Beyond the virus: Living positively with HIV

Since HIV hit the public consciousness in the 1980s there have been a wide range of influences on the lives and experiences of people living with HIV. Stigma and bias has affected access to treatment and prophylaxis as well as creating harmful stereotypes about the type of person who is HIV positive. Meanwhile, scientific and medical advances have revolutionised treatment and the prevention of transmission of the virus which has changed the lives of people living with HIV.

In our panel to discuss experiences of living with HIV in the 21st Century, we'll cover physical, psychological and social impacts of HIV highlighting the huge progress in HIV management, and outlining key challenges. Our panel will feature:

Dr Shema Tariq is a Principal Research Fellow at University College London’s Institute for Global Health and Honorary Consultant HIV Physician at the Mortimer Market Centre. She is recognised internationally as a leading expert in the care of women living with HIV, leading a number of large studies and founding one of the UK's largest specialist clinics for women living with HIV transitioning through menopause. She has authored national and international guidelines and is a Trustee of two charities, Positively UK and Tommy's. Shema is passionate about the meaningful inclusion of women in HIV research, in all their diversity, to ensure equitable HIV care.

LeaSuwanna Griffith has lived with HIV for over 20 years. Despite her diagnosis, her three children and her husband are all HIV-negative. For the past 18 years, she has been a visible advocate for women’s sexual health, and has been involved with Act Up London, HIV Voices, Her Story and Changing Perception. Her most recent role is as an HIV ambassador for Fast-track Cities London. She sits on two HIV organisation boards, Positively UK and CAFPH, and participates in many steering groups.

Matthew Hodson was recently described as ‘one of the most influential gay activists in Britain’. He has over 25 years’ experience of charity leadership, including Chief Executive at Gay Men Fighting AIDS, a community-based sexual health charity, and Executive Director of the global HIV information charity, aidsmap. In 2021 he became the first person living openly with HIV to chair an international medical AIDS conference. Through his work and his personal advocacy, Matthew tackles the ignorance and fear that still surrounds HIV.

Yvonne Richards-Cooper has been diagnosed since 1998 but only began living well since 2015. She was supported by George House Trust to come to terms with her diagnosis and rethink her experience. She has volunteered supporting women as a Peer Mentor and as a Positive Speaker where she visits schools, surgeries and conferences talking about living well as a woman with HIV. She has been involved in developing women's projects at George House Trust, culminating in the Stepping Out Project, aimed at increasing the confidence of women to live well with HIV. She hopes to raise the visibility of women's experience in the narratives of HIV, so that they are empowered to ask for the care and quality of life they want.

Dr Alice Howarth is a biologist and science communicator. She is an open research advocate for the University of Liverpool and the UK Reproducibility Network, working to make research available beyond academia, and has previously worked in a laboratory focused on the pharmacokinetics of HIV medications, with a particular interest in modelling medications in vulnerable populations such as pregnant people and neonates.

As with all of our panels, entry to Beyond the virus: Living positively with HIV is included with all QED tickets, costing £189 for an in-person ticket, or £45 for an online streaming ticket.