People

Paul Willis, Professor of Social Care, Cardiff University, is the co-Principal Investigator for the LEAP study. He is a registered social worker and the inaugural Director of CARE – the Centre for Adult Social Care Research, based in the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University. His research background is in social gerontology and social work, and his research focuses on issues of social inclusion and care in later life, particularly for older people belonging to minoritised groups. Areas of expertise include: housing, ageing and social inclusion; unpaid carers and social isolation; loneliness, ageing and later life; older men’s social connections; sexuality, gender identity and ageing; LGBTQ+ ageing; social work with older people. Profile here. He lives in Cardiff and is originally from Australia.

Shannon O’Rourke recently earned her PhD in Social Psychology and is now working as the Postdoctoral Research Associate on the LEAP study. Her previous research experiences include diversity in leadership, LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing, sexual/reproductive health, and maternal/child health. She’s lived in the USA, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, Germany, and is now based in London.

Willem Stander, co-Investigator on the LEAP project, is a Research Fellow working to improve mental health and social care for LGBTQ+ people and care-experienced young people. With a background in LGBTQ+ activism, he collaborates closely with communities to ensure their experiences shape more inclusive support. He lives in Brighton, where he’s frequently terrorised by seagulls.