Fertility Network UK appoints interim chief executive

The board of trustees are pleased to announce Dr Catherine Hill as Chief Executive of Fertility Network on an interim basis, effective immediately. Dr Hill first joined the charity in 2015 and has over five years’ experience working at senior management level. Dr Hill’s appointment follows the resignation of Gwenda Burns.

Dr Hill said: ‘We are sad that after three years as chief executive, and a total of 14 years with Fertility Network UK, Gwenda has decided to leave the charity. The staff and I want to thank Gwenda for her incredible dedication to Fertility Network UK and the positive impact she has had as chief executive. Under her leadership, she built a strong, supportive charity, formed new partnerships, and provided support and assistance to so many people affected by infertility.

I am honoured to be stepping up as Chief Executive on an interim basis. Infertility has informed every part of my adult life since being told, very bluntly when I was 20, that I was probably infertile. I was left feeling destroyed and very alone. Fertility Network exists to try to make sure no one else should ever feel that way’.

This is a milestone year for Fertility Network as the national fertility charity turns 20. The trustees are looking forward to celebrating 20 years of this extraordinary charity with patients, stakeholders, fertility clinics and our talented team, led by Catherine.

As part of our twentieth year, the board are supporting Catherine and her team on the development of a new strategy to help more people struggling with infertility. We know at least one in six people are affected, and that the work of the charity has never been more important. The charity does incredible work supporting people as well as advocating for change working with employers, government and other bodies and the board are ambitious about the impact the charity can have in tackling some of these issues. As part of this strategy development we will be working with stakeholders, beneficiaries, policy makers and our community about how we can grow our reach and impact.

We are also looking to grow our trustee board to help support and steward the charity through the next stage of its journey. We are looking for several board members with skills including finance, fundraising, social and digital media, governance and policy as well as members of the fertility industry. We are also seeking to have a more diverse, representative board who can advocate for more of the communities and issues that we seek to address. If you are passionate about helping more people affected by the issues we seek to help with and motivated to help support the charity by being part of its governing body please do get in touch.