Meet the team

Staff Team

Caroline is a white woman with dark brown hair. She is wearing a black jumper, and wears thick-framed glasses. She is smiling at the camera.

As CEO at Transport for All I work with our brilliant staff team and Board of Trustees to ensure the organisation is making an impact and delivering on our goals: challenging and removing the barriers to travel that are faced by Deaf, disabled and older people across the UK.  I have a long-term health condition, and I’ve worked in the charity sector for 13 years in engagement, policy and fundraising roles.

Caroline Stickland

CEO

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.

Katie is a white woman with long brown hair, winged eyeliner, and several nose piercings. She wears a jumper and is smiling.

I lead Transport for All’s campaigning, policy, public affairs and influencing work. From lobbying politicians, creating reports, responding to consultations, developing evidence-based policy, working with press and media, to rallying public support, my role is to push for change and keep accessible transport at the top of the agenda. I love: wheelchair accessible pubs, my two cute cats, and Dungeons and Dragons.

Katie Pennick

Campaigns and Policy Manager

Favourite mode of transport: On the train, while enjoying the view.

Emma is a white woman with dark blonde hair with blonde highlights. She is wearing eyeliner, red lipstick and is smiling.

I oversee our helpline and lead on Transport for All's casework. My other tasks include conducting various types of research, managing our data and using insights to support Transport for All’s campaigns and policy influencing work. Outside work, I'm a big fan of all sorts of art and animals. 

Emma

Insights and Advice Manager

Favourite mode of transport: Walking! For longer distances, a super off-peak train.

A selfie of Chris, a white man with a grey beard smiling and wearing a cap.

I’m the Community and Membership Manager here at Transport for All. I want to connect with as many people as possible and listen to your real-life experiences. Your views are vital in developing policies and campaigns to improve UK transport and streetspace, now and for the future. I’m passionate about connecting with disabled and older people and access, inclusion and diversity.

Chris Lofthouse

Community and Membership Manager

Favourite mode of transport: Buses when not too crowded.

I support the design and delivery of Transport for All’s research and ensure that the findings are disseminated widely and have an impact. Outside of work, I am a big fan of instant noodles, dogs, and Eurovision.

Alisha Pathania

Research and Insight Officer

Favourite mode of transport: An off-peak HS1 train – gets me from Kent to London in just 20 minutes!

A head-and-shoulders photograph of Madeleine. Madeleine is a young white woman with light brown hair wearing a blue, white and green striped blouse. She is standing in front of a quince tree, which has white and pink blossoms.

As Research Officer, I support the design, delivery and reporting of research for Transport for All’s goals and strategic objectives, making sure this is done through meaningful engagement with disabled, Deaf and older people at every stage. Outside of my role, I love spending time outdoors and exploring London’s coffee shops.

Madeleine Stewart

Policy and Research Officer

Favourite mode of transport: Walking, or if going further, the Thames Clippers boat- ideally in a seat right next to the window!

A person with short electric blue hair smiles at the camera. They are wearing pink tinted glasses and a green cardigan.

I am leading the History of Accessible Transport project, where in the run up to TfA's 40th anniversary I will be finding, celebrating and spreading the stories of Disabled people's travel. Aside from researching the past, I'm passionate about social deduction games, the TV show Taskmaster and wearing every colour at the same time.

Daisy Holder

Project Lead: History of Accessible Transport

Favourite mode of transport: Definitely the train. Designated chill out time while the world whizzes past.

Yragael is a man with glasses, stubble and balding hear. He wears a multi-coloured long sleave top.

I’m the Information and Advice Support Supervisor here at Transport for All, 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!

Yragael

Information & Advice 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.

Ezra is a white man with buzzed hair. He is smiling and wearing a dark green jumper.

I am a Research and Communications Assistant, and provide general support to a whole range of amazing projects at Transport for All. The work is quite varied: handling administration, helping with research, producing newsletters, and interviewing members. As well as health and accessibility advocacy, I have a passion for good books, good food, and bad TV.

Ezra Johnson

Research and Communications Assistant

Favourite mode of transport: If I’m in a rush – the tube. And I’m usually in a rush… 

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.

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 for Transport For All. I am a disability activist, content creator and freelancer. Using social media, I share my experiences of travelling around London as a blind guide dog handler. My consultancy work ranges from video game accessibility, women's rights, digital inclusion and accessible transport. I'm committed to celebrating mobility aids as tools of independence especially when travelling.

Dr Amy Kavanagh

Associate Consultant

Favourite mode of transport: I love travelling on the London Underground, the turn up and go service gives me independence and confidence as a blind Londoner. Also Guide Dog Ava loves escalators!

Jen Rooney smiling at the camera. She is a white woman with long brown hair and wearing a mint green top.

After becoming disabled following a ski accident and corresponding brain injury, I became passionate about making mental health and disability inclusion a priority for organisations. As an associate consultant with Transport for All, I use my background in management consulting, theatre and personal story to inspire organisational culture change with a focus on accessibility and inclusion.

Jen Rooney

Associate Consultant

Favourite mode of transport: It was cycling before my ski accident, so now the next best thing for a Canadian like me is taking a double decker bus!

As Associate Trainer at Transport for All I use my personal, lived experience as a disabled person, as well as my professional background in the public and private sector to ensure advice given is tangible and realistic.

Esi Hardy

Associate Trainer

Favourite mode of transport: I like to get places quickly; I don’t see the point in dawdling. So, depending on accessibility and availability my favourite forms of transport are the train, tube, or walking (in my electric wheelchair).

Board of Trustees

Alan is a white man with grey hair and stubble. He is dressed in smart clothing and leaning his head against his wheelchair head rest.

Alan Benson MBE

Co-Chair

Favourite mode of transport: Tube – Travelling beneath London’s streets is still amazing.

Alan is a leading disability campaigner featured on the Shaw Trust’s Disability Power 100 list of the most influential disabled people for three years. He also sits on the Board of London Travel Watch, Ruils and co-chairs the DFT’s Inclusive Transport Stakeholder Group. He is also a regular tweeter!

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Bhavini Makwana

Co-Chair

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.

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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.

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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 has a wheelchair headrest behind him and ventilator hose with mouthpiece supported by metal armature curved around in front of him.

Jeff Harvey

Trustee

Favourite mode of transport: Power chair, because I use it all the time and it works outside and in. Also Underground: Because it’s usually fast and not affected by traffic or weather.

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.

Chris is a white man with grey hair and wearing a collared shirt and smiling.

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.

Hugo is a white man with short grey hair and glasses. He is wearing a green scarf and smiling.

hugo finley

Trustee

Favourite mode of transport: Other than walking I would say my local train’s alright, I love the trams in Manchester too, but they are a 15 minute walk away. If I have time I will walk to the city centre but it is a fairly long walk – 4 miles or so.
 
Hugo is a freelance charity consultant by day, he has been helping charities and other organisation with governance, compliance and organisational change. He has a special interest in data protection and documentation, mostly gained from struggling with accessible documentation and feeling that all policy and documentation should be easy to read and access. Hugo was appointed to Transport for All’s Board in May 2022 after consulting on and off for the Trustees and Staff over the past two years.
 
Kirsty is a white woman with shoulder-length blonde hair. She is wearing a white shirt and a scarf and is shown addressing an audience.

Kirsty Hoyle

Trustee

Favourite mode of transport: Top of the bus, right at the front

Kirsty joins the board after leading TfA as the CEO for 2 years. An experienced charity leader and strategist, Kirsty has spent her career raising awareness of issues that impact on people’s lives through integrating lived experience, public policy and service delivery. She is currently the Chief Executive of Metabolic Support UK.

Glyn is a white bald man with glasses.

Glyn Kyle MBE

Trustee

Favourite mode of transport: Used to enjoy travelling around the country by train, and the speed of the London Underground, but now find buses less of a challenge.

Glyn Kyle is a former independent board member of London TravelWatch. He has a long-standing interest in Older Peoples’ issues, and is currently co-chair of Age UK East London. He is chair of Southside Rehabilitation Association and chair of the Greater London Authority Inclusive Design and Access Panel for older and disabled People.