Annual Conference Speakers 2026

Debra Allcock Tyler, Chief Executive Officer of Directory of Social Change

Debra has worked in the charitable and voluntary sector for nearly 40 years with brief forays into the private sector.

Amongst numerous other roles, she is Co-Chair of the Soldiering on Awards. She is a Trustee of In Kind Direct, one of the Prince’s Foundation Charities, a governor of the Berkshire NHS Community Foundation Trust, a Commissioner on the Local News Commission of the Public Interest News Foundation, and just recently stood down as trustee of the Berkshire Community Foundation. She is also an Africa Advocacy Foundation Ambassador for women and girls at risk of or affected by Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

Debra has served as a trustee of several charities including being the co-founder of the Small Charities Coalition and was its first Chair. She served on the Charity Commission’s SORP committee for over 7 years and was the Vice-Chair of Governors of Whiteknights primary school for 6 years.

She is a renowned public speaker with many years’ experience of training and coaching and is an internationally published author of several books on management and leadership including It’s Tough at the Top; The Pleasure and the Pain; It’s Murder in Management and It’s a Battle on the Board.

Debra has a regular monthly column in Third Sector magazine and has appeared on Radio 4’s The Moral Maze.

Debra is an alumna of Windsor Leadership having participated on the Strategic Leaders Consultation.

Chloe Joyner, Founder of Usher Kids UK

Chloe Joyner founded Usher Kids UK in 2017 in response to gaps in support and information following their child’s diagnosis of Usher syndrome (which causes progressive deafblindness). Usher Kids UK now serves hundreds of families in the UK and beyond, empowering the next generation by giving access to the tools, resources and connections which help them to thrive.

Chloe contributes to a wide range of projects and partnerships both nationally and internationally, and is passionate about utilising insight from the community to accelerate progress towards improved outcomes.

Harbi Jama, Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships at Impetus

Harbi Jama is Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships at Impetus, where he leads a large team across corporate partnerships, pro bono, events, and major donors, supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to succeed in school, work, and life.

He has managed and developed seven-figure partnerships, oversees a £10m+ fundraising budget, and brings extensive experience in corporate partnerships, strategic fundraising, and sustainable funding models.

Harbi has built and led corporate fundraising partnerships across the charity sector with organisations, including The London Community Foundation and Refugee Action, working with companies and foundations such as Adobe Foundation, Airbnb.org, JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank, and The Standard.

He has also served as a trustee for The Public Law Project and AVID, giving him insight into the funding challenges faced by organisations tackling complex social and legal issues. Harbi is also an Industry Advisory Board Member at the University of East London for the School of Childhood and Social Care.

Harbi brings lived experience and a strong belief that every company can do good – values that continue to shape his approach to corporate fundraising and partnership building.

Kamran Mallick, CEO of Disability Rights UK

Kamran has worked in the not-for-profit sector for his whole career and, for the last 20 years, led Disabled People’s Organisations (DPO). He worked for the Spinal Injury charity Aspire and as CEO of Action on Disability for 13 years. In 2017, he joined Disability Rights UK as its CEO. DR UK is the only UK-wide DPO.

Kamran contracted polio as a child and is a wheelchair user. His experiences at special and mainstream schools showed him that inclusive education for all children is essential and will benefit wider society. He is driven to ensure younger disabled people have better opportunities than he did. He is passionate about creating an inclusive society, one that works for everyone and benefits from the rich diversity of experience background that disabled people bring.

An influential leader in a highly politicised area of disability rights, he has represented the UK disability movement at the United Nations, working with a coalition of civil society organisations and recently given evidence on several occasions at the Covid 19 Inquiry.

Kamran serves on the board and is Chair of Wheels for Wellbeing. He is a former chair of Candoco Dance Company, board member of Inclusion London – Promoting equality for London’s Deaf and Disabled peopleInclusion London, Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith and the Lloyds Bank Foundation. He is also a member of the Gatwick Independent Disability Advisory Group and a former member of Transport for London’s Independent Disability Advisory Group.

Kamran was listed in the Shaw Trusts 2018 Power 100 list of Britain’s most influential disabled people and was listed in the top 10 in 2020. He was recognised on Green Park’s 2019 BAME 100 Business Leaders, runner-up in the Vodafone Diversity Campaigner Award 2017 and winner of the Celebrating Diversity award from the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in their inaugural Civic Honour Awards 2017.

He is a contributor to the Fairness Foundation, an Ambassador for the Design Council and the Digital Poverty Alliance and is a Patron of the British Polio Fellowship.

Sandi Wassmer, CEO of Onvero

Sandi has led Onvero as CEO since 2020, overseeing its transformation from enei and becoming the UK’s only blind female CEO with ADHD. A passionate human rights advocate, she is known for visionary leadership, driving meaningful change across Government, Industry, and the Third Sector.

Her career spans commercial and charity sectors, including executive roles at SyFy UK and Copious.

After registering as blind in 2008 and being diagnosed with ADHD in 2009, Sandi focused on accessibility, co-authoring the Government’s e-Accessibility Action Plan and creating the “Ten Principles of Inclusive Web Design” in 2011.

She has held leadership roles at Jewish Care, served as a Trustee of RNIB, and as a Non-Executive Director at Mental Health First Aid England.

In recognition of her contributions, Sandi received the Freedom of the City of London in 2021, and in 2022, she became a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers. Her work continues to shape a more inclusive society.

Tilly Dowler, The Blind Stylist

Tilly started losing her sight aged 15 due to a genetic condition called Stargardt disease, and was registered blind in 2022. Despite losing her sight, Tilly has transformed her passion for fashion and her entrepreneurial spirit into a successful business, proving that no obstacle is insurmountable.

Tilly’s journey is one of resilience, determination, and innovation. From navigating the challenges of starting and running a business as a visually impaired individual to creating a welcoming and inclusive shopping experience.

Beyond her entrepreneurial ventures, Tilly runs a sight loss support group and is a sought-after keynote speaker, captivating audiences with her authentic and motivating talks. She shares her insights on a range of topics, including:

• Being Disabled in Business: Tilly offers a candid look at the realities and rewards of running a business as a person with a disability. She discusses overcoming barriers, leveraging unique perspectives, and fostering an inclusive work environment.
• Resilience: Drawing from her personal experiences, Tilly speaks on the power of resilience, illustrating how to bounce back from setbacks, stay motivated in the face of adversity, and turn challenges into opportunities.
• Empowering Young Entrepreneurs: Tilly’s message to young people is clear – if she can do it, so can you! She provides practical advice, encouragement, and inspiration for the next generation of business leaders, emphasizing the importance of passion, perseverance, and self-belief.

Clare Burgess, CEO of Sensory Services by Sight for Surrey

Clare began her career after university on a graduate scheme in the private sector before joining the public sector working in education. Clare began volunteering and fell in
love with the voluntary, community and faith sector and the impact it achieves and decided to pursue her career in this sector.

Clare has led Sensory Services by Sight
for Surrey for 3.5 years. She has worked in the third sector for over 15 years, initially working for Guide Dogs for the Blind, and then across local and regional charities including those with a pan-disability and mental health focus.

Clare was previously involved in setting up a VCSE (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise) Alliance, and really enjoys collaborating with others in the sector to maximise impact locally and nationally.

Clare is particularly passionate about Asset Based Community Development and the power of people and communities.

Clare has lived experience of sight loss with a neurological cause.

Dr Beverley Duguid, Research & Insights Manager at Thomas Pocklington Trust

Dr Beverley Duguid works with external stakeholders to strengthen understanding of the experiences of blind and partially sighted people through research. Her research management is rooted in a commitment to equity, ensuring that lived experience and diverse perspectives are represented in projects.

Outside the sight loss sector, she has contributed to a wide range of research and writing projects addressing inequalities across gender, ethnicity, disability and mental health, consistently championing inclusive approaches.

Alongside her professional role, she is also a mindfulness based practitioner, supporting people to build a creative mindful practice. Her course Mindful Poetry© was awarded funding by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) in 2021- to teach blind and partially sighted people, and, in 2022 run workshops under their Health Equalities Project. Her practice brings together meditation, spirituality and creativity, reflecting her dedication to creating spaces where everyone feels held, seen and valued.

Mark Upton, CEO of MyVision Oxfordshire

Mark is a visually impaired charity leader who has worked in the sight loss sector for more than 17 years. He is currently Chief Executive of MyVision Oxfordshire and Chair of the Board of Trustees for Visionary.

Mark is passionate about the importance of lived experience and making sure inclusion and accessibility are embedded in everything we do.

Outside of work, he balances leadership with family life and the joyful chaos of raising two small wannabe wrestlers, which is no walk in the park. Mark also loves walks in the park! Listening to heavy metal, reading books and attempting to complete Netflix – but don’t hold all this against him!

Steven Johnson, Founder and Developer of Black Lens App

Steve Johnson brings over 30 years of leadership experience across telecommunications and technology, having managed teams, delivered complex change and taken responsibility for difficult decisions in fast-moving organisations including Vodafone and TalkTalk. He is a qualified project manager, holding PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner certifications.

He became the first visually impaired contestant on Channel 4’s Hunted, navigating a national manhunt while living with progressive sight loss – an experience that brought national visibility to a journey already defined by resilience and adaptation.

Beyond television and a corporate career, Steve has undertaken demanding expeditions and endurance challenges, including paddleboarding across Norwegian fjords, rafting 100 miles of the Grand Canyon, completing the central section of the Great Glen canoe trail from Neptune’s Staircase to Loch Ness, and taking up downhill skiing after losing most of his vision.

Steve was also one of the first visually impaired athletes to run the famous Philadelphia “Rocky Balboa” Half Marathon unassisted using just his white cane. He has also entered and won the Cystic Fibrosis Warrior Games three times – a 24-hour endurance event hosted at MOD facilities across the UK – raising thousands of pounds for children living with cystic fibrosis.

Alongside his leadership and physical challenges, Steve founded Black Lens – a camera app built specifically for the blind and low-vision community, designed with accessibility at its core rather than as an afterthought. With additional apps launching soon, his work continues to focus on practical, purpose-built tools shaped by real-world experience, Steve’s outdoor adventures and love of innovation.

Susanette Mansour, A Catalyst for Transformation

Susanette is a Transformation Consultant and former CEO who helps charities and purpose-driven organisations stabilise, reset and grow through change. With over 20 years’ experience, she partners with boards and leadership teams to rebuild trust, strengthen culture and create the conditions for people to truly thrive; even in demanding environments.

Known for her honest and practical approach, Susanette combines financial insight (as a Qualified Accountant), organisational development and leadership coaching to support both the structural and human sides of change.

She brings a grounded perspective on the responsibility leaders carry; not just to deliver results, but to sustain themselves and others; helping leaders navigate pressure and lead with clarity, care and confidence.