Diane Lightfoot

Diane Lightfoot is CEO of Business Disability Forum, a not-for-profit membership organisation that supports businesses of all shapes, sizes and sectors to recruit and retain disabled employees and to serve disabled customers. Business Disability Forum’s c.400 members now employ around 20% of the UK workforce and 8 million people worldwide. They range from FTSE 100 companies and central Government departments to technology, transport and construction companies, retailers, higher education providers and public services bodies. Business Disability Forum supports them via its Advice Service, events, learning & development courses, consultancy and a growing range of networks including Technology, Global, Customer and Access to Employment taskforces and a growing range of regional and sector networks.

Diane sits on a number of boards including the Government’s Disability Expert Advisory Panel and the Institute of Coding’s Diversity & Inclusion Board. She is Chair of the Disabled Students’ Stakeholder Group, a Commissioner for the Disability Commission, chaired by Lord Shinkwin and hosted by the Centre for Social Justice, and co-Chair of the Disability Charities Consortium. She is also Chair of the Challenging Behaviour Foundation.

Diane joined Business Disability Forum as in February 2017 after moving from her former role as Director of Policy and Communications for United Response, a leading national disability charity. Whilst at United Response, Diane also took on the strategic leadership of the organisation’s employment services as a whole and she is passionate about the role that good work has to play in transforming people’s lives. Prior to joining United Response, Diane was Head of Marketing at two membership charities – NCVO and the Pre-school Learning Alliance after beginning her career in local government.

@DianeLightfoot

@DisabilitySmart

LinkedIn: Diane Lightfoot

dianel@businessdisabilityforum.orguk

www.businessdisabilityforum.org.uk