DES staff and Trustees are passionate about disabled people’s equality and rights – their knowledge and expertise support our work across Scotland.
Staff
Andrew McKenna
Research Officer
Andrew works on research that shares the real-life experiences of our members and our work. He makes sure our research is clear, accurate, and helps highlight the voices of disabled people in Scotland. Before joining the team, Andrew worked in academic research and teaching. Outside work, he enjoys watching films, visiting museums and cafés, and exploring Scotland’s scenic spots.
Billi Glass
Access Panel Network Engagement Officer
Billi supports the Access Panel Network, drawing on varied experience in health and social care policy, project work, engagement, outreach, advocacy, and social work. She originally studied law, social work, and public policy, with a focus on disabled women’s health inequalities, and is currently studying journalism. Based in Glasgow, Billi enjoys spending time in nature, taking art and dance classes, going to the cinema, and discovering new cafés.
Chris Walker
Access Panel Network Team Lead
Chris leads the Access Panel Network Engagement Team and supports their work. He comes from a background in events, learning and engagement in a broad variety of heritage and museum settings, working alongside and co creating with diverse audiences. Outside of work he enjoys going to gigs, video games and spending time with his family.
Claire Jagger
Easy Read Creator
Claire translates information into Easy Read. Her background is in Primary Education, with a focus on neurodiversity, inclusion and emotional wellbeing. She values Easy Read for the wider audience who can be reached with this style of inclusive communication.
Douglas Bryce
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Douglas is responsible for managing a broad number of projects and initiatives. Douglas works closely with the CEO to implement the organisation’s strategy to work towards social inclusion for disabled people in Scotland.
Emma Smith
Access Panel Network Engagement Officer
Emma supports the Access Panel Network, bringing a wide range of experience in research and educational support, particularly around disability, wellbeing, and neurodiversity. She has worked across academic, voluntary, and support settings, and is passionate about social justice. Emma is committed to helping improve accessibility and inclusion for disabled people through her role.
Ian Gallagher
Project Development Worker
Ian’s responsibilities are to ensure that evidence-based research methods underpin our work and are as inclusive as possible. Ian has previously worked on academic and action-based research projects, as well as working with NHS Scotland during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Lilly Kirchner-Wilson
Training and Development Worker
Lilly’s role involves developing and delivering a range of training courses. She supports organisations and individuals to create more accessible materials. As an autistic person, she hopes to use her experience to support others with disabilities through her work. In her free time, she enjoys playing video games and crocheting.
Lucy Mulvagh
Chief Executive Officer
Lucy works with the DES team to we promote the value of and represents the opinions of disabled people. Lucy provides a strategic and operational understanding of access and inclusion in Scotland including establishing an evidence base that informs policy and best practice. Outside work she loves reading, walking and spending time in nature.
Marit Fält
Easy Read Creator
Marit is one of our Easy Read Creators. She has worked as a musician, music teacher and a support worker, which has informed her passion for making art and information accessible to all. In her spare time, she likes hanging out with her nervous chihuahua and sharing trivia about the Eurovision Song Contest.
Pamela Tarrida del Marmol Perez
Project Development Worker
Pamela’s role involves support and further development of various projects. This currently focuses on transport, hate crime and Scotland’s Hate Crime Charter. Pamela is also a registered nutritionist and comes from a background in public health, she has a strong interest in/is an advocate for closing the gap of health inequalities. Outside of work, she enjoys being active and doing yoga.
Sarah Graves
Access Panel Network Engagement Officer
Sarah works with the Access Panel Network, offering advice, training, and opportunities to connect and share knowledge. Her background includes advocacy, research, policy, training, and multi-agency engagement, with a strong focus on inclusion and accessibility. She’s passionate about ensuring that diverse voices are heard in decision-making. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys spending time on her allotment and with her family.
Shona McEwan
Easy Read Creator
Shona produces information in the Easy Read accessible format. Shona’s previous jobs have all involved working with adults with a learning disability, and she has always been a strong advocate of inclusive communication.
Sonya Kunawicz
Senior Training and Development Worker
Sonya is one of our Training and Development Workers. Her job is to expand and deliver our training courses. DES training helps organisations and individuals produce more accessible materials, like Easy Read format. Sonya’s background is in education, language, and editing. Outside work, she reads a lot.
Trustees
Zara Todd (Convenor)
Zara Todd is a disability activist, researcher, trainer and facilitator. She is based in Edinburgh with her husband and two cats.
Originally from London, Zara has been involved in disability activism since childhood and co-founded the European Network on Independent Living youth network. She is passionate about equality and inclusion, and is particularly interested in supporting disabled people and young people to engage with policy-making.
She has advised organisations including the British Council, UNICEF, the UK Government and the Fundamental Rights Agency on disability and accessibility.
Zara is a Churchill Fellow and is particularly interested in disability leadership. She is currently setting up her own organisation to support disabled people working in the not-for-profit sector.
As well as being a Trustee of Disability Equality Scotland, she is also a Trustee of Volunteering Matters. In her spare time, she and her husband enjoy travelling and have visited over 80 countries.
Rachael North (Vice Convenor)
Rachael is a senior consultant specialising in sustainable transport, decarbonisation and inclusive delivery. With a decade of experience in project and programme management. Alongside her transport career, she brings charity-sector experience in fundraising, marketing and volunteer management, having delivered community engagement and fundraising programmes across charities. Her roles in both consultancy and the charity sector have grown her expertise in stakeholder engagement, governance and inclusive practice.
She brings both professional and personal insight into disability and accessibility. In her working life Rachael is committed to ensuring that transport systems work for everyone and is passionate about embedding accessibility meaningfully across policy and delivery. Rachael is looking forward to being part of the board working with the other board members and staff to support the work of Disability Equality Scotland.
Derek Taylor (Treasurer)
Derek has over 25 years of experience in the financial sector across the UK, working with both large corporates and SMEs. Following a diagnosis of a rare neurological condition, he stepped away from the corporate world and now focuses on giving back.
As well as Disability Equality Scotland, Derek supports other third sector organisations and social enterprises that strive for equality. He is committed to working towards a society with fair representation, free from discrimination, and with good accessibility for everyone.
He follows a strict exercise regime and can often be found in the gym, or in Starbucks enjoying a coffee and cake.
Adam Gaines
Adam is an experienced director, manager and board member with over 40 years in the third and public sectors. He believes strongly in the principles of inclusion, equality, opportunity and participation.
Adam has held senior roles in both the voluntary and public sectors, including leading a health charity in Scotland for 17 years, working in a senior role on disability rights in Scotland and managing public affairs and campaigns for charities. Adam has experience both as a trustee and as a committee member for several organisations, including in the NHS.
When not volunteering his spare time, Adam enjoys going to music concerts with his wife, cycling and playing games with the cat.
Agnieszka Davren
Agnieszka is an experienced HR professional with over 20 years in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. She is passionate about social justice and nature, and believes in creating opportunities for everyone to thrive while living in harmony with the environment.
Originally from Poland, Agnieszka has lived in Scotland for 25 years and now resides in Renfrewshire with her husband, two children, a cat and a rabbit. She has two disabilities and has learned to live with them while maintaining a fulfilled family life and a professional career.
She has held senior roles including HR Director, supported organisations through major change, and now consults in the public sector on strategic projects. Agnieszka is skilled in governance, change management, trade union relations and supporting Boards through complex transitions.
Amber Snary
Amber has worked across research, public engagement, and disability advocacy, and is particularly passionate about co-production – after all, there should be nothing about us without us.
She previously served as the elected Education Officer at the University of Bath Students’ Union, where she led work to improve accessibility, representation, and inclusive education for over 19,000 students. She is currently engaged locally with EDI initiatives, as well as aiding with research in paediatric pain as a facilitator and PPI member.
Helen Douglas
Helen is currently chair of the Glasgow Access Panel. She volunteers in the running the office in Maryhill, which includes book-keeping, filing etc. She has been doing this for 12 years. Prior to that, Helen worked for Remploy, which mainly employed disabled people. She spent 28 years there before retiring in 2011. Helen is a keen advocate of accessibility in all aspects of life. Recently she was involved on behalf of GAP in a project headed by Leeds University about open spaces and their impact and challenges for disabled people and older people. This project included other countries like the USA, the Netherlands and India.
At her time with Remploy, Helen was a union learning rep, which gave her the opportunity to meet the then-Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown MP, who like Helen is a keen advocate of accessibility. Helen had Polio at the tender age of 18 months so also has plenty of lived experience as a disabled person.
Kenny McDonald
Kenny McDonald is a forward-thinking creative marketing and communications practitioner with over 25 years of experience. He specialises in tackling inequalities, poverty and injustice, with the aim of improving people’s lives.
He is driven by a lifelong passion for creating meaningful change that inspires real and positive impact for communities and people at all life stages.
Kenny has worked in central and local government, the NHS, public health and the third sector. He has also volunteered his time and served as a Board Member for a national social housing and care provider, a Development Trust Trustee, and a member of communications industry committees and boards. He has experience as a counsellor and mentor.
Kenny looks forward to using his experience to add value and leadership as a Board Member of Disability Equality Scotland, while continuing to listen and learn.
Mac Sanderson
Mac Sanderson is a recent graduate of Durham University, where he studied a BA in Sociology with a focus on social policy, mental health and disability studies. His dissertation centred on codified language, cultural and social capital, and their effect on young men’s help-seeking for mental health.
Mac was motivated to join Disability Equality Scotland to continue his passion for volunteering. Living with a hidden disability himself, Bipolar Disorder, Mac is keen to advocate for young people and include them in conversations and change-making.
Mac is passionate about education, inclusion and equality, particularly in relation to access, and wants to continue advocating for young disabled people in his role on the board.
Petra Menzi
Throughout her career, Petra has been driven by one simple principle: helping people overcome barriers and ensuring they are treated fairly. With more than 30 years’ experience in Human Resources, Employment Law and People Operations, she has supported individuals and organisations through change, combining practical solutions with empathy, integrity and a strong sense of justice.
Her commitment to equality extends beyond her professional career. She has volunteered as an immigration adviser, helping people understand their rights and navigate complex legal processes, and served as a Children’s Panel Member, advocating for the best interests of vulnerable children and young people.
Petra has a strong interest in governance, regulation, organisational risk and public accountability. She believes that good governance and inclusive leadership are fundamental to creating organisations that are fair, transparent and responsive to the communities they serve.
Living with a long-term health condition and being neurodivergent has given her first-hand insight into the challenges people face in employment, education and everyday life. She is passionate about promoting accessibility, inclusion and human rights, and believes meaningful change comes from listening to lived experience, empowering others, and creating opportunities for everyone to thrive.
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