Meet the Team
We are a multidisciplinary team united by one goal: helping every child and young person celebrate, respect and accept ALL bodies, especially their own.
We bring together expertise from across education, health and media because we know that changing culture requires more than one kind of knowledge. From classrooms to clinics, from research to campaigning - we understand the systems that shape how young people see themselves, and we know how to change them.
Molly Forbes (she/her)
Executive Director & Founder
Molly is the founder and Executive Director of The Body Happy Organisation. She’s an award-winning author, campaigner and experienced broadcaster with nearly 20 years in journalism, media and communications.
Her books – Body Happy Kids (Penguin Random House, 2021) and Every Body (Puffin, 2024) – share practical, age-appropriate ways to tackle body shame early. Every Body won the Wellbeing category of the Week Junior Book Awards 2025 and was highly commended in the Teach Primary Awards 2024.
A winner of the Fair Education Alliance Innovation Award (2024), Molly’s work focuses on prevention, media literacy and youth-led advocacy in a digital age. She is a member of the expert working group for the Centre for Digital Literacy Information in Schools, and leads The Body Happy Organisation’s work supporting the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Eating Disorders, contributing practice-based insight to national prevention, safeguarding and policy conversations.
Molly is a regular media contributor, appearing on BBC News, Channel 4, Sky News, Woman’s Hour, Radio 1’s Newsbeat, LBC and more. Alongside leading organisational strategy, she works with schools, families and corporate partners through keynote talks, training and consultancy, supporting cultures of body respect both online and offline.
Board of Directors
Dr Tosin Sotubo-Ajayi (she/her)
Tosin is a practising GP, senior medical advisor and health and wellness brand consultant with over a decade of experience promoting accessible, inclusive health education. Tosin was resident doctor on popular TV show Embarrassing Illnesses and is one of the presenters on the BAFTA award-winning BBC children’s show Operation Ouch. She advises The Body Happy Organisation on advocacy, health literacy and youth wellbeing and supports our research relationship with The University of Lincoln.
Non-Executive Director
Sarah Goulden (she/her)
Non-Executive Director
Sarah is a project manager with experience leading public sector and business support initiatives with companies including Santander, Vodafone and Deloitte leading projects that bridge the gap between education and industry. She now leads the project management team at Form, working closely with public sector clients to oversee regional and national scale-up programmes. She brings operational insight and supports Body Happy Org’s sustainable growth and business development strategy through her role on our Board.
Mohamed Abdallah (he/him)
Non-Executive Director
Mohamed is the South West Regional Director at the Reach Foundation, where he leads place-based, cradle-to-career work and leadership development aimed at improving outcomes for children and young people who experience disadvantage. He also writes, speaks, and collaborates with school and trust leaders on embedding a framework centred on mattering, belonging, and becoming, supporting schools to build cultures where students, staff, and families feel seen, valued, and actively engaged in shaping their communities. He brings deep expertise in educational equity and youth development, and through his role on our Board supports Body Happy Org's strategic direction around systems change and place-based approaches to impact.
Operations
Therese Webb (she/her)
Operations & Programmes Lead
Therese is Body Happy Org’s Operations & Programmes Lead. She has wide-ranging experience across publishing, education and non-profits. At BHO, she takes strategy off the page and brings it to life through high-impact programme delivery, partnerships, and systems and processes that enable scale.
Julia Wolman (she/her)
Operations & Admin Support
Julia is a registered nutritionist with over 20 years’ experience helping families and children build positive relationships with food. She has worked across NHS, local authority and charity settings where she had led on a range of community health projects. At Body Happy Org, Julia provides admin and operational support, as well as delivering workshops for schools and corporates.
Jenny Brierley (she/her)
Communications Lead
Jenny is a communications and content specialist with 20 years of experience across varied industries, from charities to hotel groups and train companies to cosmetics brands. She builds strategies and creates content to help organisations tell their stories to wide and diverse audiences to make maximum impact. At Body Happy Org, Jenny is working to spread the body respect movement far and wide.
Research & Evaluation
Dr Kamila Irvine (she/her)
PhD Supervisor
Kamila is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Lincoln, specialising in body image and eating disorders. Supervises PhD on Body Happy Schools Programme funded by South East Network of Social Sciences.
Lulu Tacconelli (they/them)
PhD Candidate
Lulu is a PhD student at the University of Lincoln with previous experience as a teaching assistant with SEND children. They are working as part of the academic partnership and impact evaluation for the Body Happy Schools Programme.
Dr Garcia Ashdown-Franks (she/her)
Research Collaborator
Garcia is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at York St John University, working across physical activity, body image and mental health. Supports integration of research into programme design and delivery.
Olivia Palmer (she/her)
Research Collaborator
Olivia is a Registered Nutritionist and Health Psychologist. Supports programme evaluation, pilot analysis and research-informed resource design. Also leads reflective practice support for our facilitator team.
Delivery
Meet our brilliant team of facilitators delivering our programmes and workshops with schools, community groups and systems partners around the UK and further afield…
Anupa Roper (she/her): Anupa is a former teacher and author of Sparrowlegs. She brings lived experience and creative insight to her student and CPD sessions.
Emily Ballard (she/her): Emily has ten years experience as a secondary school teacher, and firmly believes that young people deserve to thrive in whatever body they are in. She has two young girls of her own and is passionate about supporting children in appreciating that all bodies are good bodies. Emily delivers Body Happy Org sessions in Scotland.
Aya Wingate RD (she/her): Aya is an NHS children's eating disorder dietitian and a trainer for The Body Project (NEDA). She delivers virtual CPD sessions for health professionals, supporting early intervention and stigma prevention through education.
Emma Leeson (she/her): Emma is a Training and Resources Lead for a national charity and qualified teacher. She is also a P4C facilitator and trainer with over 20 years' experience and creates resources that encourage critical thinking. At Body Happy Org, she delivers virtual and in-person workshops for students, teachers and parents/caregivers.
Denise Sanderson-Estcourt (she/her): Denise is a coach and HR trainer and the creator of the Body Confidence card deck for adults. She delivers CPD sessions and student workshops in South East London, supporting school staff with inclusive wellbeing tools.
Molly Bouch (she/her): Molly is a primary school teacher and Art specialist based in Sussex. She leads workshops, and supports our school engagement efforts through inclusive design and curriculum alignment.
Dr Molly Moffat (she/her): Molly is a practising doctor in paediatrics and general practice. She delivers CPD training on inclusive, stigma-free healthcare for young people.
Gill Wilson (she/her): Gill is an experienced counsellor with specialist knowledge of eating disorders and body image. She facilitates workshops for young people and school staff.
Laura Robbins (she/her): Laura is a classroom teacher and diversity lead who supported the Body Happy Schools pilot in Brighton. She brings deep insight into inclusive practice and represents our commitment to co-designed, values-led delivery in schools.
Dr Garcia Ashdown-Franks (she/her): Garcia is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at York St John University, working across physical activity, body image and mental health. Supports integration of research into programme design and delivery.
Amy West (she / her) : Amy is a HAES-informed fitness professional. She delivers student sessions and staff CPD with a focus on joyful movement and inclusive physical activity.
Jeanette Thompson-Wessen (she/her): Jeanette is an experienced teacher and intuitive eating specialist. She develops classroom content and delivers CPD training focused on food freedom and inclusive education.
Donna Lacey (she/her): Donna teaches clinical and communication skills at university level. She brings a strong focus on weight stigma reduction and person-centred practice to her delivery.
Hollie Jones (she/her): Hollie works in community mental health and delivers student sessions and CPD with a focus on eating disorder prevention and early intervention
Emily Perfect (she/her): Emily is a primary teacher with over 10 years of experience, specialising in KS1 and PE. She’s led on inclusive learning environments and joy-based movement in schools. At Body Happy Org, she facilitates CPD and student workshops and co-creates classroom resources for our Teaching Hub.
Charlotte Gill (she/her): Charlotte is a PSHE coordinator and experienced classroom teacher. She delivers in-school sessions and supports Body Happy Org's West Yorkshire presence.
Claire Hodgeson (she/her): Claire is a facilitator and trainer specialising in eating disorder awareness and body image education. As part of the PEDS network, she supports staff training and delivers student sessions in the East of England and virtually.
Rebecca Holmes (she/her): Becca is an EMHP and fitness instructor based in Hull. With over 15 years' experience supporting children’s wellbeing, she runs workshops and CPD with a focus on mental health and disordered eating awareness.
Janine Parry (she/her): Janine is a former Teaching Assistant with 15 years’ experience supporting children’s emotional and academic development. She delivers student workshops in the North West and brings a playful, accessible approach to body respect.
Michelle Thompson (she/her): Michelle is a creative facilitator and artist with over 15 years' experience working with young people. She leads student workshops with a focus on positive self-esteem, self-expression and social connection.
Kate Elliot (she/her): Kate is a BAMBA-registered mindfulness teacher who works with children and parents to build self-awareness, resilience and body confidence. She delivers school workshops and supports inclusive wellbeing delivery in primary schools.
Frances Healer RD (she/her): Frances is a registered dietitian, certified intuitive eating counsellor and body image educator. She delivers student and CPD workshops, with a focus on neurodivergent-affirming and weight-inclusive practice.
Victoria Henry (she/her): Victoria is a PSHE lead and international school educator. She develops resources and leads virtual student sessions, bringing the Body Happy message to global audiences.
Sam Kennedy (she/her): Sam is an accredited life and career coach, and Fair Play Method facilitator, with over 15 years of leadership experience in non-profit and public sector organisations. At Body Happy Org, she delivers school and corporate workshops and supports our wellbeing approach for families and school communities.