I previously enjoyed careers in IT and physics education and am now retired.

I lost my son to adoption in 1979. He was taken at birth, without notice or consent, and I met him for the first time in 2010. Since then, I have been fortunate to meet others who suffered similar experiences because of historic adoption policies and practices in the post-war years. Many of us have joined together to seek government apologies and services to support individuals with recovery.

The focus of my Fellowship is to look at the impact of the Australian National Apology given in 2013. An Australian Senate inquiry issued 20 recommendations, aimed at addressing the enduring effects of shame, disenfranchised grief and trauma on survivors. They covered mental health and connection services, and improved access to records for all adults.

Australian states have implemented these recommendations to different degrees and in different ways. I am interested in identifying examples of best practice to influence policymakers throughout the UK. I am particularly interested in identifying strategies that have been successful in reaching and supporting individuals who may never wish to identify themselves publicly.