Meet the team
Dewi Emberton
Founder & Director
Dewi is the founder and director of Rural Trans Alliance CIC. He is a Welsh advocate for transgender rights with a strong commitment to improving the lives of transgender people belonging to rural communities, especially in relation to access to various essential services and inclusive gender affirming healthcare.
Dewi’s work is shaped by a combination of lived experience and professional insight. Growing up in rural Wales, he witnessed first-hand the isolation, stigma, and lack of understanding that trans people in rural areas can be subject to. His own medical transition was life-changing, giving him the stability, wellbeing, and confidence needed to thrive. These experiences strengthened his belief that every trans person deserves clear information, fair treatment, and equal access to care.
Over the years, Dewi has contributed to community projects, research initiatives, and resource development with several LGBTQ+ organisations. His work has been recognised for its clarity, impact, and dedication to improving outcomes for trans communities.
At Rural Trans Alliance, Dewi leads on strategy, research, resource creation, and community engagement. He ensures that the organisation’s work is grounded in evidence, empathy, and the lived experiences of transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people living in rural areas across the United Kingdom.
Lis Kelly
Resources and Research Volunteer
Dr Elizabeth Ann Kelly is an educator, researcher, and international advocate with over a decade of experience advancing equity through education and community-led advocacy. She holds a PhD in Educational Psychology and Methodology, with researched focused on equity in education and the structural barriers faced by marginalised learners.
Her advocacy work has included sustained engagement in the United Nations, supporting non-governmental participation in global policy discussions on education, gender equity, and social justice. Rather than speaking for communities, her work focuses on creating space for others to advocate for themselves, building skills, confidence, and practical tools that enable grassroots organisations to develop and implement effective advocacy plans rooted in local knowledge and lived experience.
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a committed trans ally, Dr. Kelly brings an intersectional, values-driven approach to her work. She is particularly passionate about supporting rural trans communities to build visibility, safety, and collective power through solidarity.
Nikola Poweziak
Creative & Communications Lead
Nikola is the creative and communications lead for Rural Trans Alliance. She is a dedicated cis ally to the transgender community, bringing her passion for visual storytelling, accessibility, and authentic representation to all corners of our work. She leads on photography, graphic design, branding, and social media communications, and is the creator behind our organisation’s distinctive and meaningful logo.
Nikola has been involved with the Rural Trans Alliance since its founding and plays a pivotal role in supporting the organisation’s activities. She has also previously supported several other community and rights based organisations with her creative expertise and photography skills, helping to document events and producing high-quality visual materials.