Committee Chairs

Suman Rice – Chair of the SRF

Following on from a very successful Fertility 2024 meeting in Edinburgh, I’m honoured and humbled to have been elected as Chair of the SRF. I would like to thank and pay tribute to Prof. Richard Lea, under whose stewardship so much has been achieved. He has left a legacy which I, along with my wonderful colleagues who volunteer to serve on Council, will build on and extend. We are all committed to the promotion of research and education in reproductive science and providing opportunities for all our members to engage in these activities.

Having served as Programme Chair for the past three years, I have seen the Fertility conference grow and become the successful meeting that it is today, especially since the Covid years. I have learnt a great deal from my interactions with ARCS (Association of Reproductive & Clinical Scientists) and BFS (British Fertility Society) and I am pleased to say we have a very effective and close working relationship with them. Whilst the Fertility meeting remains a pivotal and central part of our joint activities, there are numerous other undertakings that we will continue to pursue and expand on. These include expanding our public engagement and new education opportunities, reviewing our funding and support strategies for our membership, supporting aspiring early career and established scientists, and establishing closer links with international societies representing reproductive sciences.

Dr Rebecca Blanchard – Chair Grants and Membership Committee

I am thrilled to be Chair of the Grants and Membership committee. I have been a member of the SRF for some time now and first joined the Committee as an Early Career Representative, before becoming an Ordinary Council member. Together with my fellow colleagues of the Grants and Membership Committee, we maintain and develop initiatives to support our members across all career stages, whether this be via a Travel Grants, one of our SRF Research Grants or a Vacation Scholarship.

Kim Jonas – Chair Programme and Awards Committee

I am delighted to Chair the Programme and Awards Committee. This committee provides the all important SRF membership voice and reproductive science pathway at our joint Fertility societies flagship conference, overseeing the medal awardees for our Marshall Medal, Anne Maclaren and Emerging Investigator awards. I look forward to working with the PAC members, together with ARCS and BFS, to deliver high quality, cutting edge and interesting reproductive science to you over the coming years

Dr Emma Lucas – Finance Committee Chair

I’m thrilled to have been elected as Treasurer and Company Secretary after contributing to the Finance Committee for four years as an ordinary member. I’m deeply committed to supporting the charitable work of the SRF and ensuring the Society’s long-term financial stability. I look forward to collaborating with the Finance Committee and our secretariat, Conference Collective, to manage the budget and investment portfolio, while also engaging with other sub-committees on Council to support their exciting activities.

Having received support from the SRF during my time as a student, post-doc, and researcher, I’m proud to have the opportunity to give back and help extend the benefits of membership to as many members as possible.

Erin Williams – Co – Chair Education and Public Engagement Committee

Erin is Chair of the Education and Public Engagement Committee of the SRF council, she was elected in January 2024 and is a Sr Lecturer in Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology, curator of @ReproRocks and co-founder of registered charity, Feed.

Her area of interest is in the postpartum period with a  focus on the interplay between peripartum immunity, the reproductive tract microbiome, uterine health and lactation.

She has been a member of SRF at different career stages; as PhD student and  the society has always been a great source of inspiration and collaboration.

Prof. Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri – Co- Chair Education and Public Engagement Committee

I am thrilled to serve as Co-Chair of the Education and Public Engagement Committee for SRF. At the University of Cambridge, I lead a research lab dedicated to understanding the placenta’s role in pregnancy and its long-term impact on maternal and child health. I am deeply passionate about making reproductive research accessible and engaging for the public.

Discussions around reproduction and related topics can sometimes be challenging, often surrounded by myths and mis-information. However, there is growing recognition that reproductive health extends far beyond pregnancy, influencing not just the current generation, but also those to come. This presents both critical gaps and exciting opportunities for SRF to connect with the public through educational initiatives.

I am particularly proud that SRF has launched its first e-book exploring the environmental impacts on reproduction (https://srf-reproduction.org/srf-e-book/). I look forward to contributing further to innovative educational projects and enhancing communication of reproductive research, both within the scientific community and to the wider public in the years ahead.