SSHA is overseen by a National Organising Professional Committee of elected officers and regional representatives. The Council meets four times a year to:
- Set professional standards
- Produce statements and guidance
- Lead working groups on key issues
- Support the development of the Sexual Health Advising profession
OPC Members
SSHA President and London Regional Representative
Ceri has been a Sexual Health Adviser since 1991, and is the Senior SHA at 10 Hammersmith Broadway Clinic in London.
She is the current President of SSHA, having taken over from Martin Murchie in September 2019 and is passionate about ensuring that Sexual Health Advisers remain an integral and essential part of the Sexual Health Multi Disciplinary Team.
Ceri is the co-opted SSHA representative on BASHH Board, and the SHA representative on the BASHH Clinical Standard Unit, Education Committee and Sustainability Sig, Herpes SIG and STIF Competency and Foundation groups.
Her particular interests include partner Notification, working with people with Learning Disabilities, Young People and Pornography and the Criminalisation of STI Transmission.
Please feel free to contact her on ceri.evans4@nhs.net if you have any questions relating to Sexual Health Advising or SSHA.
Education Officer and North-West Regional Rep
Joe is a Clinical Lead Nurse working in Oldham, Rochdale, and Bury Integrated Sexual Health Services. He has been a member of the SSHA Organising Professional Committee for the past 8 years, contributing to national workstreams aimed at focusing the Sexual Health Adviser profession.
Alongside SSHA, Joe is a qualified prescriber and holds an MSc in Healthcare Leadership as well as the NHS Leadership Academy’s Senior Healthcare Leadership Award. He has contributed to national Guidelines and committees through BASHH, helping to ensure the voice of Sexual Health Advisers are heard.
Joe has a keen interest in workforce development, HIV prevention, and complex Partner Notification. Joe joined the RCN Public Health Forum Steering Committee, where he continues to advocate for Sexual Health Nursing, the professional Nurse Advocate role, and Sexual Health Advising.
Honorary Treasurer
Stephen qualified as a Social Worker in 2008 and has worked in Sexual Health since 2015.
He worked as a Sexual Health Adviser for 10 years at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast before moving to St George’s Hospital, London in 2024.
He previously served as Irish Regional Representative for the SSHA and has been Honorary Treasurer since moving to London.
Honorary Secretary
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- Email: heather.clarke8@nhs.net
Equalities Officer and South-East Regional Rep
Justine has worked as a Senior Health Adviser at Brighton SHAC since 2008, and over that time has been instrumental in improving the services for young people including safeguarding.
She has spoken at BASHH conferences about different elements of safeguarding and has also been involved in research to raise awareness to the risk of vicarious trauma for staff working in sexual health.
Justine is also a trained trauma therapist and has been involved in the developments and delivery of an in-house sexual health counselling service. Separate to this she provides trauma therapy to survivors of sexual violence.
Email: justine.orme@nhs.net
North-East, Yorkshire & Humberside Regional Rep
Becky is a Registered General Nurse, with a longstanding career in sexual health. She began working as a Staff Nurse in Genitourinary Medicine in 2001 before taking up a Sexual Health Adviser post in 2004, and continuing her career following transfer to Spectrum CIC in 2015.
Becky continues to find particular professional satisfaction in managing complex Partner Notification cases and is the Safeguarding Lead for the clinic. She supports colleagues across teams and facilitates safeguarding supervision, contributing to a culture of safe and reflective practice.
She is passionate about the role of the Sexual Health Adviser and through her involvement with the Society of Sexual Health Advisers (SSHA) has connected with a network of like-minded professionals. Becky values opportunities to share best practice, contribute to innovation, and support the ongoing development and sustainability of the Sexual Health Advising profession.
Northern Ireland Regional Rep
Jo currently works as a Health Adviser in GUM in Belfast.
Prior to this she worked as a Health Adviser in GUM in East Sussex, England for 3 years.
Her particular areas of experience and interest are working with people who face barriers to accessing sexual health services, such as people with drug/alcohol addiction, sex workers and people with learning disabilities.
She has been a registered nurse (RNLD) and social worker since 2006.
Lead Professional Officer (Education) & Ireland Unite the Union
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Website Administrator and Scotland Regional Rep
Martin qualified as a nurse in 1995 and thankfully at the time was asked to cover some nursing sessions in GUM which sparked his interest and career in Sexual Health.
In 1998 he was successful in gaining the first Sexual Health Advising post focused on gay men within Scotland moving on to become the Senior SHA with Sandyford services in 2001.
He has worked in Sexual Health for over 25 years though changed career in to nurse education at Glasgow Caledonian University in 2019 but continues to work two sessions in Sexual Health Advising within Sandyford.
Email: martin.murchie3@nhs.scot
Want to join the OPC or become a Regional Rep?
Here are the current vacancies for Regional Representatives:
- Wales
- West Midlands
- East Midlands
- South West
Please contact us and let us know what role you are interested in.
