Current PhD researcher and alumni, Emma Partlow, has been celebrated in the Shaw Trust 2024 Disability Power 100 list for her global impact in accessibility.
Emma Partlow, a current University of Birmingham PhD student and Director of Consumer Engagement & Policy at Transreport, has been named in the Shaw Trust 2024 Disability Power 100 List.
The Shaw Trust is a national charity dedicated to challenging the disability employment gap and providing a platform for the voices of Disabled people to be heard. The Disability Power 100 is the UK’s leading recognition awards for disabled leaders, trailblazers and change makers, championing the most influential Disabled people.
Emma is featured in the Transport, Retail, Service and Hospitality category, highlighting her dedication to transforming the landscape of accessible travel and tourism.
Her doctoral research focuses primarily on disability research, specifically disability in the workplace, as well as on Disabled people’s perspectives on equality legislation in the UK. Through both her professional and academic career, and lived experience of disability, Emma has become a strategic leader and advocate for accessibility.
Emma said: “I am honoured to be included in this year’s Disability Power 100 list, alongside so many incredible individuals and organisations. I am very proud of what I have achieved and feel even more energised to continue my work in the space of accessibility and inclusion. I am committed to developing new and innovative ways for engagement with Disabled people and am excited to continue making positive change.”
I am honoured to be included in this year’s Disability Power 100 list, alongside so many incredible individuals and organisations. I am very proud of what I have achieved and feel even more energised to continue my work in the space of accessibility and inclusion.
In her role as Director of Consumer Engagement & Policy at Transreport, Emma manages the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy and is a champion of best-practice solutions. By developing new policies, processes and initiatives, Emma has been instrumental in shaping the company’s accessibility and inclusion approach, ensuring this is continually embedded in every facet of the business.
Alongside this, Emma continues her advocacy through speaking publicly at events, and in the media. She has appeared on BBC Radio 4 and the London Evening Standard Tech & Science podcast, and in Inclusive Design Magazine.
In recognition of her academic impact, and her dedication to both raising awareness and challenging misconceptions around disability, Emma was nominated by the University of Birmingham to be a Baton Bearer for the Queen’s Baton Relay in 2022.
Professor Catherine Mangan, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion), commented: “We are very proud of Emma and delighted that her work is being celebrated in the Disability Power 100 list this year. With over 10,000 staff and 37,000 students at the University, fostering a diverse and inclusive community is essential for us to thrive. We are delighted to see Emma’s academic contribution and commitment to accessibility being recognised, and look forward to seeing her career and impact grow.”
We are delighted to see Emma’s academic contribution and commitment to accessibility being recognised, and look forward to seeing her career and impact grow.
Emma added: “My time as an undergraduate student at the University of Birmingham was one of the first times in my life where people around me were genuinely committed to breaking down barriers. I had a wonderful time with my access needs met and accommodated continuously, so much so that I stayed to do my doctorate. My experience at the University has shaped the work I do today, which has been recognised by the Shaw Trust.”
The full 2024 list of can be found on the Disability Power 100 website.
Catherine Mangan is a Professor of Public Management and Leadership in the Institute of Local Government Studies at the University of Birmingham.
