Lesley Elliott (campaigner)

Lesley Frances Elliott MNZM is a New Zealand nurse who is the founder and chairperson of the Sophie Elliott Foundation, an organisation that educates New Zealanders on the signs of abuse in personal relationships. She was moved to start the work after her daughter Sophie was killed by her former boyfriend in January 2008.[1] She realised that she had been unaware that he was abusive, but that it was possible to identify the signs. In 2019, she closed the Sophie Elliott Foundation as her Parkinson's disease was preventing her from continuing to run the foundation and she does not want another person to control her daughter's image.[2]

Elliott in 2015

Recognition

In 2014, Elliott won the Supreme Award at the New Zealand Women of Influence Awards. She has also won a Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary International and the Next Woman of the Year title. In the 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the prevention of domestic violence.[3][4]

Publications
  • Sophie's Legacy – A mother's story of her family's loss and their quest for change, (2011) Lesley Elliott with William J O'Brien, Random House[5]
  • Loves Me Not - How to Keep Relationships Safe, (2014) Lesley Elliott with William J O'Brien, Random House[6]

References
  1. "Lesley Elliott honoured for her work". New Zealand Herald. 11 September 2015. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  2. "Lesley Elliott closes Sophie Elliott Foundation 11 years after her daughter's murder". Newshub. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  3. "Lesley Elliott brings message to Cambridge". Hamilton News. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  4. "Queen's Birthday honours list 2015". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  5. "Sophie Elliott: I can't forgive". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  6. "Loves Me Not by William J. O'Brien". Retrieved 18 October 2017.
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