Photo by Dion Barrett
I’m a Deaf designer, and proud to be from a signing Deaf family which stretches back four generations. My personal experience of audism drives my commitment to inclusive design. I’ve been an Associate Partner at Pilbrow & Partners since 2016, working mainly on residential, heritage and cultural projects, and I’m currently completing my RIBA Part 3. I've been a BEAP member with the LLDC since 2022, and have contributed to shaping Inclusive Design Standards and reviewing major developments. I’m focused on creating build-environments that remove barriers and support equity and inclusion for all.
Anna Landre is an award-winning activist, researcher, and artist. She looks forward to bringing her expertise in disability studies, disability culture, disabled joy, and inclusive emergency preparedness to the Barbican Renewal. Anna is a PhD Candidate at the UCL Global Disability Innovation Hub, where she studies and maps Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) globally. She is also the Global Research and Response Lead at The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, where in Ukraine she spearheaded the first-ever wartime evacuation mechanism for disabled people. She loves attending art exhibits and shows at the Barbican, or just having a drink there with friends.
Bridget Shield is Professor Emerita at London South Bank University, having retired in 2014 after 30 years of teaching and research in acoustics. Her main research concerned the effects of noise and poor acoustic design in schools. She holds Fellowships of the UK Institute of Acoustics and the Acoustical Society of America, and in 2021 was awarded an MBE for services to Acoustics and inclusion. Bridget is interested in the Barbican Renewal project ss she has both professional and personal experience of the needs of people who are hearing impaired, neurodiverse or physically disabled and she understands the importance of inclusive design of public spaces.
Clare Baines (she/her) is a disability disruptor who believes in the power of storytelling to create change. She does this through cultural consultancy, writing, and performance. Over the past three years, she has worked as an Inclusion Partner at the British Film Institute, embedding anti-ableism across the entire film lifecycle and directing the We Crip Film Festival at BFI Southbank. Clare also runs her own anti-ableist company and podcast, Crip Club. Her work champions disabled audiences, fosters disability pride, and celebrates disabled joy.
Emily is the Head of Accessibility and Inclusive Design at Mima, and a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy. Emily’s career highlights include: providing access consultancy for COP28 in Dubai, leading the accessibility and inclusive design programme for MetroRio - the underground transport system for Rio de Janeiro - in the run up to the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and being named as one of the 100 most influential disabled people in the UK for three years by the Shaw Trust.
Understanding the importance of both technical knowledge and holistic co-production and presentation, increased empathy and understanding is a main goal of all Emily’s work surrounding disability and other protected characteristics. Work around inclusive exhibitions, and on wider culture and heritage projects (as she's been involved with for the National Railway Museum, the National Science and Media Museum, the Centre for Life and others) is Emily's very favourite. She's beyond excited to be a part of this inclusive improvement journey for this iconic cultural centre.
Jamie Hale is the Artistic and Executive Director of CRIPtic Arts, a dynamic, disabled-led UK arts organisation. They are also an award-winning poet and playwright. Alongside their creative work, Jamie consults for cultural organisations, non-profits, the third sector, and both local and national government on access, equity, people, policy, and practice. Their creative career began at the Barbican - and almost nowhere else was accessible to them as a wheelchair user. From the built environment to staff training, Jamie understands how few spaces truly integrate access, and is passionate about shaping a more inclusive cultural future.
Natalie is a curator, writer, and researcher based in London, UK, working across design, technology, and society. They are currently Curator of Digital Design at the V&A, where they were lead curator of the exhibition Design and Disability, working with Reuben Liebeskind. At the V&A, they are one of the co-chairs of Disabled Action Group. As a disabled, neurodivergent heritage professional with an interest in disability-led design and history, Natalie is keen to see where a significant project such as the Barbican Renewal can benefit from embracing 'disability gain' throughout this process.
Pip joined University College London in April 2019 as their inaugural Director of Inclusive Environments; working across the university providing in-house expertise on inclusive design and access, and embedding inclusive environments in to their education programme. Pip sits on a number of industry led committees and panels, including the British Standards Institutions’ B559 committee which is responsible for BS8300 Design of an accessible and inclusive built environment. Pip has over twenty years’ experience of working on access and inclusion in the public sector, in both planning (working on strategic planning applications for the Mayor of London as principal advisor- access) and building control settings (including as Building Control service manager for Camden Council). Pip was National President of the Access Association and remains actively involved in their work.
