While Simon initially set out to become a chef, there is a community of people who will forever be grateful Simon found his space in medicine. Graduating with a medical degree from Birmingham University in 1996, he initially trained in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. In 2001, after becoming quite disillusioned with the impersonal and clinician-centric hospital care, he switched to General Practice. Even so, he just couldn’t ignore his continued interest in sexual health. This led to him training as an abortion provider, as a vasectomist, and picking up the casual diploma in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, you know, as you do in your spare time.

When Simon first arrived in Aotearoa in 2003, he got straight into General Practice, abortion care, and vasectomies. Just that old disillusionment chestnut came up again. But this time, he felt able to do something about it. Removing barriers to healthcare is what Simon cares most about. So, he started with vasectomies with the creation of Snip.

From there he broadened his scope to improve abortion pathways including leading the way for at-home medical abortions to become the norm.

In 2008 Simon set up and ran a community-based abortion clinic that coupled abortion care with contraceptive and sexual health care. The results of this led the way for local provision of abortion across New Zealand.

In 2020 Simon became a specialist in Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare FNZCSRH and beyond abortion is a passionate educator about sexual dysfunction, both within the medical community and national media.

It is no surprise to us that Simon was awarded the Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King’s New Years awards in 2024 for all his work in Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare.