News story

Recruitment launched for disability experts to advise Government

The Government’s Disability Unit is recruiting disability experts in the East of England and Yorkshire and the Humber to be chairs of its Regional Stakeholder Network.

This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government
Minister for Disabled People, Tom Pursglove
  • Experts will advise the government on key regional issues
  • Minister for Disabled People says “I urge anyone with the right expertise and skill to apply to be a chair in our Regional Stakeholder Network”
  • Announcement follows appointment of 7 other chairs in December

They will take the lead in amplifying the voices of disabled people and disability organisations in their regions, and advising the government on key issues such as transport, housing and employment.

Chairs are independent of government and selected based on their understanding of concerns specific to their area, their expertise in disability policy and its effects at grassroots level.

Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove MP, said:

Disabled people and their organisations know best the key issues impacting upon them. We want to ensure our support extends, and is tailored, across every region of the country.

I urge anyone with the right expertise and skill to apply to be a chair in our Regional Stakeholder Network. By working together, we can ensure that the everyday problems that matter most to people are solved for good.

Today’s announcement follows the appointment of 7 other new chairs in December. The Regional Stakeholder Network was set up in 2020 to help the government reach out to disabled people across England.

If you are interested in becoming a member of your local Regional Stakeholder Network, please contact your local regional chair. You should be interested in the issues facing people with disabilities but you do not have to be a disabled person to become a member.

Notes to editors:

The chairs already appointed are:

Region Name Role and organisation
North East Joanne Wilkes-Waterworth Head of Register Office Operations, Her Majesty’s Passport Office
North West Lynne Turnbull CEO, Disability Positive
South East Chloe Plummer Programme Co-ordinator, MOVE Europe
South West Samantha Everard CEO, Support And Mentoring Enabling Entrepreneurship (SAMEE)
Greater London Marc Goblot Founder/Lead – Tech For Disability, British Computing Society NeurodiverseIT, We and AI, Ina Ciel Digital Disability
East Midlands Justin Donne Non-profit organisation leader
West Midlands Louise Mckiernan Chief Executive, Birmingham Disability Resource Centre

Updates to this page

Published 1 February 2023