Diane Lightfoot is CEO of Business Disability Forum, a not-for-profit membership organisation that supports businesses to recruit and retain disabled employees and to serve disabled customers. Business Disability Forum’s c.600 members employ over 20% of the UK workforce and range from FTSE 100 companies and central Government departments to technology, transport and construction companies, retailers, higher education providers and public services bodies.

Diane is co-Chair of the Disability Charities Consortium, a group of nine major national disability charities in the UK. She is Vice chair of the Disability Confident Business Leaders’ Group and also sits on the steering board for the Lilac Review, the CMI Everyone Economy Advisory Committee and the Steering Group for the Global Business Disability Network, hosted by the International Labor Organization. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and is part of the Steering Group for the RSA Inclusive Work, Disability and Ageing Network.

Prior to joining Business Disability Forum in February 2017, Diane was Director of Policy and Communications for national disability charity United Response, where she also took on the strategic leadership of the organisation’s employment services as a whole. She is passionate about the role that good work has to play in transforming people’s lives.

Robin recently stepped down as Executive Chair of The Blue Raincoat Chrysalis Group, a post he held for ten years. BRM specialises in record releases, music publishing, and artist management. In November 2020, he became Chair of the disability charity Scope.

He is one of the three most successful blind musicians in the world, alongside Andrea Bocelli and Stevie Wonder. He produced the iconic ‘Diamond Life’ album by Sade.

Robin was awarded a CBE in 2010 and was knighted in 2023.

Robin gained a law degree from the University of Cambridge before enrolling as a music technology apprentice at age 24. He spent three years in workplace and college-based learning.

He has operated successful businesses in recording studios, management, music and magazine publishing, and luxury car hire. He has worked as a musician, actor, model, double glazing salesman, recording engineer, chief executive, mentor to FTSE business leaders, concert promoter, and fundraiser.

Image Description:

Sir Robin Millar, a white man in his early 70s with short greying hair and white beard, sat at home surrounded by guitars and a banjo.  Sir Robin wears dark glasses and holds a stick, signifying his blindness.  He sits in front of a large mirror which reflects the room. Photographed by Graeme Robertson.

Passionate about designing workplaces that work for everyone, Monica Stancu leads the Diversity and Inclusion work at Lloyd’s, the world’s biggest insurance and reassurance marketplace.

She has a strong background in driving D&I, wellbeing and employee experience across multiple sectors and countries, having previously held roles at the Royal Academy of Engineering, Sodexo and F. Hoffmann La Roche.

Under her leadership, Lloyd’s has been recognised as a Disability Confident leader, a Top 75 Social Mobility Employer, a Race Equality Matters Trailblazer, achieved the Clear Assured Gold Status and Edge – Gender accreditation, and surpassed its gender and ethnicity targets.

Her earlier career includes work in international affairs and human rights at the European Medicines Agency (EU agency) and the UN. She is the author of the book “Building Diversity and Inclusion: From Commitment to Action.”

She holds an MA in Women’s History from Sarah Lawrence College, USA and a D&I certificate from Cornell University, and was a visiting scholar at Columbia University.

Her accolades include being named a Global Champion for Women’s Economic Empowerment by UN Women, being listed as a Top D&I Insurance /Reinsurance Champion by Intelligent Insurer and as one of the top 75 Elite Women in Insurance and winning a WeAreTheCity Rising Stars award.

She is a One Young World Ambassador, and a mentor at Migrant Leaders.

Liza Cumming is a prominent Australian HR leader and neurodiversity advocate, currently the Retail People & Culture Lead for adidas ANZ, known for championing inclusive workplaces, psychological safety, and authentic leadership, leveraging her own neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ lived experiences to drive change and challenge misconceptions about invisible disabilities. She advocates for supportive cultures that embrace diverse thinking, focusing on practical leadership tools, burnout prevention, and flexible work to ensure everyone thrives, not just performs, within organizations

Chris Morton is the Lived Experience Director for Durham, Tees Valley and Forensic Services at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust. Drawing on his own experiences of severe mental illness alongside a clinical background of over ten years as an Approved Mental Health Professional and CBT therapist specialising in psychosis, Chris works to bring together lived and professional knowledge in improving mental health care. He has worked across community and inpatient services, focusing on leadership, recovery, and co-production. Chris is currently completing a Doctorate in Management exploring lived experience leadership, alienation and self-determination within the NHS.

Emma is EY UK Corporate Responsibility leader and draws on over 25 years in HR and DEI to champion disability and neuro-inclusion. Living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and parenting two neurodivergent daughters, Emma uses her personal and professional experience to create a more inclusive working world.

A Chartered Management Consultant by background, now specialising in Diversity, Equity & Inclusiveness. Emma is a Strategy & Implementation Manager in EY’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusiveness team, and also leads the EY UK Diverse abilities agenda.

Madelaine Verchere is a Data Strategy Leader at EY with over 20 years’ experience in data, digital and information management roles that drive innovation and business growth. She also co-leads EY’s Neurodiversity Community of 3,000+ members, championing the value of diverse thinking and workplace change.

A chartered psychologist and senior HR leader specialising in workplace health, wellbeing and long-term health condition self‑management. As an active researcher and government adviser, Sally brings PhD‑level rigor and real‑world practice to translate wellbeing into measurable business impact, resilient teams and inclusive workplaces.

Jane is a disabled social entrepreneur, TEDx Speaker and author. She is the founder and CEO of Evenbreak, a social enterprise which provides the only global specialist disability job board, run by and for disabled people.

Widely published in inclusive recruitment, including “A Dozen Brilliant Reasons to Employ Disabled People” (2017) and “A Dozen Great Ways to Recruit Disabled People” (2020), she is on the executive board of the Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative. Winning a number of inclusion awards, she has appeared on the Shaw Trust Power 100 ‘Britain’s Most Influential Disabled People’ list three times, being placed 7th in 2019.