Emma, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your own lived experience?
I have been on a journey, from concealing my impairments when I was younger to being named one of the most influential Disabled people in the Disability Power 100 2024.
This is a reflection of personal evolution to proudly advocating for change, both through lived experience and strategic leadership, travelling nationwide and globally with my assistance dog Luna by my side.
My career blends research rigour with real-world action, and I’m committed to ensuring accessibility is embedded – not just as compliance, but as culture.
As Director of Engagement at Transreport, I am focused on bringing together industry and community insights, networks, and strategy to expand global impact and growth. I work across the transport, tourism, and hospitality sectors, championing accessibility at scale; translating policy into action and regulation into meaningful, innovative change that improves travel and experiences for all.
My academic and research background gives me a deep, theoretical understanding of the barriers and enablers that impact disabled people. Alongside my research, I have authored and spoken on both accessibility and inclusion, publishing in Inclusive Design Magazine, appearing on BBC Radio 4 and the Evening Standard’s Tech & Science podcast, and presenting at Naidex, the UK’s leading event for accessibility, in 2023, 2024 and 2025, to name just a few.
In 2022, I was proud to carry the Queen’s Baton Relay, a recognition of my research impact and advocacy efforts. My recognition in the Disability Power 100, in the category of Transport, Retail, Service & Hospitality, alongside being short-listed for the SME News Visionary Leader Award reflects my personal and professional commitment to ensuring accessibility is continually embedded in my approach to dismantling barriers.
Your job at Transreport focusses on digital inclusion – how can the digital world, data and online platforms help with improving the lives of those with access needs?
At Transreport, our commitment to digital inclusion means using technology to empower people, especially disabled and older travellers, to access travel and experiences with greater confidence, dignity and independence.
Digital platforms have immense potential to remove friction from the travel experience by reducing uncertainty and empowering greater autonomy. For example, enabling passengers to request and manage assistance directly doesn’t just add convenience, it builds trust, confidence and a sense of agency.
At the same time, the digital divide must be acknowledged. Not everyone has access to or feels comfortable using technology. Inclusive solutions must work for all, including those without access to personal devices. We need to ensure technology can work for everyone.
Technology and data should also enhance, not replace, human support. Analysing real feedback from passengers helps identify gaps and guide improvements, ensuring accessibility strategies are grounded in lived experience – something increasingly valued and recognised as imperative by operators and industry leaders alike.
With the recent EU Accessibility Act, there is growing recognition across sectors that digital inclusion is both an ethical and legal imperative. The Act sets clear expectations for accessible digital services, reinforcing the need for accessible and inclusive design.
Ultimately, digital inclusion is about breaking down barriers and building a connected, equitable travel ecosystem that works for everyone.
What do you think the travel industry does well and what does it do badly?
Progress has been made by some businesses but there is still a long road ahead for improvement. When the right information is shared in advance, frontline teams are empowered to deliver timely and appropriate support. However, systems are still heavily reliant on frameworks such as SSR codes (Special Service Requests), which often do not reflect the full diversity of access needs.
As someone who travels as a ‘SVAN’ with an assistance dog supporting me, I know that a single code does not capture the nuances of my requirements, or anyone else’sfor that matter. This results in support that feels impersonal or incomplete.
There’s also a wider issue around visibility. The travel and tourism industry tends to respond well when an impairment or access need is obvious, but when someone’s impairment is not immediately apparent, attitudes and service can quickly fall short.
It reveals an underlying culture in our society that still centres on ‘seeing is believing’, rather than understanding disability as an inherent part of being human and not always apparent.
This seeing is believing culture undermines dignity. We need a more human, person‑centred approach that goes beyond codes and checklists; one that listens, adapts and trusts the lived experience of disabled people. There is a real opportunity for the industry to move from a model of compliance to one of genuine inclusion.
You’re an award winner for your disability advocacy – how will this inform your role as a judge?
Being named in the Disability Power 100 2024 was a deeply emotional and reflective moment for me. It took me back to a time in my life when I felt I had to hide my impairments, when I believed that being disabled was something to be ashamed of. That younger version of me could not have imagined that one day I would not only be living proudly as a disabled woman but also being an advocate and changemaker in this space.
I am a first-generation university graduate, someone who was once written off simply because I was disabled. I often think of that 14-year-old girl and how proud she would be of who I have become. Being part of this list was not just a personal milestone, it was a reminder of why this work matters so much.
As a judge, I carry that journey with me. I bring not only subject matter expertise but my lived experience, deep empathy, and a commitment to recognising the impact that so many others are making, often without recognition. I know first-hand the strength it takes to speak up, push through barriers and drive change.
Being a judge is not just about celebrating success; it is about shining a light on those reshaping the narrative around disability and accessibility. It is an honour, and a responsibility I do not take lightly.
And why were you interested in being a judge for these awards?
These awards are a powerful opportunity to recognise the individuals and organisations who are actively driving accessibility and inclusion in travel. While there is still a long way to go, and while much work remains, celebrating those who are breaking down barriers encourages others and builds momentum. It is a real privilege to be part of this judging panel. I see it as a chance to spotlight innovation, courage, and leadership in a space that often goes unseen.
Progress does not happen in isolation, it takes collective effort, shared learning, and the determination to challenge the status quo; these awards reflect and embody that.
What are you going to be looking for from the entries?
I will be looking for a sustained and strategic commitment to accessibility and inclusion, rather than one-off projects or surface-level fixes. This will include evidence that accessibility is being embedded into the everyday culture, operations, and decision-making of an organisation, as this will ultimately impact both their service delivery and consumer experiences.
I want to see entries from forward-thinking organisations and individuals who are not only addressing current barriers, but also planning ahead: future-proofing their strategies, allocating meaningful budgets and building inclusion into their long-term vision with lived-experience being consistently in the room, and at the table, when decision-making is happening. This should be both in terms of employees and engagement with external disabled and older people to inform and advise on strategies and processes.
It is about recognising those who are making real, lasting impact and those who are working with disabled people to create change that is not only bold, but also sustainable and scalable.
Any final thoughts?
Accessibility is not a checklist; it is a mindset. Recognising that every person has a right to feel confident, welcome, and respected when travelling are the foundations to inclusion.
Celebrating those organisations with a commitment to accessibility and inclusion is not about charity or box-ticking, it is about creating systems that work for everyone.
When we design with accessibility and inclusion at the forefront, we make things better for all of us.
Accessibility and inclusion are not niche or ‘nice to have’ concepts, they underpin the future of travel. I am excited to celebrate the individuals and organisations who are already showing us what that future can look like.
