About Equality 2025
Equality 2025 is a high-level advisory group of disabled people. It offers Ministers and senior government officials strategic advice at the very early stages of policy development, and in-depth examinations of existing policy areas on issues that affect disabled people.
Equality 2025 members
Chair: Rowen Jade
Rowen is a survivor of mainstream education. After graduating with a Law degree Rowen has worked for the Alliance for Inclusive Education, several Centres for Inclusive Living and has been a freelance consultant in disability equality for almost 20 years.
Rowen specialises in working with young disabled people and pioneered the setting up of a Personal Assistance Support Scheme for disabled teenagers in Bristol.
Rowen is a parent, artist, counsellor, partner and writer and her publications include 'Bigger than the Sky' (an anthology of writing by disabled women on parenting issues), 'Whose Voice is it Anyway' and 'Creating Independence and Inclusion'.
Members:
Haji Saghir Alam OBE
Saghir is a leading expert in Human Rights and Diversity Issues especially in the area of Multiple Discrimination and Disadvantage in Disability, Race and Faith and advises a number of central government departments. He is a member of the Statutory Committee of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.
Nick Danagher
Nick currently operates as an independent consultant advising on disability and equality, working with a range of public, private and disabled people's organisations. He is a Trustee of the Independent Living Fund and a Board Director with Surrey Coalition of Disabled People.
Miro Griffiths
Miro holds a number of board roles including Member of the Equality Reference Group with the DWP, the Disability Advisory Panel with the QCA and the Disability Advisory panel with the British Council. He combines all these roles with his studies at Liverpool University. From 2004-2006 he was Chair of Whizz-Kidz Children’s Board and highlights issues for children and young people, as well as other disability equality priorities.
Diane Mulligan
Diane is a specialist in international development, diversity and human rights. She is currently the Social Inclusion and Disability Advisor at Sightsavers International. Alongside this she is a Member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Disability Committee, leading on human rights, child rights and international issues; the World Health Organisation’s Advisory Board for Community Based Rehabilitation and the Co-Chair of the United Nations task group for the International Disability and Development Consortium.
Rachel Perkins
Rachel is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with a strong track record in mental health. Her current position is Director of Quality Assurance and User/Carer Experience at South West London & St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.
Tracey Proudlock
Tracey is a graduate from Leeds University, a member of the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development, and a former school governor. She started her career as a Press Officer with Dial-A-Ride before moving to an HR role in the London Borough of Camden. She moved to the Shaw Trust in 1998 as a Regional Employment Manager, progressing to National Head of Political Affairs. She now runs her own company.
Andy Rickell
Andy is currently Chief Executive Officer at The Vassall Centre Trust, which promotes barrier-free workplaces nationally. From 2004 to 2008 he held Executive Director roles at Scope, and had significantly driven forward the employment of disabled people employed by Scope. He was previously Chief Executive of the British Council of Disabled People, the national voice of the disabled people’s movement, and was one of the original authors of the Disabled People’s Rights and Freedoms Charter.
Fiona Wallace
Fiona has been involved in the self advocacy movement in Scotland since it started, in the late eighties. She is currently a Member of People First (Scotland) and Chair of People First Mid Lothian. She is also a Member of Inclusion Alliance, a voluntary organisation which supports individually tailored day services for people with learning difficulties.
Colin Young
Colin started his career in research roles with Capability Scotland and South Lanarkshire Council. He is currently a member of the 'for Scotland’s Disabled Children' coalition. In his role as the Young Person’s Information and Advocacy Worker with the Special Needs Information Point, Colin has gained experience of advocating for young people from across diverse communities on the issues of transition into adulthood. He is embarking on a PhD in 2010.
Press release: Appointment of Members to Equality 2025 (including biographical detail) (PDF, 4 pages, 36KB)
Contact Equality 2025
Equality 2025 Secretariat
Office for Disability Issues
Caxton House
6-12 Tothill Street
London
SW1H 9NA
Email: eq2025.secretariat@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Page last reviewed: 25 May 2010