Joshua Royal
Founder & Director
Born in Sri Lanka then adopted & brought up in Oxfordshire in the UK, Josh was diagnosed with HIV in 2015. Since coming to terms with his diagnosis he has dedicated his time to supporting others to love themselves.
Josh has a background in professional dance, with training from,the Royal Ballet School, Central School of Ballet & The Rock School For Dance Education in the USA. He has performed with The Royal Ballet, Kirov Opera, Murley Dance, Vienna Festival Ballet, English National Ballet, Hack Ballet & Neo Ballet, with appearances at Edinburgh Fringe Festival & in the West End in London.
In 2021 he completed the Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma with the Royal Academy of Dance and launched HIV The Naked Truth in 2020. Since then, he has became an ambassador for the #FindYourFour HIV campaign and the #TogetherVoices HIV campaign, and his life story was published in the book “From The Margins”, by Professor David Olusoga OBE.
"Before I was diagnosed with HIV, I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. I am now an HIV advocate & voice for mental health - if I can inspire others to know that they are not alone & it’s ok not to be ok - I can die happy"
Shashwathi Sudhakar
PA/Communications & Engagement Lead
I'm Shash, a freelance journalist and digital content strategist with a keen interest in social justice and public health. My passion for sexual health policy and socio-economic health access inspired me to craft a multimedia piece on India's HIV landscape for my master's dissertation
While I was piecing together the fragments of my story, I met Joshua; he let me into his life and unapologetically shared his fortunes as well as his trials, affording me invaluable insight for my piece. We fostered a strong bond over our mutual interest in HIV advocacy, which led to my joining the Naked Truth team.
To this day, HIV is still a death sentence in many places, although it doesn't have to be. It is still cloaked in shame, although it shouldn't be. It is up to us to de-stigmatise HIV and forge a reality where it is no longer one's ultimate downfall. Let's commit to achieving 95-95-95.
David Murley
Artistic Director
David is a professional dancer and qualified ballet teacher. He is a Royal Academy of Dance and London Studio Centre graduate. David also has a degree in French language from Southern Methodist University via University College London.
Since qualifying as a ballet teacher, David has taught at Urdang Academy, London School of Musical Theatre, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, British Ballet Organisation, London Boys Ballet School, Shiamak Davar International London, Aakash Odedra, City Academy, Bishopsgate Institute, Pineapple Dance Studios and Danceworks and delivered workshops for University of Chichester. David also teaches private lessons and runs his own classes.
Prior to teaching, David performed and danced on the main stage at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (and on tour in Japan), English National Opera, Glyndebourne Festival and Touring opera, Welsh National Opera, The Dallas Opera, Grange Park Opera, The Orfeo Experience (London, Oxford and Malta), Showfabrik (Germany), Madonna, Sahara Pranam (India), Ballet Theatre UK, Wizard Theatre, Combination Dance, Hack Ballet, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, BBC, ITV and Channel 4.
Awareness and education are key, regardless of your status. The more you know, the better, and more helpful for yourself and others in your life or those yet to come into your life.
Michael Long
Creative & Art Director
I'm not the kind of designer who stops exploring design when I shut my laptop. I love surrounding myself with quality design and I bring this everyday influence into my work.
As a designer I get to work on so many different projects, however many are admittedly very commercial. To be able to work on a project that is so community focussed is extremely fulfilling, incredibly important and also so much fun!
Despite how far we have come, we still have so much stigma to overcome so I'm very proud to be able to help in any little way I can.
Jim Donnell
Corporate Engagement
Jim has over 35 years’ experience in the corporate world, both small organizations to large multi nationals. Industries including catering and hospitality, banking and finance, and pharmaceuticals.
During these years he has always been a strong, vocal straight ally to the LGTBQI+ community believing success comes from ensuring people can be authentic in a safe environment.
Jim has also been invited to join discussion a panels for external corporate and employee resource groups across a wide range of topics, being a regular as part of MyGwork’s Work Pride events.
“Spending my teenage years in the 80’s I witnessed first hand the fear and stigma the HIV pandemic created, how the government and media pushed blame to on to the Gay community creating a stigma that over 30 years of scientific advancements and empirical evidence has failed to dispel. HIV can affect anyone from all communities but the continued stigma contributes to discrimination and can be a barrier to people coming forward seeking medical treatment.
After meeting Joshua, hearing his story, seeing the passion in wanting to break down these walls through the medium of the arts to tell positive messages from across the HIV and LGTBQI+ it wasn’t long before I had volunteered my services.
I want to bring all my experience in engaging and building positive and lasting relationships with corporate bodies so that they have confidence in supporting HIV the Naked Truth’s events, but also providing them with resources and events that can spread awareness as part of their internal inclusion and diversity work.”
Rod Olukoya
Photographer
I met Josh many years ago by chance on the South Bank where he was throwing some amazing dance moves. I had my camera with me and asked if I could take a few shots. Josh was so friendly and accommodating and provided some amazing poses and moves. From that day on, we have done many beautiful shoots together. Having done a few other charity shoots with Josh, it was a no-brainer for me to accept this exciting opportunity.
Being a photography of many genres over 10 years, and knowing Josh and his sense of fun in covering serious subject with sensitivity and creativity, it has allowed me to capture the stories and struggles of those affected by HIV/AIDS, raising awareness and empathy through imagery. I believe that through my lens, we can help educate and advocate for positive change in the fight against AIDS.
Simba Munemo
Videographer
I’m Simba, a videographer and DOP with five years of experience with brands such as Guess, Somerset House, Superdrug, La Mer, and Anya Hindmarch. Joshua and I bonded over our shared passion for mental health advocacy and art, which led me to join HIV The Naked Truth
I’m excited to leverage my creative arsenal to work towards a world where HIV is not a stamp of shame.
Here’s to achieving 95-95-95!
Poppy Royal
Web Design
Before my brother was diagnosed, I had little education on HIV and held many uneducated and naive misconceptions.
However, through the incredible work of Josh and his amazing team at The Naked Truth, I have learned so much. Their dedication to ending HIV stigma and supporting individuals to feel proud and safe in their identities has inspired me deeply.
I am now passionately supporting their important mission, proud to be part of a movement that promotes understanding, acceptance, and empowerment for all.
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