Our people

Appointed: 2015.

Tanni was a Trustee from 2011 to 2015.

She was appointed as a working crossbench peer in 2010 but she is perhaps best known from her days as a Paralympic athlete, winning a total of 11 gold medals in 5 Paralympic games. She retired from competition in 2007, however she still plays an active role in the administration of sport and is regularly seen on television, commenting on events.

I’m a huge fan of Snowdon Trust.

The reality is that we all know this… Disabled people find it harder to get into education, harder to get into work – it is just harder.

Everyone should make the most of the opportunities they have. It’s about having a goal and a dream and seeing what you can achieve.

Appointed: March 2019

Andrew was involved with the charity right from the very start. He helped Lord Snowdon develop the idea and set everything up in 1981, including legal arrangements and financial procedures. He went on to be our general secretary for over 20 years before serving a further 14 years as a Trustee. We have been delighted to honour him by appointing him a Vice President in March 2019. 

Appointed: 2012

Sir John was a founding trustee and was our Chairman for 15 years, from 1997 until 2012 when he was made a Vice President. 

He was MP for Exeter for 27 years (1970 – 1997) and has always been a strong supporter of disability equality issues. While an MP, he was co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Disability. Sir John is the honorary freeman of Exeter. Only one person ever holds that appointment – previous holders of the title include Lord Nelson. 

Appointed: 2023

Andy recently completed a 19-year career in Shell. During this time, he held multiple global HR roles, across different locations, with a focus on business partnering, talent management and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI). During his time at Shell, Andy led Shell’s disability employee resource groups. He also led the introduction of the `Fuel Service` app globally across Shell’s 30,000 self-service stations that gives disabled drivers more independence through being able to plan ahead and re-fuel without needing to leave their cars.

Andy was awarded an OBE in 2022 for services to Diversity & Inclusion in recognition of his contribution to disability inclusion, both within Shell and across industry.

Andy is now pursuing a portfolio career, including acting as an Ambassador for Purple Space and Non-Executive Director of Lincolnshire Cricket Limited. Andy sees himself as an agent for change and uses his own personal experience of disability, plus his HR skillset, to influence and secure leadership commitment on the disability agenda.

Appointed: 2023

Molly, a past Snowdon Scholar herself, is passionate about improving the equality and accessibility of the higher education sector. She has a history of involvement in disability activism and student representation. As the Students with Disabilities Officer for Lancaster University’s Students’ Union, Molly ran campaigns to improve the accessibility of the university and establish a community of disabled students. She was also a Student Panellist for the Office for Students, where she represented the student voice to government ministers, departments and leading higher education stakeholders. Following her MPhil in Classics at Cambridge, Molly now works for the Office for Students full time.

Appointed: 2001, Chair of the Trustees from 2012-2023

Renny has a strong personal interest and considerable expertise in many aspects of disability and clinical research. He is also chairman of a biotechnology company developing new antibody based drugs for cancer. Renny was CEO of the Eastern Academic Health Sciences Network (AHSN) based at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge and founded the South West AHSN across Devon Somerset and Cornwall working in partnership with the academic, NHS, commercial and voluntary sectors. Prior to that he was Director of Clinical Research at the Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust and has held senior positions with the UK Medical Research Council, the charity Action Medical Research and was clinical research advisor to the charity SPARKS. As Chair and Trustee, Renny brings not only technical knowledge relating to disability, but also experience from his work within Higher Education, the NHS and involvement with several other health related charities.

Appointed: 2011 

Lord Colin Low Colin was a selection panel member for us from the charity’s inception in 1981 until 1994. He is blind and his experience was particularly helpful in considering grant requests from applicants with a visual impairment. He has been a long time trustee of RNIB and was Chairman from 2000-2009. Colin was one of the founder members of the Disability Rights Commission (2000-2002) and was President of the European Blind Union (2003-2011) and the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) (from 2010). He was appointed to the House of Lords in 2006. 

Appointed: 2023

Jacob is a disabled barrister, consultant, and academic with a multidisciplinary focus in commercial law, governance, disability, and education. He read law and education at Cambridge, occupational medicine at Otago, governance at UCD, business at UCL, teaching at the LSE, dispute resolution at Aberdeen, theology and ethics at KCL, and is chartered in banking, finance and securities. As a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, he interviewed potential undergraduates and marked the Cambridge Law admission exams, always with an eye to advancing disabled applicants. Unhappy with the lack of advancement, he often acts pro-bono in obtaining reasonable adjustments for disabled students and professionals, and acted pro-bono in the Post Office Scandal. Prior to returning to the UK, he studied at Victoria University of Wellington, was a Legal and Policy Advisor at the New Zealand Law Commission and clerked for Judges of the Court of Appeal and President of the Law Commission. Jacob practices at the bar and runs an Equality Act, occupational health and disability consultancy, Reasonable Adjustment. In his spare time, he campaigns for all Boards to have a disabled board member.

In addition to providing practical, immediate support to help students to achieve their goals, The Snowdon Trust is also a powerful voice influencing Government and providers to improve funding and support in the future.

In addition to providing practical, immediate support to help students to achieve their goals, The Snowdon Trust is also a powerful voice influencing Government and providers to improve funding and support in the future.

It never ceases to amaze me how people can still strive for self-improvement despite all the barriers that life puts their way.

Research Associate (Scientist) in Biomedical MR Imaging at The University of Manchester (UoM). Founder and Chair of the National Association of Disabled Staff Networks (NADSN). Worked as Chair and Co-Chair of UoM Disabled Staff Network (DSN). Hamied was supported by the Snowdon Trust to complete his studies at UoM. A powered chair-user. Passionate about equality and diversity, and a tireless Disability advocate.

Hannah was born with a visual impairment and was educated in mainstream schools before completing a BA Hons in International Relations.

While at university, she set up a national support group for people living with her eye condition, Aniridia. She also held the position of Disabled Students’ rep before being elected on to the NUS disabled students campaign committee.

This led to Hannah dedicating her career to supporting and advocating for disabled people, particularly in education and employment. Hannah became a selection panel member in 2008 as part of her role as Disabled Students’ Adviser At Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities. She now works at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) currently as Customer Experience Manager, but during her 12years at RNIB has held a number of positions providing advice and support on welfare benefits, social care, independent living as well as employment, education and volunteering opportunities.

Hannah enjoys bringing both her professional and lived experience of disability to the selection panel team.

Professor Kenny (Liz) is the Dean of Students at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM). One of Europe’s leading lute players she has spent thirty years performing in solo, chamber music and opera and theatre projects. She is an experienced Higher Education professional, with roles such as Professor of Musical Performance, Director of Performance and Performance Studies, Dean of Students and Senior Manager giving Liz a depth of insight into the sector. Currently as Dean of Students at RAM, Liz oversees Student Support, (including mental health, learning and disability support), Widening Participation activities, Museum and Collections, and she teaches in the Historical Performance Department.

Every time I read a batch of applications I am full of admiration at the determination shown by so many people.

Alicia Loh is a commercial lawyer in London, having done her undergraduate and master’s degrees at Cambridge, where she was the Snowdon Trust’s first scholar. She engages in disability advocacy on Instagram at @ExploreDisabled, where she shares her life as a disabled power wheelchair user.

University was one of the best times in my life, I loved it! I believe strongly that everyone should have an opportunity to follow their dreams, which is why I am a panel member for Snowdon Trust.

Uzoamaka Anita Asiegbu is a Creative Writer and a Gender and Disability Inclusion Specialist championing the representation and mainstreaming of women with disabilities in all aspects of society. With an award from UNV in Nigeria on women empowerment and gender, as well as experience working with UN Women, Uzoamaka has mastered the requisite skills to ensure the inclusion of women with disabilities in gender equality.

Uzoamaka is the President of the Youth Advisory Board of Street Project Foundation’s growing pool of transformational youth leaders who are advocating social change through arts. She is also a member of the Snowdon Trust Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), where she provides valuable perspectives to ensure that Snowdon’s work is inclusive of diverse lived experiences.

Uzoamaka understands the importance of full representation of women with disabilities in gender equality discourses, and she applies a disabled perspective to her study and work activities. She also actively utilises her creative writing skills to create inclusive representations of characters with disabilities in literature. Presently, Uzoamaka is studying for her Master’s degree in Women and Gender Studies (Erasmus GEMMA) from the University of Lodz, Poland and the University of Bologna, Italy.

Emma is going into her final year at the University of Birmingham, studying International Business with French.

I wanted to join the LEAP panel as I’m keen to draw on my insight to shape Snowdon’s approach to support disabled students in higher education.

Molly, a past Snowdon Scholar herself, is passionate about improving the equality and accessibility of the higher education sector. She has a history of involvement in disability activism and student representation. As the Students with Disabilities Officer for Lancaster University’s Students’ Union, Molly ran campaigns to improve the accessibility of the university and establish a community of disabled students. She was also a Student Panellist for the Office for Students, where she represented the student voice to government ministers, departments and leading higher education stakeholders. Following her MPhil in Classics at Cambridge, Molly now works for the Office for Students full time.

Natasha is an award-winning international Equalities Designer and researcher whose practice explores extending the frontiers of knowledge around mental difference, non-typical bodyminds, ways of being and marginalised experiences. Natasha seeks to reframe mainstream notions of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion through an intersectional design lens, spanning multi-modal interactions, place-shaping, investigative play, and policy design.

My name is DivineGift David Usman, a visually impaired Nigerian with a heart for disability inclusion and accessibility. Currently, I lead a team of vibrant youths who share my passion for training visually impaired persons on digital skills and also to consult for organizations both home and abroad on how to be more inclusive in their approach and operations. My determination secured me a role in Snowdon Trust’s LEAP and I am committed to contributing invaluably to ensure that persons with disabilities have better lives.