mr. Raza research focus has been early diagnosis of endometriosis and has been part of number of national research projects.
Dr Angela Sharma
Trustee and Medical Advisory Board Member
Accreditations: BSc(Hons), MBChB, MRCGP, DRCOG, DCH, DFFP, FECSM
She/her
Dr Angela Sharma is a GP partner at Pembridge Villas Surgery in London, where she is the lead for Women’s Health. She is a British Menopause Society accredited Menopause Specialist and a Clinical Sexologist trained in both the psychosexual
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therapy and medical aspects of sexual dysfunction in both women and men. She is also a fellow of the European Committee of Sexual Medicine.
Angela also co-founded Spiced Pear Health, a private online menopause and sexology clinic. She volunteers at Maggie’s, a cancer support charity running menopause and sexual problems workshops for cancer survivors.
She is passionate about educating and supporting women as they go through the various stages in life so they can be seen and heard as individuals and empowered to make the right choices for their health.
Angela is proud to support Menstrual Health Project as a Trustee, sharing the same values and vision as the charity, to educate and empower women of all ages to advocate for their health.
Mr Anthony Griffiths
Trustee and Medical Advisory Board Member
Accreditations: MB Bch, MRCOG, DFFp, Dip MedEd, FHEA
He/him
Mr Griffiths graduated in medicine from Cardiff University in 1996 with several honours and awards. He has been a senior Consultant Gynaecologist in endometriosis and reproductive surgery at the University Hospital of Wales for over 15 years.
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Mr Griffiths is an accredited BSGE endometriosis surgeon and set up the first BSGE tertiary referral endometriosis centre in Wales. He is the preceptor for training advanced minimal access surgery, assisted conception and medical education in Wales and has trained several highly successful consultants in endometriosis.
Also recognised as an international leader in minimal access surgery, reproductive medicine and endometriosis, Mr Griffiths has over 100 publications and published two textbooks. He has also won international and national prizes for endometriosis research.
Mr Griffiths’ post graduate training in surgery included The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist (RCOG) level II certificates (London) in laparoscopy, hysteroscopy and reproductive surgery. He also holds a PG diploma in minimal access surgery (Surrey) as well as a PG diploma in medical education (Cardiff). Mr Griffiths also trained in advanced endometriosis surgery in Atlanta, USA. He is also a teacher in evidenced based medicine, running courses in London, Jordan, China, Dubai, Indonesia and Ghana. Mr Griffiths ran the RCOG part I course for over 6 years and had chaired the RCOG part I committee for several years.
Mr Griffiths has secured a number of NHS management roles including: clinical director, chairing the National speciality advisory group in Welsh Government, chairing RCOG Welsh exec committee, RCOG Council, NHS workforce committee, Welsh government endometriosis task and finish group and Vice President of the BSGI.
Mr Griffiths’ academic work includes being a reviewer for several scientific journals, external examiner for Swansea and Cardiff University, and an RCOG grant assessor. He also lectures for the University of Amman, Cardiff University and is an external examiner for Swansea University.
Mr Griffiths is proud to support Menstrual Health Project.
Dr Rebeccah Tomlinson
Trustee and Medical Advisory Board Member
Accreditations: MBBCh, DFFP, MRCGP, PGMed cert., GMC 6046151
She/her
Rebeccah qualified in 2002 from Cardiff School of Medicine and headed straight into General Practice.
Her main focus is on women’s health, having successfully set up
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and run sexual health and contraceptive clinics in all practices in which she has worked. Currently she also leads a weekly Well Woman’s Clinic for her NHS practice.
Along with being the Welsh Medical Advisor for Menstrual Health Project, Rebeccah has completed the FSRH Advanced Menopause Skills Certificate and is a registered FSRH trainer and BMS Menopause Specialist.
Her aim is to support patients and clinicians to be able to access and offer comprehensive information in all aspects of women’s health and to advocate for the patient voice to be heard in all consultations.