About

I work on disability, access and inclusion with employers and with the organisations that serve the public, from charities and councils to transport operators and regulators. Most of the people I work with want to get this right and aren't sure where to start.

I've spent my career on both sides of this work. I've led policy, governance and operations across the charity and advisory sector, and I live 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.

Portrait of Hugh O'Keeffe

Hugh O'Keeffe

London, UK

About the names

The asterisk

An asterisk marks a footnote, the line at the bottom of the page where the conditions, exceptions and small details live. In disability and access, that detail is usually where things go right or wrong for the person on the other end. My writing is called The Asterisk because I want to bring that detail up to the headline, where the people making decisions will read it. The asterisk runs through this site for the same reason.

Read The Asterisk

The Small Print

The small print is the part of a document most people skip, even though it often decides what happens. Each session of The Small Print takes one everyday moment, like a request for a different chair or a colleague mentioning a diagnosis, and works through the detail that decides how it goes. Sessions are free, monthly and open to anyone who has to handle these moments.

See the next session

Roles

Roles, most recent first
RoleOrganisationYearsFocus
Inclusion Lead Onvero (opens in new tab) 2023 to 2026 Workforce policy, governance and strategy for 400+ clients.
Operations Director Tonic Housing (opens in new tab) 2022 to 2023 Launching the UK's first LGBTQ+ retirement community.
Assistant Director Mosaic Trust (opens in new tab) 2019 to 2022 Operational strategy, safeguarding and LGBTQ+ youth engagement.

Advisory and boards

Recognition

Queer Leadership Award

Policy and Advocacy Impact, We Create Space, 2025

Speaking

Regular speaker and facilitator on inclusive cultures, disability inclusion and LGBTQ+ equity.

Writing for other publications

The Asterisk is my own writing and lives on this site. Everything listed under Writing for other publications and Interviews and media was produced for employers or partners, remains their copyright, and is linked here rather than reproduced. Those links open on the original sites.

Interviews and media