The Chair of the Infected Blood Memorial Committee, with the approval of the Minister for the Cabinet Office, has announced the appointment of Susan Harris as Vice-Chair.
Susan has been a longstanding, active and trusted advocate for the infected blood community. Susan was infected with Hepatitis C at just 6 months old as a result of treatment she received for an inherited bleeding disorder.
Susan has worked with the whole blood community throughout her career, advocating for further support and engaging regularly with the Hepatitis C Trust, Haemophilia Society and Thallesemia Association.
Susan replaces Joan Edgington as Vice-Chair, who has provided invaluable support to the Memorial Committee throughout her tenure.
Chair of the Infected Blood Committee, Clive Smith said:
I am very pleased to welcome Susan as the Vice-Chair of the Infected Blood Memorial Committee. Following Joan stepping down from the role, Susan’s appointment is especially important to ensure the Committee is representative of the whole community.
Susan has done a huge amount of work to advocate and support the whole blood community. She has also worked closely with the Thalassemia community. I look forward to working with Susan to progress this important work.
David Abdo also interviewed for the Vice-Chair position and was an outstanding candidate. On the basis of his interview, David is being appointed as an additional committee member.
The new Vice-Chair of the Infected Blood Committee, Susan Harris said:
I am deeply honoured to accept the appointment of Vice Chair for the Infected Blood Memorial Committee. Having witnessed the decades-long struggle for justice and recognition, I am profoundly committed to ensuring that the voices of the infected and affected remain at the heart of our work.
I look forward to collaborating closely with the Chair, Clive Smith, and our fellow committee members to deliver memorials that provide not only a site for national reflection but also a powerful, lasting recognition of the lives lost and the injustices endured. It is a solemn responsibility to help shape a legacy that truly honours the resilience of this community, and I am dedicated to ensuring that our collective history is never forgotten.
The appointment has been agreed, on the advice of the Chair, by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds.
Susan and David will join the rest of the Infected Blood Memorial Committee who are working with the community to create fitting memorials to recognise and remember what happened to people.
The Committee is preparing for the Infected Blood: A Service of Recognition, Remembrance and Reflection at St Paul’s Cathedral on 19 May in honour of those impacted by the scandal.