Amy was diagnosed as dyslexic when she was 14 years old and was not invited back to school to do her A-levels as she wasn’t considered academic enough. She fought hard to gain her qualifications and earn her PhD through dogged hard work, determination and a support network of family, friends, peers, and professionals – reaching out and asking for help was and remains essential to her successes.

Because of the challenges and adversity she faced and the importance of support networks to her success Amy founded and is a Director of the professional network and charity, Women in Academia Support Network. Starting from five friends, the network now has nearly 12,000 members world-wide. The Network exists to support women in academia who are often deemed not academic enough by way of their gender, disability, race, sexuality and class. As a researcher at the University of Manchester, Amy is passionate about bridging inequity in science and using creative practice methods of education to support science learning for all children, particularly those who are disadvantaged within the education system.

Amy researches and publishes on gender, disadvantage, education and feminism. In addition, Amy’s first love is theatre and as co- artistic director for Bilamankhwe she uses her voice to support equality and diversity in professional theatre too.