Celia is the Deputy Chair of the CDG. She is the Founding Director of the Disability Policy Centre, an independent think tank, the first of its kind in the United Kingdom, dedicated to the development and advancement of policy that ensures that disability is at the heart of legislation. Celia has multiple disabilities including Loeys-Dietz Syndrome, Marfans, POTS and most significantly she lives with a permanent central line in her chest receiving daily blood infusions and complete artificial nutrition. She has never known life without having her disability, and consequentially from a young age she has been an active disability rights campaigner. Celia takes pride in her disabled identity, working hard against systematic ableism, discrimination, and archaic stereotypes about the talents, potential, and ability of disabled people. Celia is an experienced political campaigner on disabled representation, inclusion, and accessibility, having worked in various sectors including private, public, employment, legal, and policy sectors. She has previously worked as a communication and campaign manager, policy researcher, and disability ambassador. She is a diversity and inclusion specialist consultant, drawing on her own experiences and challenges of living with a disability. Celia has has actively campaigned and volunteered for various organisations in the not-for-profit and charity sectors.

Follow Celia on Twitter: @celia_hensman