Julie Cook Lucas is Research Associate at the College of Health and Wellbeing, University of Central Lancashire. Following a BA in English Literature, Julie developed national women’s health initiatives at the Health Education Authority. She ran award-winning campaigns for the London-based Women’s Environmental Network through the early 1990s, and co-founded the UK’s first certificated course on ecofeminism. She has subsequently worked as an advocate and counsellor providing voluntary sector women’s mental health services, and as a community representative and health activitst around reproductive health issues and user representation in NHS development. Her current research interests are user representation and involvement in the development and delivery of health services (particularly as related to women’s health) and gender and vulnerable populations in benefit sharing.