Council Board Members

I have been a Member of Council holding different roles including Chair of the Local Organising Committee for the Silver Jubilee Meeting in 2015, Chair of Industry and Meetings Portfolio, Endometriosis Centres Chair, and now it’s an honour and a privilege to serve as President. These posts come with responsibilities, and as President I am eager to work on the foundations that have been laid by my predecessors, as well as to set our direction and strategy in keeping with the Society’s original vision and aims.

This translates as making sure that we evaluate pioneering surgical techniques, set standards and shape training in an inclusive and contemporary fashion.

By listening to patients and colleagues, we will be able to utilise all of the great willing, knowledge and enthusiasm  I see from our Council Representatives and Society Members to progress care for the national population we serve. At the heart of all of this remains the aim of driving better patient care.

To help achieve this, there are some key areas that we will be focusing on, which include embracing evolving surgical tools, such as robotic technology and enhanced surgical vision, widening and improving training opportunities for doctors and nurses, reforming our national accreditation program and improving the diagnostic reach for our patients.

All of this will require careful liaison with other national bodies, industry partners and sister organisations.

We are in very exciting times with a great deal of surgical and technological evolution coupled with growing membership and interest. I am confident that with a spirit of collaboration and a desire to consider change, we will be able to harness the very apparent enthusiasm and support of our Members to proudly and meaningfully advance the care we offer.

It has been a pleasure to serve on BSGE council for the past 2 and a half years and I have thoroughly enjoyed taking on the role of chair of the Information Resources Committee. With the help of the subcommittee we have strived to bring to you a diverse range of education activities including our popular webinar series. All our previous webinars can be found here on the BSGE website and every month we will bring you an exciting new episode (usually on the last Wednesday of the month between 6-7pm).

I have really strived to also ensure our patients are at the centre of what we do at the BSGE and over the past 2 years we have really developed our patient facing activities. We have run a number of informative patient webinars on adenomyosis and endometriosis and the feedback has been excellent. Our BSGE Instagram page (@THEBSGE) is a great resource for patients and I do encourage you to share it in your clinics and beyond. It shares up to date evidence based information with patients and signposts them to helpful resources and much more.

As ever we continue to look to the future to improve and develop and if you have any thoughts on webinar topics or any suggestions at all please do get in touch.

Donna has completed a two-year term as trainee representative on the BSGE council, from 2016-2018, and sits on the BSGE subcommittees for Awards & Bursaries and Communications & Website.

She has gained considerable experience in minimal access surgery, having won a BSGE travelling fellowship in 2013 to work within Sydney Women’s Endosurgery Centre and having completed the ATSM in advanced laparoscopy, subsequently commencing a Post CCT fellowship at the Wirral University Teaching Hospital. She has recently been appointed as Consultant at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals.

Donna has supported the development of Registrars in Gynaecological Surgery (RIGs) to improve opportunities and communication amongst trainees. She conducted a BSGE laparoscopic training survey and completed the RCOG Gynaecological Surgery training analysis for 2017. Having identified deficiencies in training across the UK she subsequently conceived, organised and implemented the RIGs/ BSGE Intermediate Laparoscopy Course in 2018.

Donna was responsible for the introduction of the ‘Pecha Kucha’ into the BSGE Annual Scientific Meeting as well as organising the first trainee breakout session. She is organising faculty for the 2018 pre-congress video-editing workshop and the RIGs Annual Dinner in Edinburgh.

When I was first elected as trainee representative, I was involved with the inception and development of the trainee Registrars in Gynaecological Surgery (RIGS) platform, which is growing from strength to strength and continuing to motivate and engage with enthusiastic young surgeons, which ultimately are the future of our society. I later led the Patient information and guidelines sub-committee where I was involved with national guideline development including the soon to be released updated Gynaecological laparoscopy RCOG Green Top guidance. Currently I am the Chair of the Website and Digital Governance Sub-committee where I led the development of the BSGE conference APP and in 2019 we had our first paperless ASM with the introduction of this.

Having served over the last 7 years on the BSGE council, I have gained significant knowledge with regards to several aspects of financial management within the society. Such management is crucial currently given the global situation, and I feel I have the skill and attributes to ensure the society maintains a healthy financial future by realising innovative funding opportunities, through collaboration and partnership with other subcommittees/societies.

Mikey is a Consultant Gynaecologist and Endometriosis Surgeon at the Centre for Endometriosis and Minimally Invasive Gynaecology (CEMIG) at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (ASPH) in Surrey.

He specialises in Advanced Minimally Invasive Gynaecological Surgery, focusing on endometriosis. He obtained specialist training from the Kent, Surrey, and Sussex Deanery. Additionally, he completed a high-volume fellowship in advanced endometriosis surgery and a recognised training scheme in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery for the Excision of Benign Disease (Endometriosis).

Mikey received training in Neuropelveology and obtained Level 2 (2022) and Level 1 (2019) accreditation from the International Society of Neuropelveology (ISON), making him one of the very few surgeons with formal training in treating pelvic nerve problems.

He has received National and International prizes, including the prestigious Golden Telescope Award from the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy in 2022. In 2019, he was elected as a council member responsible for the trainee portfolio for the BSGE and re-elected in 2021. Currently, in 2023, Mikey holds the position of senior council member.

Throughout the years, Mikey has made significant contributions to training in minimally invasive gynaecological surgery by establishing and teaching on multiple regional, national, and international courses.

His focused interests include surgical education, endometriosis, pelvic pain, and treatments for patients with pelvic nerve pathology.

I have been an active member of the BSGE for the past 5 years and am also a Gynaecologist at the Whittington Hospital in London, which is a BSGE accredited Endometriosis Centre.

My initial involvement in the BSGE stems back to the Jubilee ASM Meeting. I served on the organising committee and was responsible for arranging a pre- congress workshop on operative complications, in addition, to introducing laparoscopic Hands on Training (HOT) workshops.

As one of the chief mentors for the Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgical Education and Assessment (GESEA) programme I have helped introduce GESEA certification to the UK, where together with the BSGE we have continued to run biannual certification sessions which continues to grow in popularity and receive positive feedback. I am also actively involved with ESGE where I serve as co chair for the Young Endoscopic Platform and associate editor of ESGE vision.

I understand the commitment required to be a BSGE Council Member and feel I possess the energy and enthusiasm to serve the membership. If successfully appointed, I would aim to strengthen the links between the BSGE and our European counterparts. I am passionate about training opportunities in minimal access surgery and would hope to use this platform to set up recognised visiting training fellowships in specialist centres throughout Europe.

I am an experienced minimal access gynaecologist specialist in Oncology and Colposcopy. I have been based in Cumbria, UK since 2014 and just recently moved to Surrey in London.  I specialise in providing evidence based care in gynaecology, colposcopy and oncology adopting cutting edge innovations in minimal access surgery.  I have completed certification in Obstetrics and gynaecology with training in colposcopy, oncology and advanced laparoscopy for endometriosis in 2012 in the Wessex deanery, UK.

I have an excellent record in developing services in ambulatory gynaecology, enhanced recovery and achieving exceedingly high standards in minimal access surgery. I am also a royal college tutor and I am passionate about teaching, training and simulation. I have been facilitating, participating in advanced courses nationally and internationally. I visited international centres of excellence to connect and share skills and I strongly believe in the value of surgical audit and standardisation of techniques and appraising innovations. In my role as a lead colposcopist I trained many of the staff who successfully completed their British certification and contributed greatly to service development and audits. I am leading the teaching and research on the Novel technique of Vnote. I aspire to contribute with the help of the BSGE and its members to produce the best evidence in current novel concepts and innovation in gynaecologic surgery and ambulatory gynaecology.

Miss Antoun is a Consultant Gynaecologist at the Birmingham Women’s & Children’s Hospital specialising in minimal access surgery, particularly endometriosis and advanced endoscopic procedures. She has completed her training in advanced laparoscopic surgery and colposcopy at Birmingham Women’s Hospital and was a research fellow at University of Birmingham. She authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications, presented both nationally and internationally on numerous occasions and received both national and international prizes at scientific meetings for her contribution and work in minimally invasive gynaecological surgery.

In 2022, she was elected as a BSGE council member responsible for the trainee’s portfolio, and was re-elected in 2024 as senior council member overseeing the laparoscopic training portfolio. She continues to participate as facilitator for the RCOG/BSGE Laparoscopic training courses, and works as part of the team to help deliver the successful and popular national RIGs Hub National Training Programme.

To date, the BSGE has provided me with an amazing network of friends, colleagues and mentors. Throughout my training, it has provided the resources and collaborations to achieve sought goals. As a newly elected council member, I am excited about the opportunities to work within the committee and amongst the membership to develop training platforms and resources for pre-operative imaging in minimally invasive gynaecology.

I trained in advanced gynaecological ultrasound and minimal access surgery at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where I completed a three-year OOP research fellowship and then the advanced laparoscopy ATSM. I now work as a consultant at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, which is an accredited BSGE Endometriosis Centre with an innovative robotic service.

I have trained in ultrasound diagnosis and mapping of endometriosis and am passionate about addressing the delay in diagnosis nationally, improving diagnostics and developing one-stop clinics for women, building the bridge between community and tertiary level care. I’m committed to improving training in gynaecological imaging, which is hugely beneficial for counselling of patients, providing a timely diagnosis and treatment planning. My research areas include ultrasound assessment of endometriosis, the natural history of endometriosis and the relationship between endometriosis and pregnancy.

My name is Caroline Bell and I live in Cumbria. I am delighted to have the first Subcommittee dedicated to hysteroscopy.   I trained as an adult nurse qualifying in 2002. My job involves Hysteroscopy and I am nurse lead for our trust.  The other part of my job is Cancer nurse specialist which also involves being  part of the Expert advisory group for the north of England. I love my job and find it a real honour to be able to be part of a patient’s journey.

Outside of work, I love spending time with my family and friends.  I feel I am very fortunate to live in the Lake District and love outdoor activities.

I look forward to working as chair on the BSGE council, and supporting my hysteroscopy colleagues, with the subcommittee.

As the newly elected, Junior Trainee Representative, I am excited to work enthusiastically with other council members to ensure the BSGE continues to thrive, upholding its ethos to improve standards and promote education.

I am a KSS trainee currently undertaking ST4 at St Georges Hospital, London. From October I will embark on a fellowship in Minimal Access Surgery.

Since the beginning of my training, I have been a committed member of the BSGE. To date, it has provided me with a fantastic network of friends and invaluable career-advancing training opportunities. As a junior council member, I will serve as an advocate for fellow colleagues, ensuring that all training opportunities are inclusive and made widely available to all trainees. I will ensure that I represent your views in an accurate way and work to make a positive impact during my post.

If you have any thoughts on how the BSGE can be improved for trainees, I would love to hear them and work to put your suggestions into action.

As a Consultant Minimal access surgeon at the Southern Endometriosis center I have been tasked to develop a minimal access service and more recently expand this as a robotic service. This has been a challenge and one for which I am keen to offer my experience on the journey for anyone else who wishes to develop their services.

I have been a member of the BSGE since 2015 and I have had an active role in the society website and communications. I have enjoyed doing this and the service that has driven me to stand for the council to represent your views which I have been given during my time on the editorial board of the journal.

With support from the society, I have travelled abroad, visiting centres of excellence and gained experience from other colleagues. This is one of the most valuable opportunities offered by the society and I would aim to strengthen relationship with recognised training hospitals abroad. I am part of the faculty at the University in Bologna – Masters in minimally invasive surgery. This experience will enable me to help support others wanting to gain similar exposure. If elected I would endeavour to help strengthen the research profile and advanced training opportunities, especially for trainees, through collaboration and partnership with other centres abroad.

As a minimal access gynaecology surgeon with over 15 years of experience, I benefited from laparoscopic and robotic training in Manchester. I was appointed as a Consultant Gynaecologist in 2011 at Royal Preston Hospital, where I established a BSGE accredited endometriosis centre. I completed my MSc in advanced gynaecological endoscopy from the University of Surrey in 2013. Subsequently I trained in robotic surgery and established gynaecology robotic service at Stepping Hill Hospital Stockport in 2018. Currently I am the Clinical Head of division for Gynaecology at Saint Mary’s managed clinical services, Manchester, which is one of the largest trusts in the country.

I am passionate about the advantages of minimal access surgery in gynaecology and I continue to teach and train colleagues both laparoscopic and robotic surgery. I believe that BSGE has made significant contributions to promote minimal access surgery and continues to do so through various teaching programmes, bursaries and scientific meetings.

I was chair of the local organising committee for BSGE ASM 2023 Manchester. I have acquired substantial experience in working with colleagues around the country and internationally. The meeting also gave me an opportunity to develop excellent relationships with the industry. This puts me in an excellent position to be a senior council member for meetings convenor and industrial relations and I look forward to strengthening these relations further.

I am a consultant gynaecologist and minimal access surgeon in Leeds Teaching Hospitals. I completed my postgraduate training in Newcastle and Middlesbrough and specialise in advanced laparoscopic surgery particularly endometriosis. My other interest is research: I completed MD in molecular biology of cancer in Newcastle University and I am NIHR research lead for Women’s Health in Yorkshire & Humber as well as honorary senior lecturer at University of Leeds.

Most recently,  I am a head of the local organising committee BSGE ASM 2025 in Leeds and a member of BSGE subcommittee for laparoscopic portfolio. I am excited about organising BSGE ASM 2025 in Leeds and I hope it will enhance you surgical skills, knowledge as well as social circles. I am very enthusiastic about working within BSGE laparoscopic training subcommittee to strive for the highest standards in teaching, training and simulation. I have been facilitating, participating in advanced courses nationally and internationally and I am keen to share my experience and passion for training. The BSGE provided me with a fantastic network of friends and invaluable training opportunities and I would like to give it back to the future generations of gynaecology surgeons

I feel really honoured to be appointed as a senior council member of the BSGE in 2022. The BSGE council oversees a vast program of medical education and surgical governance that I have admired for many years. This remit of work provides an opportunity and community for all members to learn, develop and safely practice endoscopic surgery.

Joining this esteemed council as chair of Award and Bursaries (A&B) has given me the direct opportunity support the continued professional development for all our members. During this time, we were able to increase funding for trainees and nurse specialists during challenging financial times.

I am excited to have moved on to the international relations portfolio and hope to build the profile of our society overseas. We are working to achieve an increased international presence through four streams: education; conferences; societal relations; and research. 

In my clinical practice I work as a consultant gynaecologist and endometriosis specialist at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital. I work full-time as a gynaecological surgeon specialising in excision surgery for people with endometriosis. I have completed a post graduate Medical Doctorate research degree from Queen Mary University of London evaluating diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in endometriosis care. Through this work I have, with collaborators, published over 30 peer reviewed publications in the area of endometriosis. I feel fortunate to have received national recognition awards from NHS improvement, The British Society of Gynaecological Endoscopy and Health Education England.  

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.

I have been in post as an Endometriosis Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Cornwall Endometriosis Centre since November 2016.

During this time, I have seen how the clinical nurse specialist is a fundamental part of a multidisciplinary team striving to achieve the very best care and service for our patients. As a member of the BSGE, I am aware of the society’s continued commitment to facilitate education, guidance, standard setting and professionalism. We continue to challenge obstacles within our practice and service delivery and the nurse’s role continues to evolve, creating an environment where we can work to our full potential. To enhance the patient journey in providing expert, high quality care and also to have a voice as a practitioner, leading nurse led services.

The CNS role is extremely rewarding. I provide an independent nurse led service encompassing pre and post-surgical care, and, for patients choosing a non-surgical approach of care. I am a member of the MDT, maintaining strong links with the team. I maintain the database for Cornwall Endometriosis Centre, run a patient support group and am non-medical prescriber. My particular interest is in pain management and psychology of pain.

As a consultant for 15 years in a busy DGH, I have always been passionate about advancing MAS surgery within gynaecology. The BSGE Worcestershire Endometriosis Centre is amongst the busiest in the country, striving to improve care. My other special interest is laparoscopic urogynaecology in our BSUG accredited Urogynaecology unit.

Since training in the North West and fellowship in Australia in 2003-5, I have had a keen interest in laparoscopic training and still assist with local, national and international courses each year. We also have an advanced ATSM trainee and have made laparoscopic surgery the default surgical route for gynaecology in our unit. My previous experience as Clinical Director and current role as Divisional Director has given me a broad understanding of the NHS and the challenges we face in training, governance, finance and specialist commissioning.

I am an ST6 O&G trainee in North Central and East London aiming for a Consultant post specialising in Complex benign minimal access surgery and endometriosis care in a BSGE accredited endometriosis centre. I recently completed an 18 month clinical research fellowship in advanced minimal access surgery at Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford which I absolutely loved.

I was hooked by MAS during my first lap box simulation course during ST1 and have since completed GESEA 1 and 2, the BSGE Ethicon laparoscopy course and GETUP amongst other courses. I won the Karl Storz Golden Telescope for Best Video presentation at the BSGE ASM 2023 which illustrated the use of ICG to identify tissue re-perfusion in ovarian torsion cases, and recently won the Best RIGS trainee video award at ASM 2024, demonstrating the intrafascial and vaginal colpotomy techniques in laparoscopic hysterectomy.

I completed Intermediate and Advanced levels of the RIGS Hub programme as a delegate before applying to join Council as Senior Trainee representative in 2023 and I am so delighted to currently be in that role. We are always trying to improve our trainee courses and programmes and evolve proactively.

I have 4 children and love spending time with my friends and family, ideally outdoors, and travelling. My  undergraduate degree was in English Literature and I still love reading so I am a good bet for a fictional book recommendation!

I am an ST5 trainee, currently undertaking a clinical research fellowship in endometriosis and minimally invasive surgery. I will be starting the ATSM in advanced laparoscopy (benign disease) in October.

I am passionate about minimal access surgery, in particular chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis.

I have been a BSGE member since 2018 and as RIGS regional rep, I look forward to supporting my colleagues who are interested in minimal access surgery.

I will also aim to increase the involvement of the trainees in the society.

As the newly elected, Junior Trainee Representative, I am excited to work enthusiastically with other council members to ensure the BSGE continues to thrive, upholding its ethos to improve standards and promote education.

I am a KSS trainee currently undertaking ST4 at St Georges Hospital, London. From October I will embark on a fellowship in Minimal Access Surgery.

Since the beginning of my training, I have been a committed member of the BSGE. To date, it has provided me with a fantastic network of friends and invaluable career-advancing training opportunities. As a junior council member, I will serve as an advocate for fellow colleagues, ensuring that all training opportunities are inclusive and made widely available to all trainees. I will ensure that I represent your views in an accurate way and work to make a positive impact during my post.

If you have any thoughts on how the BSGE can be improved for trainees, I would love to hear them and work to put your suggestions into action.

As a BSGE administrator, I am dedicated to providing essential support to the BSGE manager in handling day-to-day tasks and ensuring the smooth functioning of our society. My personal interest in the BSGE stems from my own experience with gynaecological conditions, which has fostered a genuine commitment to women’s health. Embracing my role in the background, I take pride in contributing in any way possible to promote excellence in women’s healthcare. The collaborative and passionate atmosphere within the BSGE community inspires me to continue working diligently, knowing that every effort made contributes to the advancement of gynaecological care.

Dr Jane Gilbert qualified as a doctor from St Mary’s Hospital Medical School just as it was being eaten up by Imperial College. She has been working for the past eighteen years as a health journalist. She has been published widely and created content for Roche Pharmaceuticals, Diabetes Wales, Hamlyn books, Boots, ITV and Channel 4 and a number of NHS Trusts.

She is currently employed as the BSGE’s assistant editor as well as creating digital health information ‘prescriptions’ for the E-Health company Pocket Medic.

As BSGE Manager, with over 15 years of dedicated service, my role is to be the first point of contact and a reliable support system for all BSGE members. I take pride in coordinating and managing various events and activities that contribute to the growth and development of our society. From organizing educational workshops to coordinating engaging conferences, I am dedicated to ensuring that our members have access to enriching experiences. I look forward to continuing to support and strengthen the BSGE as we collectively work towards advancing the field and benefiting our members. Please feel free to reach out to me for any inquiries or assistance,