Emma is from South Yorkshire and before having children was a Veterinary Nurse. In 2017 following the birth of her two children within 11 months, she joined the Women and Families’ Involvement Group for the RCOG’s National Maternity and Perinatal Audit. In 2018, Emma then joined the RCOG’s Women’s Network before she earned her Co-Vice Chair role between 2023 and 2026. As part of this role, she sat on many committees and projects such as being a member of the Guidelines Committee and chairing the Lived Experience Group for The Green Maternity Challenge.

In 2024, Emma became the first lay person to be recruited as part of the chairing team of a core RCOG committee: the Patient Information Committee. Emma also worked as a Lay Examiner for the MRCOG Part 3 Exams and between 2021 and 2026 she was the Lay Lead for the British Society of Urogynaecology. From 2019, Emma worked with NHSE as National Strategic Service User Voice Lead in maternity and neonatal care. Initially working specifically on Perinatal Pelvic Health Services, then leading on the GP 6-8 week Postnatal Consultation, Equity, Equality, Choice and Personalised Care, Sustainability, Pandemic Planning, Triage and Escalation.

Emma also collaborated with THIS Institute/University of Cambridge on Maternity Escalation and the Avoiding Brain Injury during Childbirth Project as well as various other research projects with other partners.

Emma’s own experiences of obstetric and gynaecological care have been chequered; with her own experiences serving as a continuous reminder of the opportunities and, in places, urgent needs to improve the care and support that women and people receive within the gynaecological and obstetric space. 

Emma began her PPIE work to help ensure that all women and people using O&G services are not only heard but listened to and treated with dignity and respect. Clinical outcomes and physical health are just as important as safe and positive experiences and mental health. More recently, Emma has returned to her previous career of working with animals; as a Care and Welfare Manager of a collection of diverse species of animals.