Testing Scotland's proposed domestic homicide and Suicide review model: phase one report and SG response

Appendix 1: Information about AAFDA and the workshop facilitators

Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA) is a national independent and unique organisation offering specialist and expert advocacy and peer support after fatal domestic abuse and is a Centre of Excellence for reviews after domestic homicide or suicide following domestic abuse. AAFDA has had huge influence on developing the methodology of Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) in England and Wales and some influence on methodologies internationally.

AAFDA influences policy and practice responses to domestic abuse and fatal domestic abuse and offers training, information, guidance and advice to professionals working in these fields. AAFDA is the Home Office chosen provider of training for chairs of DHRs. This includes developing and assessing the competence of chairs and creating a DHR Chair qualification.

AAFDA is directly involved in the quality assurance process for DHRs in England and runs the DHR Network, supporting UK wide professionals involved in DHRs to connect and improve practice.

Frank Mullane MBE is the CEO of AAFDA having established the charity in 2008 in memory of his sister Julia Pemberton and her son Will, whose murders in 2003 resulted in the pilot Domestic Homicide Review being conducted. Frank is a Home Office appointed reader of DHRs and has assessed c.1200 of these reviews. He is a Home Office accredited Chair for DHRs and trains others to undertake them. Frank has co-authored a book and three chapters in different books. He developed a model for helping families to be integral to reviews after domestic homicide, thought to be unique in the world. He is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Gloucestershire.

Nicki Norman OBE has over 35 years of experience in the domestic abuse sector, both at a local and national level and spent 14 years in leadership roles at Women’s Aid England, facilitating improvements to responses to domestic abuse. Since 2021 Nicki has worked on a freelance basis supporting charities and is a practicing DHR Chair. She is also a Home Office appointed reader of DHRs. Nicki is currently acting as interim Deputy CEO for AAFDA and runs the DHR Network, as well as contributing to delivery of the DHR Chair qualification.