Who is Sarah Jane Brown?

Sarah Jane Brown, born Sarah Macaulay on October 31, 1963, in Buckinghamshire, is a prominent campaigner for global health and education.

Her Charity Work and Advocacy

She is the founder and chair of Theirworld, a children's charity that was originally known as PiggyBankKids. Sarah is also the executive chair of the Global Business Coalition for Education.

A Childhood in Tanzania

Sarah spent much of her early life in Tanzania before returning to the UK at the age of seven due to her parents' separation.

From PR to Public Service

After earning a degree in psychology from Bristol University, Sarah worked in brand consultancy before establishing her own public relations firm called Hobsbawn Macaulay Communications. However, she left the PR business in 2001 to focus on her charitable work and advocacy.

Global Patron and Author

Besides being a campaigner, Sarah serves as the global patron of The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood and is a patron of Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres and SHINE Education Trust. She is also the author of the book "Behind The Black Door," a personal memoir about life at 10 Downing Street.

Marriage to Gordon Brown

In August 2000, Sarah Jane married Gordon Brown, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1997 to 2007 and Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010. The couple had a private wedding ceremony in North Queensferry, Fife.

A Devastating Loss

Sarah and Gordon have three children together, two sons named John and James Fraser, and a daughter named Jennifer Jane. Tragically, Jennifer passed away just 10 days after her birth in 2002. Sarah has openly discussed the immense pain and grief she still feels, stating that a part of her will always be broken. The couple established research initiatives to study the causes of premature birth in honor of their daughter's memory.

The Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory

In response to their loss, Sarah and Gordon Brown founded the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory at the University of Edinburgh. The laboratory focuses on studying complications in pregnancy and childbirth, with a particular emphasis on preterm births. Their work takes a unified approach that combines obstetric and neonatal research.

Through her charity work, advocacy, and personal memoir, Sarah Jane Brown has made a lasting impact on issues of global health, education, and the well-being of mothers and children. Despite enduring heartbreaking loss, she remains committed to making a difference in the world.