Mridul Wadhwa, the Chief Executive Officer of Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre (ERCC), has stepped down following a critical independent review that found serious failings in the organization’s management and protection of women-only spaces. Wadhwa, a trans woman who was appointed CEO in 2021, resigned after the review concluded she had not acted professionally and failed to prioritize the needs of survivors during her tenure.
The review was commissioned after an employment tribunal revealed that a counsellor, Roz Adams, had been unfairly dismissed. Adams, who holds gender-critical views, believed that survivors should have the right to know the sex of their support workers. The tribunal found that her dismissal was based on her gender-critical beliefs, which were perceived by senior management, including Wadhwa, as transphobic.
The ERCC board acknowledged the findings, stating that the organization is implementing the report’s recommendations and agreed that it was “time for a change in leadership.” They are working closely with Rape Crisis Scotland to ensure the center exceeds national standards moving forward.
The review highlighted several systemic failures within the ERCC, including its inability to provide women-only spaces for 16 months, a lack of robust internal systems, and leadership that did not fully understand the limits of its authority. Critics, including For Women Scotland and Conservative MSP Sue Webber, argue that the charity’s board must undergo a deeper “change of ethos” to regain the trust of the women it serves.
Despite the leadership turmoil, the review acknowledged that the center continues to provide high-quality services to survivors. However, the organization has temporarily paused new referrals as it undertakes the necessary reforms to protect women-only spaces and rebuild its reputation.
The recruitment process for a new CEO is set to begin soon, as the ERCC aims to move forward and restore confidence in its services.
