Meet the Co-Leads and Directorate

Delivering the vision of the Maternity Disparities Consortium requires strong collaborative leadership and coordinated support across the programme.

The consortium is co-led by Professor Judith Rankin OBE and Professor Joht Singh Chandan. Professor Rankin is Professor of Maternal and Child Health at Newcastle University and Consortium Co-Lead for Research and Capacity Development. Professor Chandan is Clinical Professor of Public Health at the University of Birmingham and Consortium Co-Lead for Research.

Based across the University of Birmingham and Newcastle University, the directorate works alongside academic and clinical colleagues, community partners and wider stakeholders to support the successful delivery of the consortium. The team provides expertise across leadership and operations, project management, patient and public involvement and engagement, knowledge mobilisation, research inclusion, communications and administrative support.

Professor Judith Rankin OBE

Co-Lead for Research and Capacity Development, Newcastle University

Professor Joht Singh Chandan

Co-Lead for Research, University of Birmingham

Dr Rebecca Ward

Programme Manager for Research, University of Birmingham

Dr Emma Campbell

Programme Manager for Capacity Development, Newcastle University

Jo Sartori

Senior Programme Manager, University of Birmingham

Dr Jennifer Fraser

Knowledge Mobilisation Manager, University of Birmingham

Olivia Barfi

Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Lead, University of Birmingham

Andi Sull

Capacity Development and Training manager, Newcastle University

Sarah Critchley

Research Project Administrator, Newcastle University

Katarzyna Miah

Senior Administrator, University of Birmingham

Biswajyoti Ghosh

Project Finance Officer, University of Birmingham