Kirsty Irvine

Kirsty is a passionate advocate for meaningful participant involvement in health research and the responsible use of health data. A qualified solicitor, she brings extensive lived experience as both a research participant and a carer. She has taken part in several maternity-related research studies and, together with her family, is also a participant in the 100,000 Genomes Project. 

Kirsty has held a number of national leadership roles in health data governance. She was a founding lay member of the Independent Group Advising on the Release of Data (IGARD) at NHS Digital and served as its Chair from 2018 until the group concluded its work in 2023. She subsequently chaired NHS England’s Advisory Group for Data from 2023 to 2025. Through these roles, she provided independent advice on the safe, ethical and trustworthy use of health data, helping to support public confidence in how patient information is used for research and healthcare improvement. 

Kirsty is currently Chair of the Participant Panel at Genomics England, where she works to ensure that participant voices are embedded in decision-making and that genomics research is shaped by the experiences, priorities and expectations of the people it seeks to serve. 

In addition to her work in health data and research, Kirsty is a lay examiner for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and actively supports a range of maternal and child health charities.