Employment History
Director: Hareonna Diversity Ltd. August 2010 - Ongoing
Please see section on contracts delivered.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisor: Scope, March 2018 ongoing
Leading Scope’s ED&I strategy.
Independent Disability Advisory Group Member: Transport for London - appointed April 2016 and ongoing
Representing disabled passengers scrutinising the work of TfL and providing advice and support as part of the Independent Disability Advisory Group.
Committee Member: HMRC Charter Committee - appointed January 2016 for three years
Representing disabled customers, small business and those who need extra support from HMRC I was appointed to the HMRC’s Charter Committee, which scrutinises and monitors HMRC’s performance in meeting and promoting it’s Your Charter principles.
Volunteer Campaigns Co-ordinator: RNIB October 2014 - ongoing
Manage local campaigns with blind and partially sighted people in Bedfordshire for RNIB working closely with the Regional Campaigns Officer. Campaigns include access to streets and the built environment, social care and transport.
Campaigns Officer Inclusive Society: RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) March 2013 to October 2014
I lead on campaigns relating to access to buses, the built environment, accessible information and talking ATMs.
Achievements included:
- Securing sign up to the Make Money Talk campaign of three major high street banks (who had been reluctant to get involved.)
- Involving over 1000 blind and partially sighted people in the Stop for Me Speak to Me bus campaign through two summer’s of action. Securing sign up from major bus companies to the campaign and receiving commitment from them to improve their services.
- Representing RNIB on the NHS England Accessible information Standard Advisory Board
Volunteer: Moorfields Eye Charity, October 2012 - March 2013
Work focussed on major donors including researching and writing up profiles on prospective donors.
Head of Equality and Diversity, Nursing and Midwifery Council, September 2007 - May 2010
Developed and implemented a 3 year equality and diversity strategy including Equality Scheme and Equality Impact Assessment process.
Additional achievements included:
- Developed and delivered equality and diversity training package for over 200 members of staff including dedicated disability and mental health training.
- Convened and managed the NMC Expert Panel of Disabled people, which composed of nurses and midwives and members of the public who have a disability - the panel was singled out for praise in the Commission for Health Care Regulatory Excellence’s annual report and used as an example of good practice by RADAR
- Commissioned and published the first detailed research into existing information relating to reasonable adjustments for disabled nurses and midwives in the UK, Europe and internationally which was launched in March 2009 at an all day seminar.
- Founded and chaired the Cross Health Regulator Equality Group, which met quarterly to share good practice across UK health regulators.
Disability Rights Commission (DRC): Head of Access to Services and Transport, May 2004 - September 2007
(The DRC was closed and it's functions merged into the Equality and Human Rights Commission on 1st October 2007)
Formulated and implemented an organization wide strategy, relating to disabled people’s access to services and transport.
Achievements included:
- Project managed the development and consultation on the Code of Practice for Part 3 of the DDA 2005.
- Managed the consultation, drafting and publication of guidance for social landlords on the Disability Equality Duty.
- Delivered many seminars and short training sessions on meeting the needs of disabled customers across many sectors including, housing, retail, transport, health and insurance.
- Project Managed the £1.3m Go Jo transport campaign to encourage young disabled people to try accessible public transport. This included being media spokesperson for the campaign.
Greater London Authority: Disability Stakeholder Co-ordinator, August 2002 - May 2004
Co-ordinated of the Mayor of London’s activities for the European Year of Disabled People. Managed the Mayor’s engagement with Disabled Londoners. Advising the Mayor and senior officers on disability and equality issues.
Achievements included:
- Co-ordinated the first Liberty Festival a disability rights and arts festival on Trafalgar Square that attracted over 10,000 people.
- Organisation of the first Disability Capital conference.
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), Moorfields Hospital Project Co-ordinator, December 2001 - June 2002 (6 month secondment)
Co-ordinated a research project based at Moorfields Eye Hospital investigating the employment experiences of visually impaired patients. Produced a report including recommendations and implementation plan for change.
Employment Service (Now Jobcentre Plus): Job Centre Employment Advisor, July 1999 - July 2002
Positions held: New Deal Advisor for 18-24 and 25+ year olds. Disability Employment Advisor from August 2000 - where I assisted disabled people find work or stay in work. I advised employers on making reasonable adjustments for disabled employees. I also trained jobcentre staff in disability awareness and reasonable adjustments.
Teacher of English and Drama, 1996 - 1999
Blackheath Blue Coat School, London
Old Hall School, Rotherham
The Ridings School, Halifax
Other Positions of Responsibility
London Equality Commissioner: London Authority Equality Commission. 2005 - 2008
Responsibilities and achievements include: Advising the GLA on equalities issues which affect Londoners. Provision of equality and diversity guidance to the various organising bodies of the London 2012 Olympics. Production of the State of London’s equality report in January 2007 and continuing monitoring of equality and diversity policies and issues within London including issues around employment, regeneration and sustainability, services and culture.
Volunteer: Royal London Society of Blind People March 2015 - July 2017
Currently delivering talks and training on disability rights to young people’s and older people’s groups across London.
Formal education
University of Nottingham, 1995 - 1996, Post Graduate Certificate in Education, 11 - 18 year olds, English and Drama
Staffordshire University, 1992 - 1995, BA (Hons) Literary and Historical Studies 2:2
The Hayfield School, Doncaster, 1988 - 1992, 4 A-Levels and 9 GCSE’s
