Disability rights expert Zara Todd appointed to lead new panel shaping Government’s health and disability policy
Source: gov.uk (2025-08-20)

Equity and inclusion consultant Zara Todd has been appointed as Chair of the Government's new Independent Disability Advisory Panel, taking a guiding role in its development and focus.

- Independent Disability Advisory Panel will have broad remit across health and disability policy.
- Panel will consist of up to 10 Deaf and disabled people and people with long-term health conditions, for the Government to listen to, learn from, and collaborate with.
- Demonstrates Government’s commitment to including the expertise of disabled people in policy design and delivery as part of the Plan for Change.
Deaf and disabled people and individuals with long-term health conditions on the newly-created panel will also advise the Government on health and disability policies.

Announced in the Get Britain Working White Paper, the panel will be an independent advisory group with a broad remit across all of health and disability policy.

It will provide guidance, recommendations and feedback to embed lived experience into policy design and delivery, aiming to build trust and strengthen relationships with the sector.

With over 20 years of experience working with a range of organisations on Disability Equality and participation, Zara Todd will be central in recruiting the wider panel and reporting its ideas and insights back to the Government.

Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said:

It is absolutely vital that the voices of Deaf and disabled people and those with long-term health conditions are at the centre of our health and disability policy design, so I am pleased to announce Zara Todd as the Chair of new Independent Disability Advisory Panel.

Zara’s extensive and wide-ranging experience, including designing and facilitating disability inclusive spaces, will be invaluable in guiding the collaboration we hope to build.

I look forward to listening to, learning from and collaborating with the Panel over the coming months.

Zara Todd, Chair of the Disability Advisory Panel said:

I’m delighted to chair the new Independent Disability Advisory Panel and help ensure Deaf and disabled people and people with long-term health conditions are heard in Government policy-making.

The Panel will aim to strengthen relationships between the Government and sector, and I look forward to working with other disabled people to connect lived experience with policy development.

I hope that working collaboratively, we can build stronger links and build an approach that works for all.

Since 2024, Zara has been a Chairperson of the Edinburgh Accessibility Commission, providing independent advice on accessibility for disabled people to Edinburgh council. She is currently a member of the mobility and access committee for Scotland (MACS) she is a member of the British Council Disability Advisory Panel and is currently the convener of Disability Equality Scotland.

She has a long history of working with disabled people’s organisations including the Alliance for Inclusive Education, the European Network on Independent Living, and Equal Lives. Zara is currently on the board of Disabled Peoples’ International and was previously the chair of Inclusion London. She is an experienced trainer and facilitator and delivers training in disability equality and human rights.

The Panel will run separately to the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), but expertise and insight will be shared between the two.

Further information
- An Expression of Interest for the Independent Disability Advisory Panel will be launched soon on GOV.UK to appoint Panel members. Full application details will be available on GOV.UK once the recruitment campaign officially launches.