Meet the Trainers: Safety of Women Journalists in Ghana and Nigeria

Physical and Digital Safety – Lazarus Safety Training 

Alistair Hollington and Laura Sullivan will be delivering an online course for media managers on journalist safety and reporting techniques. Together, they will also lead a two-day, in-person training workshop in Ghana for women journalists from Ghana and Nigeria. The workshop will focus on practical digital and physical safety techniques, culminating in the creation of personalised safety toolkits for the participants.

Mental Health and Wellbeing – Reuters

Joyce Adeluwoye-Adams MBE and Rachel Wood of Reuters will deliver a two-session online workshop for women journalists focused on practical mental health and wellbeing techniques. The sessions will explore awareness, stress, trauma and everyday safety tools, before supporting participants to strengthen boundaries, identify sources of support and create their own personal wellbeing toolkit.  

Alistair Hollington is Lazarus’ specialist trainer in safety, security, and first aid for media professionals, law enforcement agencies, and international organisations operating in complex and high-risk environments. A former British Army medic with over 10 years’ service, he has spent the past decade designing and delivering scenario-based training focused on personal safety, risk awareness, and resilience. 

 He has extensive experience working with journalists globally, including in Ukraine, West Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. His work focuses on addressing targeted threats such as surveillance, intimidation, and violence, with particular emphasis on practical risk mitigation and behavioural awareness in both permissive and semi-permissive environments. Alistair has delivered training for organisations including the BBC, OSCE, Reporters Without Borders, and Open Society Foundations. He is experienced in adapting training for vulnerable groups, including female journalists, and delivers engaging, scenario-led courses that prioritise participant safety, confidence, and actionable skills. 

Laura Sullivan is a trainer specialising in personal safety, self-protection, and scenario-based learning, with experience delivering training to diverse audiences across the UK and internationally. As part of Lazarus Training, she supports the delivery of practical, participant- focused training designed to build confidence, awareness, and effective decision-making in dynamic environments. 

Laura has a background in aviation safety, having worked as cabin crew and as a ground training instructor for a commercial airline. In these roles, she trained personnel to manage emergencies, maintain safety, and operate effectively under pressure, developing a clear and structured instructional style. 

She is a qualified Self Defence Instructor with the British Combat Sports Association and holds a Level 3 Award in Education and Training, alongside FREC Level 3 and Internal Assessor status with Qualsafe. She is experienced in working with female-only and mixed groups, creating supportive and inclusive environments where participants can develop practical, relevant skills.  

Joyce Adeluwoye-Adams MBE is Global Managing Editor for Newsroom Diversity and Mental Health at Reuters, where she leads a global strategy to attract, develop, and retain diverse talent while shaping an inclusive newsroom culture that prioritises psychological safety, resilience, and wellbeing. 

She oversees the Reuters Editorial Trauma Program, which provides support for journalists exposed to traumatic events, distressing content, and emotionally challenging assignments. She also leads the Reuters Peer Network – a global initiative launched in 2015, now comprising around 60 trained volunteer journalists offering confidential, peer-to-peer support across the newsroom. 

 A committed advocate for mental health in journalism,  Joyce is helping redefine how newsrooms respond to trauma, burnout, and emotional strain –– especially during periods of disruption and uncertainty. Her approach embeds mental health into the fabric of editorial life, ensuring that support is not only available, but actively integrated into newsroom systems, leadership practices, and everyday workflows. 

 Before joining Reuters, Joyce held senior roles at King, the BBC and PACT (Producers Alliance for Cinema and TV). She was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2018 for services to diversity in the media industry and was named one of the Financial Times’ Top 100 Most Influential BAME Tech Leaders. 

Rachel Wood is Program Manager for Mental Health & Strategic Projects at Reuters, where she develops training and initiatives that help journalists build resilience and foster psychologically safe working environments. Before joining Reuters, she spent 15 years in news and entertainment video journalism for the BBC, Sky News, and the Press Association. 

Alongside her professional work, Rachel has spent 20 years volunteering in wellbeing, crisis support, and community care roles with organisations including Samaritans, St John Ambulance, and the Royal Voluntary Service during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has been a trained Peer Supporter with Reuters since 2018 and previously served as Global Coordinator of its Peer Support Network, a global group of trained volunteer journalists providing confidential support to colleagues. 

The project is being implemented by the Public Media Alliance, with support from the UNESCO Office in Dakar and UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC).