果冻影院

What is your role and what does it involve?

I co-founded the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub), a research and practice centre driving disability innovation for a fairer world, based at 果冻影院 East. GDI Hub works in more than 40 countries with more than 70 partners on issues like access to Assistive Technology, Inclusive Design, and Disability Justice. We have reached more than 25m people since we started counting in 2018. Check us out on .听

It was听actually our birthday last听week (3^rd September) 鈥� we are now听7, so we are still learning the best ways to get things done! We consider GDI of a successful 鈥榮pin-in鈥� to 果冻影院 as it grew out of the legacy of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.听I have also just joined the 果冻影院 team as Associate Professor of Social Justice and Innovation, based in 果冻影院 Engineering. I鈥檒l be teaching a new module for 果冻影院 East on Innovation for a Fairer World in January 2023 and I also support our MSc Disability Design and Innovation, which we have been running for 4 years now with 果冻影院 East partners Loughborough in London and the London College of Fashion.

I also Co-Direct the WHO-果冻影院 Global Collaborating Center on Access at AT, which is the only one in the world. It's such an honor to have brought that to 果冻影院 East.

How long have you been at 果冻影院 and what was your previous role?

GDI has been based at 果冻影院 for 5 years now, before that I worked for three different Mayors of London on social justice and led the Paralympic Legacy programme from London 2012 for LLDC.

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?

It鈥檚 hard to top London 2012, but I think when me and Professor Cathy Holloway stood in British House in Rio, overlooking their Olympic Park, with the British Paralympic team all around us listening to the then Minister for Disability (Penny Mordaunt) announce the GDI Hub - that was a thing! 听

This year I also got to speak at the launch of the World report on Access to Assistive Technology, at the WHO in Geneva with Dr Tedros and the Prime Minister of Ireland. I felt a weight of responsibility to do a great job because our programme 鈥� AT2030, funded by UK Aid 鈥� had sponsored the report. And I also wanted to make sure that we recognised the issues affected by the poorest disabled people, in the informal settlements we had been working in in places like Kenya and Sierra Leone. But it was one of those things that was alright on the night.听 (Phew).

Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of your to-do list

I should say our new module, because it's going to be fab, and I would also like to听mention,听the opening of 果冻影院 East and our new lab. We鈥檝e been interloping for years, so to have our own space will be wonderful.

My family are from East London, and I鈥檝e lived and听worked here for nearly 15 years, it's home to me and it will be so wonderful to see the space full of 果冻影院 faculty and students. I am looking forward to getting in and making cross-disciplinary magic happen with our new colleagues and friends in the other departments. 听

Hats off to everyone that鈥檚 been involved in 果冻影院 East from the very start (back in the early 2000s when it was just an idea). It's quite the mountain moved. I鈥檓 in love with the idea that kids from听east London feel like 果冻影院 is for them now.

What is your favourite album, film and novel?

Prioritise Pleasure by Self Esteem 鈥� if you haven鈥檛 listed do! I saw her at two festivals this year, just awesome.

I recently enjoyed You Exist too Much by Zaina Arafat, which is about the impact of not quite fitting in as a brown, queer woman.

I鈥檓 not sure I enjoyed it, but technically the last film I saw was the NT live of Prima Facie. Bloody hell 鈥� Jodie Comer is astonishing. As are the issues!

What is your favourite joke (pre-watershed)?

鈥淢y cat Minton, keeps eating my shuttlecocks. Baaaaad Minton鈥�.

Who would be your dream dinner guests?

Audre Lorde, Barak Obama, Bowie, and Stella Young.

(I鈥檓 a social justice nerd who likes Bowie.)听

What advice would you give your younger self?

Less damns given, honey. You are good as you are.

What would it surprise people to know about you?

I鈥檒l soon be a qualified yoga teacher.

What is your favourite place? 听

Erm, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, obvs. Come visit, soon.

Links:

• Instagram:
• Global Disability Innovation Hub听
• Disability, Design and Innovation MSc听