Summary

In a series of entries on Meet the Team we briefly get to know each of the GambLGBTQ+ project team a little better. This week it's Alex (she/her) who is the co-Principal Investigator on the project.

What is your role in the project?

I am co-Principal Investigator for GambLGBTQ+, along with Laetitia. This means I am responsible for the preparation, management, and reporting of the project as well as ensuring the project is delivered within the timeframe and budget. This is a large multi-phased project, with many partners, and an important part of my role is having oversight of all the moving parts.

What brought you to participating in the research?

In 2023, we completed a scoping review of gambling harms in LGBTQ+ communities, which found the evidence based was limited, inconsistent, and of mixed quality. Furthermore, very few studies had explored LGBTQ+ people’s lived experiences of gambling. This was a clear call to action – we wanted to design a study that could address these limitations. Through our multidisciplinary research collaboration and the meaningful involvement of LGBTQ+ communities, I hope this project will provide robust evidence that can be used to support LGBTQ+ people experiencing gambling harms.

What is your favourite place in East Sussex?

I live in Hastings (along the coast from Brighton) and my favourite place has to be Hastings Country Park. It is beautiful all times of the year. There are stunning coastal views, old woodland glens, and a secluded (clothing optional!) cove, which is a well-known site for fossils (you can find dinosaur footprints in the sandstone!) and a recently settled seal colony.

What have you enjoyed reading and watching?

I love reading (and finding a good book in a charity shop!). I have recently finished Butter, a crime-story (based on a real-life story in Japan) centred around food, but also an exploration of gender roles. But as I read a lot for work, a good TV show can be the best thing to wind down to. My “comfort” go to show is Schitt’s Creek, it gets better with each watch.

A selfie of Alex who is a white woman with brown hair and wearing glasses and a green shirt. In the background is a window with a plant and a wall.

Photo of Alex