We are delighted to announce that the BICA Executive Committee have elected to award Ruth Wilde with Honorary Membership of BICA in recognition of the distinguished and significant contribution she has made to BICA and fertility counselling.

Ruth’s involvement in fertility counselling and BICA spans over many years. Ruth joined the executive committee in 2008, later becoming Chair until 2013. Elected to the British Fertility Society’s Executive as the Counsellor Representative in 2010, Ruth completed two three-year terms. Ruth is currently an Authority board member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), having being appointed to serve for a second term at the beginning of 2019.

Ruth has undertaken sterling work over the years in raising the professional profile of fertility counselling, collating a joint research study with Infertility Network UK (INUK) into counselling availability in clinics whilst continuing to raise counselling standards and bringing an organisational focus on governance.

Ruth has been instrumental in the development of the BICA Good Practice Guidelines and has worked tirelessly over the years on raising the profile of BICA with the HFEA by responding diligently and comprehensively to numerous consultations. Throughout her roles Ruth has maintained a sense of fairness and reflection, including helping the HFEA to develop their pilot and deliver training for the professional support service for Opening the Register. Ruth developed strong links with the International Infertility Counselling Organisation (IICO) organising a joint BICA/IICO event in 2013; BICA’s 25th year, BFS and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) and more recently has had a significant key role in developing the HFEA Patient Support focus.

As an Honorary Member Ruth will be entitled to lifelong membership of the British Infertility Counselling Association, The Journal of Fertility Counselling and attendance at BICA’s Annual conference.

Congratulations Ruth, we are proud to have you as an Honorary member of The British Infertility Counselling Association.