The Lilac Review is being spearheaded by Small Business Britain, with support from the UK Government. Jointly chaired by the Minister for Small Business and Minister for Disability, as well as a private sector Chair, the Lilac Review will be governed by a Steering Board including disabled founders, as well as representatives from the wider business community and UK Government.
Victoria Jenkins, CEO and founder, Unhidden – Victoria is a garment technologist and fashion designer with over 15 years’ experience in the fashion industry, who was the lead fashion designer and expert on Channel 4's series, The Unique Boutique.
Becoming disabled in her 20s she founded the award-winning fashion brand Unhidden that creates universally designed clothing for disabled people. A TEDx speaker, author, and a prominent advocate for disability inclusion in the fashion, beauty and media sectors, she has been ranked as one of the most influential disabled people in the UK by the Shaw Trust.
Victoria is co-chair of The Lilac Review and serves as an ambassador for several organisations that promote diversity and accessibility.
Sarah Berthon, founder, Excel Against The Odds – Sarah supports people with chronic illnesses in the workplace through mentoring, workshops and online communities.
Living with conditions like PoTS, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, ME/CFS, and Chronic Migraine, Sarah brings personal experience, including from corporate roles and entrepreneurship. A podcast host, she is also Purple Tuesday Ambassador.
Dr Mark Esho MBE, founder, Easy Internet Solutions – Mark overcame paralysis at age five due to poliovirus, defying a 10% survival chance.
He is the founder of Easy Internet Services and in 2003 he launched Ability Connect CIC, offering training for disabled entrepreneurs in collaboration with the University of Leicester Business School.
Mark's bestselling autobiography, I Can. I Will., earned widespread acclaim. In 2022 he was awarded an MBE for services to business, as well as awarded a DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) by De Montfort University in 2023.
Hayley Kellard, founder of Dotty About Braille - Hayley launched Dotty About Braille in May 2023, selling personalised braille greetings cards plus braille letters, leaflets and labels. Hayley is keen to raise awareness of braille and offers free braille resources on her website, these are used in schools all over the world.
Born with a rare eye condition called Wagner's Syndrome, Hayley was also diagnosed with POTS in 2019. Hayley has been an entrepreneur since 2018 and understands the challenges disabled entrepreneurs face, Hayley also tries to support fellow disabled entrepreneurs by featuring them on her blog and social media accounts.
Shezad Nawab MBE – as a multi award winning entrepreneur with years of experience, Shezad Nawab understands the importance of starting and growing a business. As Co-Founder of ICE Ventures LTD. Shezad coaches entrepreneurs to scale their business by confidently pitching to investors.
Profoundly Deaf from birth, Shezad aims to inspire, connect, and grow with ambitious entrepreneurs, including those in the Deaf community. Since 2010, he has empowered and counseled Deaf people in business and entrepreneurship, as well as supported Disabled and Non-Disabled entrepreneurs. He offers visual aids and sign language to teach valuable skills and business mastery and is fluent in 6 sign languages, British, American, Moroccan, South Africa, Arabic and International.
Shezad is committed to helping the Deaf community gain a foothold in the world of business and is passionate about international trade and entrepreneurship, he is also author of, 'Born Deaf To An MBE'.
Martyn Sibley, co-founder, Purple Goat Agency – Martyn is a business strategist helping organisations design accessible and inclusive goods, services and workplaces for the 1.3-billion-person disability market.
He lives with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), which means he can’t walk, or lift anything heavier than a book. He has been voted Britain's third most influential disabled person and also founded Accomable (sold to Airbnb) and Disability Horizons magazine (the UK’s fastest growing disability lifestyle publication). He's also an author, keynote speaker, and podcaster.
Joseph Williams, CEO and co-founder, Clu – Joseph is the LGBTQ and disabled Co-Founder & CEO of worker-tech company Clu.
A former Activist in Residence at Kings College, he has spent the last 20 years campaigning for social and economic inclusion. He is a cited expert on the future of work, and the skills economy with specialism in developing technology and services that promote inclusive economic growth.
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