Engineering Needs Everyone: En Route to Inclusive Transport

Holley Reece-Barkell: Chair, Culture & Inclusion Committee, Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Holley became a member of IMechE after graduating in Mechanical Engineering in 2005. Now with a foundation of over 20 years consultancy experience and a specialism in solving complex structural integrity problems for the nuclear industry, Holley is passionate about the field of Engineering and developing talent so others can flourish. In her current role as Director of Strategy & Growth and a member of the Senior Leadership Team at Frazer-Nash Consultancy, Holley remains proud of her technical roots on which she has grown her career.

As a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of IMechE, Holley wants to give back to the engineering community and chairs IMechE’s Culture & Inclusion Committee. Holley is a Non-Executive Director for the British Horse Society Qualifications (BHSQ) where she is able to combine her business acumen with her lifelong passion for horses.

The Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE: Paralympian, Member of the House of Lords

One of Britain's greatest Paralympic athletes, Baroness Grey-Thompson amassed a remarkable medal haul over 16 years and five Paralympic Games of 11 gold, 4 silver and a bronze.

In 2005 she became Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson for her services to sport. In March 2010, she was created a life peer and was conferred as Baroness Grey-Thompson, of Eaglescliffe in the County of Durham.

She is now a crossbench peer of the House of Lords, a motivational speaker, broadcaster and mother.

Tom Morgan: Founder and CEO, Supersmith

Tom is the co-Founder and CEO of Supersmith, an innovative UK business seeking to change the way the world thinks about mobility scooters. Their first product, the 3Scooter, transforms the experience of riding and living with a mobility scooter and launches in Spring 2026. Tom’s background spans engineering, transportation, business consulting and marketing.

Emma Partlow: Chief Executive Officer, National Centre for Accessible Transport

Emma Partlow is a leading voice in accessible travel and transport. She brings industry expertise, policy insight and lived experience to help remove barriers and make transport fairer for disabled people.

As Chief Executive of the National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat), her leadership reflects the organisation’s mission to connect evidence, lived experience and innovation to equip decision-makers to improve accessibility. Through an evidence-led, people-first approach, she shapes industry practice and delivers national and international improvements.

Her research and professional contributions have been recognised through several prestigious awards. She was a Queen’s Baton Bearer in 2022 and named on the 2024 Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list of the UK’s most influential disabled people, in the Transport, Retail, Service and Hospitality category. In 2025, she was also named Global Accessibility and Inclusion Leader of the Year.

Emma brings a personal and professional commitment to championing accessible transport that delivers real impact and lasting change.

Kahu Te Kani: Senior Policy Advisor, Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Kahu joined the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in February 2024. She works with the Engineering Policy Unit and IMechE’s expert member groups to develop policy positions for the Institution and help shape the debate across the field of engineering policy.

After gaining her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Economics and a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, Kahu worked for the New Zealand Government at the Ministry of Social Development as a Policy Analyst. There she worked on policies to support people on the lowest incomes, including policies relating to the cost of living, tax, student support and benefit rates.

The move to the UK has prompted Kahu to channel her passion for policy into the world of engineering.

Sarah Teichler: Inclusive Design Specialist, Transport for London

Sarah has worked in the accessibility and inclusion field for 20 years. She has developed a range of auditing and design appraisal experience in the voluntary, public and private sectors throughout the UK. The types of buildings she has worked on include commercial, residential, educational, theatres, hotels, community buildings and transport. She has also audited live arts and music events. Sarah also has extensive experience working on accessibility and inclusion policies and strategies and is a qualified trainer. She is an advocate for the social model of disability and user consultation.

Celia Chartres-Aris: Special Advisor on Disability, UK Government

Celia Chartres-Aris is a multi-award winning Disabled Government special advisor, lobbyist, policy creator and Disability law specialist. Celia has founded multiple Disabled-led organisations focused on accessibility, Disability and health equity. Celia has received multiple awards recognising her human rights work including being named The Most Influential Disabled Person in the UK last year, and a Global Future Young Leader for the UK. Celia is also the co-author of the global bestselling book, Unlearning Ableism.