Emma Neville: The Woman Redefining Menopause Awareness Through Purpose, Community, and Courage
Emma Neville is a UK-based person-centred counsellor, accredited menopause coach, philanthropist, and the founder of the online community This Is Me. Based in Manchester, England, she has become a respected and increasingly influential figure in women’s health, particularly in the areas of perimenopause, menopause, and early menopause linked to Premature Ovarian Insufficiency. Known earlier in life as Emma Hadfield, she is now widely recognised under her married name, Emma Neville, not only as the wife of Gary Neville, but as a woman who has built a powerful identity through purpose-driven work and lived experience.
Her journey is one of transformation. What began as a deeply personal health diagnosis later became the foundation for a community that supports thousands of women across the UK. Emma Neville’s work stands out because it is honest, human, and grounded in real life rather than theory alone.
Emma Neville’s Background and Early Life
Before her work in menopause awareness brought her into the public eye, Emma Neville lived largely away from professional headlines. Known as Emma Hadfield prior to marriage, she later became Emma Neville after marrying Gary Neville in 2007 at Manchester Cathedral. While early media attention often focused on her relationship with a high-profile footballer, Emma has since established her own voice and professional standing.
Family has always played a central role in her life. She is a mother to two daughters and frequently speaks about the importance of emotional wellbeing, confidence, and resilience in raising children. These values later became closely linked to her advocacy work, particularly in helping women navigate major life transitions with strength and self-belief.
Emma Neville Age and Personal Milestones
Emma Neville has spoken openly about age, something that remains closely tied to her message around women’s health. She was born on 18 March 1980 and turned 45 in March 2025. Rather than avoiding the topic, she embraces it, challenging the idea that age should limit ambition, physical ability, or purpose.
Her openness around ageing is particularly meaningful in the context of menopause, a stage of life that is still too often associated with silence or shame. By speaking honestly about her own age and experiences, Emma helps normalise conversations that many women feel pressured to avoid.
Emma Neville Menopause Journey and POI Diagnosis
The defining turning point in Emma Neville’s life came at the age of 40, when she was diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency. This meant she entered menopause more than ten years earlier than the UK average age of 51. The diagnosis was both unexpected and life-altering, bringing with it physical symptoms, emotional challenges, and a sudden shift in identity.
Rather than retreating inward, Emma chose to learn. She researched menopause in depth, sought understanding of hormonal health, and began to reflect on how little open conversation existed around women’s experiences. This lack of support and information became a driving force in her decision to train as a menopause coach and combine that training with her work as a person-centred counsellor.
Her menopause journey is not presented as a polished success story, but as a real and ongoing experience. That honesty is one of the reasons so many women feel seen and understood through her work.
This Is Me: Emma Neville’s Community Platform
In September 2023, Emma Neville founded This Is Me, an online community created to support women through perimenopause, menopause, post-menopause, and early menopause caused by POI. The platform was built from a simple but powerful idea: women need safe spaces where they can speak openly, without judgement, about what they are experiencing.
This Is Me is not about perfection or quick fixes. It is about shared stories, education, and connection. Emma Neville encourages women to talk honestly about hormones, mental health, relationships, work, and self-identity. Her goal is to reshape the narrative around menopause and be part of the generation that makes it matter.
Through this platform, she has helped normalise conversations that were once considered uncomfortable or private, creating a sense of community for women who previously felt isolated.
Emma Neville as a Counsellor and Menopause Coach
Emma Neville’s professional background plays a vital role in how she approaches her work. As a person-centred counsellor, she places individual experience at the heart of support, recognising that no two menopause journeys are the same. Her accreditation as a menopause coach allows her to combine emotional support with practical understanding, offering guidance that is both compassionate and informed.
Her approach avoids fear-based messaging. Instead, she focuses on helping women understand their bodies, recognise changes, and feel empowered to seek appropriate support. This balance of empathy and knowledge has helped establish her as a trusted voice in the menopause space.
Emma Neville Husband
Emma Neville is married to Gary Neville, former England international footballer, businessman, and media personality. They married in 2007 in Manchester Cathedral and have built a family life together in Manchester. While Gary Neville has long been a public figure, he has been open in expressing pride in Emma’s work and her commitment to menopause awareness.
Their relationship is often described as supportive and grounded. Emma Neville and Gary Neville appear together at public events from time to time, but Emma’s professional identity stands independently of her husband’s career. Her work is driven by her own experiences, qualifications, and values.
Emma Neville Daughters and Family Values
As a mother of two daughters, Molly and Sophie, Emma Neville frequently reflects on parenting, adolescence, and the importance of emotional resilience. She often highlights the role of sport, movement, and community in building confidence and strength of character, values that closely mirror her wider wellbeing philosophy and approach to life.
Her family life reinforces her strong belief in intergenerational support and open communication. Whether speaking about hormones, mental health, or self-worth, Emma’s message consistently centres on honesty, emotional awareness, and connection within families, encouraging healthier conversations across generations.
From Emma Hadfield to Emma Neville
The name Emma Hadfield still appears in older media archives, particularly from the period before her marriage. Today, Emma Neville is the name associated with her professional identity, advocacy work, and public presence. This transition reflects not only a change in name, but a journey into purpose-led work that has defined her later life.
Why Emma Neville Matters Today
Emma matters today because she represents a new and necessary approach to women’s health. She brings together lived experience, professional credibility, and emotional intelligence in a way that feels authentic rather than performative. Many women who feel dismissed or misunderstood during menopause recognise their own experiences in her story.
Through This Is Me, she continues to change how menopause is discussed, encouraging openness in homes, workplaces, and communities. By addressing hormones and ageing without shame, she helps reduce stigma and empowers women to advocate for their own health with confidence and clarity.
Quick Info
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Emma Neville |
| Maiden Name | Emma Hadfield |
| Date of Birth | 18 March 1980 |
| Age | 45 (as of 2025) |
| Nationality | British |
| Location | Manchester, England, United Kingdom |
| Profession | Person-centred Counsellor & Accredited Menopause Coach |
| Known For | Founder of This Is Me |
| Platform Founded | This Is Me (September 2023) |
| Menopause Journey | Diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) at age 40 |
| Specialism | Perimenopause, Menopause, Early Menopause, Women’s Wellbeing |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Husband | Gary Neville |
| Marriage Year | 2007 |
| Marriage Location | Manchester Cathedral, Manchester |
| Children | Two daughters |
| Daughters’ Names | Molly and Sophie |
| Advocacy Focus | Menopause awareness, mental health, stigma reduction |
| Public Presence | Speaker, community founder, women’s health advocate |
Conclusion
Emma Neville is far more than a public figure by association. She is a counsellor, menopause coach, founder, mother, and advocate who has turned personal challenge into meaningful impact. From her diagnosis of Premature Ovarian Insufficiency at 40 to the creation of This Is Me, her journey reflects resilience, compassion, and leadership.
In a society where menopause has too often been ignored, Emma’s voice is helping to shape a more informed, supportive, and honest future for women. Her work continues to remind others that sharing real experiences can lead to powerful change, both individually and collectively.
FAQs
1. Who is Emma Neville?
Emma Neville is a UK-based person-centred counsellor, accredited menopause coach, and the founder of the online community This Is Me. She is known for her work in menopause awareness, emotional wellbeing, and breaking the stigma surrounding women’s health.
2. What is Emma Neville known for?
Emma Neville is best known for founding This Is Me, a platform that supports women through perimenopause, menopause, and early menopause. Her work is shaped by both professional training and lived experience following a diagnosis of Premature Ovarian Insufficiency.
3. What is Emma Neville’s menopause story?
Emma was diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency at the age of 40, which led her into early menopause more than a decade earlier than the UK average. This experience inspired her to research menopause extensively and later qualify as a menopause coach.
4. Is Emma Neville married to Gary Neville?
Yes, Emma Neville is married to Gary Neville. The couple married in 2007 and live in Manchester, England. While Gary Neville is well known for his football and business career, Emma has built her own professional identity through counselling and menopause advocacy.
5. Does Emma Neville have children?
Yes, Emma Neville is a mother of two daughters, Molly and Sophie. She often speaks publicly about parenting, emotional resilience, and the importance of open communication within families, particularly during adolescence and major life changes.
