Inclusion Lead
2023 – Present
Onvero
Workforce policy, governance & strategy for 400+ clients.
Strategy Informed by Reality
I advise transport operators, regulators, public bodies and the organisations that serve them on disability, access and inclusion. Audits that survive scrutiny, policy that survives consultation, and training people actually remember.
- Civil Aviation AuthorityConsumer Panel
- DWP Disability ConfidentProfessional Advisers Group
- Studio Lutalica CICChair
01 /
What I Do
Four ways in
Most engagements start with one of these and grow into another.
Accessibility Audits
Full WCAG 2.2 AA reviews with remediation documentation and a developer walkthrough, plus physical and service access reviews. Worked through criterion by criterion and by keyboard, not read off a scanner report.
Policy & Written Guidance
Policy reviews, consultation responses, evidence submissions, board and committee papers, and strategy documents.
Training & Facilitation
Disability confidence, inclusive language, accessible service delivery, and manager capability programmes. Delivered in person and online.
Panels, Advisory & Non-Executive
Consumer and user panels, independent advisory groups, and board and committee appointments.
About
Who you'd be working with
I work on disability, access and inclusion with the organisations where getting it wrong has consequences — transport operators, regulators, public bodies, and the charities and employers that serve them.
I've spent my career on both sides of this work: leading policy, governance, and operations across the charity and advisory sector, and living it as a disabled, LGBTQ+ professional who knows what happens when systems are designed without you in mind. The gap between what organisations say and what people actually experience is where I do my best work — and it's what I write and speak about most. Home is London.
02 /
Methodology
How the work gets done
Four habits that show up in everything above.
Plain Language
Inclusion fails when it is unintelligible. I explain complex, sensitive topics clearly, ensuring rigour without losing nuance.
Real-World Design
Policy is only as good as its application. I prioritise frameworks and processes that managers can actually apply in the daily flow of work.
Outcome Focus
I meet people where they are. I create space for honest, difficult conversation while keeping a strict focus on the desired organisational outcome.
Calm Under Scrutiny
Inclusion is increasingly visible and sensitive. I bring a steady hand to governance and strategy when the stakes are high.
The Index
Selected Roles
Hugh O'Keeffe
London, UK
03 /
Selected Roles
Role
Organisation
Focus
Assistant Director
2019 – 2022
Mosaic Trust
Operational strategy, safeguarding & LGBTQ+ youth engagement.
Operations Director
2022 – 2023
Tonic Housing
Launching the UK's first LGBTQ+ retirement community.
04 /
Advisory & Boards
Civil Aviation Authority
Consumer Panel Member
Member since April 2026
DWP Disability Confident
Advisor
Policy guidance
Supporting Disabled People
Conference Chair
National Conference (2025)
Met Police DIAG
Former Advisor
Disability Independent Advisory Group
05 /
Recognition
Award
Queer Leadership Award
Policy & Advocacy Impact
We Create Space, 2025
Regular speaker and facilitator on inclusive cultures, disability inclusion and LGBTQ+ equity.
06 /
Selected Writing
Published across the sector
Title
Publication
Date
Beyond Good Intentions: What Real Allyship Looks Like
Onvero
Apr 2026
Living Beyond the Form
Onvero
Feb 2026
It All Starts With a Conversation: Moving from Fear to Support for Disabled Colleagues
Onvero
Aug 2025
The
Asterisk
Strategy informed by reality. Bringing the footnote to the headline.
Read The Journal (opens in new tab)
Writing is published in a personal capacity and does not represent the views of any employer or organisation.
Long-form essays on systemic change and organisational culture.
Quick observations, links, and reactions to the news cycle.
Reality checks that unpick misconceptions about disability and identity.
07 /
Contact
Reply within two working days
No brief required. A sentence about what isn't working is enough to start.
Start a conversation
Tell me what you're working on
The best conversations start with a half-formed problem, not a finished brief. If something isn't working for disabled people and you're not sure why, that's a good place to begin.
What happens next
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You send a few lines. A sentence about what's not working is enough. No brief, no procurement portal.
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I reply within two working days. From my own inbox, not an autoresponder.
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We work out if I'm the right person. If I'm not, I'll say so and point you towards someone who is.
Send a message
Goes straight to my inbox. Nothing else happens to it.
Your details are used only to reply to your message. They are not added to a mailing list or shared with anyone.
Prefer email?
Same inbox, same two working days.
Or book a call
Thirty minutes, no preparation needed. A rough outline of the problem is enough.
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