Dr Elly Hanson

Ambassador

Dr Elly Hanson is a Clinical Psychologist who focuses on tackling abuse and online harms, and is more widely involved in supporting young people to flourish and enjoy positive relationships. She undertakes research, consultation, training and psychological assessments, working primarily with educators, police, victims and survivors, and the voluntary sector. She is Research Director of Fully Human, an initiative of the PSHE Association, and in this role, explores societal forces conducive to harm, and how we can nurture the core human ‘goods’ (such as our intrinsic values) that serve us and our planet well.

Within this role, she authored the report Pornography and Human Futures, an analysis of online pornography’s nature, business model and impact. For over ten years, she worked with CEOP (the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, part of the UK National Crime Agency) and led their development of a preventive education resource for schools, Respecting me, you, us: Building healthy relationships and creating positive cultures. 

She has authored a variety of academic papers and chapters, including those on online abuse and how the ‘tech freedom’ ideology has been conducive to it. She is also an experienced therapist and has previously worked in an NHS drugs and alcohol service with survivors of abuse; an NSPCC team for children with harmful sexual behaviour; and a company providing residential care to looked after children.