Ms Rachel Halford

Rachel Halford is President of The World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), a global network of over 350 civil society organisations, and CEO of The Hepatitis C Trust, a national UK peer led civil society organisation that alongside advocacy and raising awareness delivers a national peer programme across local communities and the English prison estate. Employing over 150 people with lived experience of hepatitis C, substance misuse and or criminal justice, the peer programmes reach and support the hardest to engage affected by viral hepatitis. 

Passionate about equality and human rights Rachel has also led other non-governmental organisations including Women in Prison Ltd; a national UK campaigning organisation that provides support and advocacy for women affected by the criminal justice system.  She also sits on a number of national, Global and European strategic boards representing the patient voice including 4 years as the WHA European Regional Board member.

Rachel has over 25 years’ experience of working with people at high-risk of HIV, viral hepatitis, and liver disease generally – the homeless, people affected by the criminal justice system, substance users and migrants. 

Diagnosed with hepatitis C in 1998, Rachel completed a year of interferon treatment clearing the virus in 2007.