Meet the team
Kirsty Hoyle
CEO
Favourite mode of transport: I love to travel by bus across the Capital, headphones in.
My role as CEO is to ensure, through fundraising, building relationships and securing a strong reputation, that TfA is a sustainable and respected organisation that supports its members, and all disabled people, to challenge and remove the barriers to transport.
Katie Pennick
Campaigns Lead
Favourite mode of transport: Overground, while enjoying the view.
I’m passionate about equality and committed to creating meaningful change for disabled people. My role at TfA is to keep on top of all things accessibility and transport policy, and work closely with our supporters, partners, and wider community to identify key issues, gather data, and use this to push for change. I use a wheelchair and have two incredibly cute cats!
Emma Koprena
Access, Rights, Advice Scheme Manager
Favourite mode of transport: Under ideal circumstances, my favourite mode of transport would be rail, but I currently prefer buses.
My duties include the recruitment and support of volunteers, devising advice toolkits, as well as organising external advisory events. Additionally, I am responsible for managing contacts in our database and providing data insights to support TfA’s campaigns and policy influencing work.
Yragael Drouet
Information & Advise Support Supervisor
Favourite mode of transport: As a wheelchair user I have to say that the DLR is my favourite (if not perfect) form of travel in London.
I’m the Information and Advice Support Supervisor here at TfA, I am on the end of the phone and here in our offices helping disabled and older people to travel freely and safely. I’m passionate about supporting disabled people, and theatre!
Liam O’Dell
Communications Consultant
Favourite mode of transport: Train! Perfect for reading a book, listening to music or getting some writing done.
As a communications consultant, I looks after our social media output and our e-newsletters. I’m mildly deaf and also work as a freelance journalist and campaigner.
Caroline Stickland
Consultant
Favourite mode of transport: On a bus while it’s crossing the river Thames, either northbound off to a museum or southbound home to my cats.
As a consultant at Transport for All I work on projects involving research and policy. I have a long-term health condition, and I also work as a freelance policy and research specialist for a variety of charities and organisations.
Sarah Teichler
Associate Consultant
Favourite mode of transport:
I love the Tube. It’s fast, frequent and iconic. We need more step-free stations!
I’m an independent consultant providing support to Transport for All. I’ve worked in the disability and accessibility field for 17 years and I’m passionate about disability equality and the social model of disability. I’m a qualified Access Consultant for working in inclusive design for built environments, a qualified trainer and have extensive experience of developing accessibility and inclusion policies and strategies.
Meet the Trustees
Alan Benson
Chair
Alan is a leading disability campaigner on issues of transport. He recently made the Shaw Trust’s Disability Power 100 list of the most influential disabled people (for the second time running!). He also sits on the Board of London Travel Watch and co-chairs the DFT’s Inclusive Transport Stakeholder Group. He is also a regular tweeter!
Mohammed Mohsan Ali
Vice Chair
Mohammed is a visually impaired activist and has been a trustee since 2012. In the same year, he took his local council to court over tactile paving, in a three and a half year legal battle in which he was successful.
Bhavini Makwana
Trustee
Bhavini works at London Vision, a charity supporting Blind and Partially sighted people across the capital. In her spare time, she runs workshops and writes blogs to raise awareness of sight loss in the Asian community, and share her experiences of being a Guide Dog owner.
Chris Mason
Treasurer
Chris qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1979 and worked in practice until retiring from full-time working in 2014. He now divides his time between his wife’s children’s nursery, a few clients that he has retained and voluntary work.
Karl Farrell
Trustee
Karl’s particular interest is streetspace: he advocates for clear pavements as a necessity for pedestrians and for controlled crossings so that anyone can safely cross a busy road. He’s our expert on everything from bus-stop bypasses to dockless bikes and e-scooters. He’s also the Treasurer for NFBUK.
Jeff Harvey
Trustee
Jeffrey is an IT consultant who thought the Underground was off limits to him due to his wheelchair until he read about Manual Boarding Ramps on TfA’s website. Inspired by this, he began to get involved at TfA to help people better understand accessible options, and to improve access overall.
Luisa Ferreira
Trustee
Luisa is originally from Portugal. She is a full time carer for her mum in addition to being disabled herself. She has been advocating for disability rights for years and is particularly passionate about the rights of disabled migrants.
Patrick Roberts
Trustee
Patrick is a professional building services design consulting engineer with 35 years’ experience. His past achievements include being a Trustee for Extant, a leading performing arts company of Blind and Partially-Sighted performers, being a School Governor, and he has even coached a non-league football team! He’s worked with guide dog Rufus since 2013.
