Conference Organisers

The University of East London is proud to host the 4th Annual Menstruation Research Network (MRN) Conference, welcoming researchers, activists, practitioners, and community voices from across the UK and beyond. 

Through research and community engagement, UEL actively supports conversations that challenge stigma and promote menstrual health across all sectors of society. Hosting this year’s MRN Conference reflects UEL’s dedication to fostering critical dialogue and creating space for inclusive, impactful work in menstrual equity and wellbeing.

Meera’s research explores the role of dignity in menstrual health, investigating how societal taboos, cultural norms, and discriminatory practices affect gender equality and well-being. Her work has led to the development of the Dignity Indicators for Improving Menstrual Health (DI-IMH) framework, which has since been adopted by organisations across the UK, India, and Nepal to improve menstrual health outcomes. An important aspect of her research is examining how dignity can address broader issues of stigma and marginalisation. 

Meera has published extensively on menstrual health, gender equality, and development, including her recent work on using theatre as a data collection tool in menstrual health research (Researching Development NGOs: Global and Grassroots Perspectives, Routledge, 2023) and the role of dignity in menstrual health (Period Matters: Menstruation in South Asia, 2022). She is also the author of Why Some Development Works (2021), which examines successful development strategies across seven countries. 

In addition to her extensive research, Meera serves as Vice President of the Human Development and Capability Association and as Director of Research Impact and Innovation at the University of East London’s School of Childhood and Social Care. Her contributions to the field have also earnt her international recognition, including the prestigious 2016 CROP Poverty Prize. 

Abigail’s research focuses on improving menstrual health outcomes in the UK, addressing societal taboos and reframing public perceptions of menstruation. Her ESRC-funded doctoral project integrates critical and decolonial perspectives to explore how successful menstrual health strategies from the Global South can be adapted and implemented in the Global North. Abigail has also collaborated on “The Role of Dignity in Menstrual Health” project led by Professor Meera Tiwari, contributing to application of the Dignity Indicators for Improving Menstrual Health (DI-IMH) framework. This work emphasises dignity as a key driver of improved menstrual health outcomes and has been adopted by organisations in the UK, India, and Nepal. 

Abigail holds an MSc in International Social and Public Policy from the London School of Economics and a BA in International Development with NGO Management from the University of East London. With over a decade of experience in the third sector, Abigail has tackled pressing social challenges, including homelessness and human trafficking, through leadership and advocacy. This extensive background informs her commitment to fostering dignity, equity, and transformative change in menstrual health, driving her efforts to create lasting impact both locally and globally. 

Atefah is a final-year undergraduate student at the University of East London (UEL), studying Sustainable Development and Social Change, where her academic focus includes menstrual inequalities, global perspectives, and activism. She has recently assisted the UEL Centre for Justice and Social Change with research on the localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Newham and Tower Hamlets. Atefah is supporting the planning and communications for the Fourth Annual Menstruation Research Network (MRN) Conference, as she is interested in collaborating with researchers, practitioners, activists, and policymakers in the menstrual health field to drive meaningful change.

Delnaz Kazemi is a 2nd-year undergraduate student at the University of East London studying Politics and International Relations. Her interests include exploring various social and political issues and seeing how they intersect with each other. Specifically, she is interested in studying the effects of disinformation and misinformation in relation to various issues, including menstruation as it relates to dignity, healthcare, and acceptance. She founded the news literacy organization, Do You Know What You Know? She is a program assistant for the Menstruation Research Conference.