THE ABILITY PEOPLE - Key Persons
Adil was part of the launch team at The Ability People and has become one of our most senior leaders, involved in shaping our strategy, designing and delivering impactful programmes for clients, and managing key corporate relationships whilst continuing to challenge business leaders on the important issue of inclusion.
Adil has limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, a rare combination of diseases that causes the deterioration of muscles over time. It is a condition that he believes has helped him to make the most of what he has and look beyond his limitations.
A Paralympian at 15, David's international swimming career spanned 12 years and included medals at World and European championships. He retired from the pool in 2012, only to embrace his next challenge: the triathlon. In 2016, he reached the pinnacle of his second sport, finishing 10th in the para-triathlon at the Rio Paralympics.
Dave drives our clients to take action and become more inclusive by sharing his experiences as an athlete and a professional.
He also somehow finds time to work as a furniture designer and joiner, achievements made more impressive by the fact that he was born with no lower left forearm.
"As a former British number one and world silver medalist in Va'a canoeing and a world championship medalist in surf kayaking, Fran is no stranger to success and has translated that experience into meaningful and impactful mentoring and coaching with The Ability People.
Fran began her career as a Teaching Assistant; however, she suffered brain and neck injuries whilst playing rugby, which poses physical and neurological challenges in her everyday life.
When not working on projects with The Ability People, Fran is studying towards an MSc and works with The Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, mentoring and coaching young athletes. "
Fran Whitaker believes in doing all she can to make a difference. It's an attitude that fired her to incredible success as a swimmer. She won six Paralympic medals, including Silver at Beijing 2008, and five World Championship Golds in a career spanning over ten years. Her drive to make a positive change also helped her to overcome the limiting expectations placed on her at school and graduate from university with a First Class degree.
Living with cerebral palsy, Fran has a unique perspective on success and self-improvement. She believes nothing worth having comes easy and that every step towards a goal is a success. Learning from mistakes is all part of the process.
With this ethos and strength of character, Fran and TAP have a chance to help others achieve goals that society deems impossible.
Kate is living proof that anything life throws us can be overcome with determination and hard work.
At twenty, she was combining her career with a passion for sports, enjoying football, netball, and running. At twenty-one, she was in hospital after a car accident left her with a severe brain injury and partial paralysis. Doctors told her she would never walk again.
Over the following months, Kate relearned how to eat, drink and talk. Then, in defiance of her diagnosis, she learned to walk again. And she didn't stop there. In 2016, Kate cycled from London to Paris then from London to Amsterdam.
Kate supports our team logistically and ensures all the essential details are in place so we can continue delivering outstanding client programmes.
Liz Johnson - Founder, Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Managing Director
Liz Johnson is someone with an obvious passion and will to succeed, regardless of the challenges confronting her. Born with Cerebral Palsy, Liz grew up in Newport, Wales, and holds a business degree from Swansea University.
As a three-time Paralympic medallist, winning gold in Beijing as well as World and European championships on multiple occasions, Liz not only has first-hand experience of the challenges and stigmas associated with overcoming a disability but is also a great example of the incredible things that people can achieve given the right culture, environment, and encouragement.
After retiring from professional sport, Liz witnessed the harsh realities of job-hunting and the world of work for people with a disability and co-founded The Ability People to elevate awareness and change how society thinks about and views people with disability, changing the mindset and leading cultural change.
For her work in Disability Inclusion, she has been recognised as one of the BBC's ‘100 Women' and as one of the UK's 100 most influential disabled people (Shaw Trust Power List)
Liz leads the talented individuals that comprise TAP's consulting team.
Job Titles:
- Client Development & Relationship Manager
As a foundation member of The Ability People, Rachael is responsible for introducing our services & expertise to leaders and organisations that are committed to becoming more inclusive.
Rachael also leads the delivery of high-impact programs for clients and is instrumental in designing educational sessions and culture change initiatives.
Complications at birth left Rachael with limited use of her left arm - a situation that has only renewed the focus and determination she puts into achieving her goals.
She swam for Great Britain for six years, winning World Championship silver and bronze, setting world records in 100m and 200m Butterfly, and 200m Individual Medley, as well as competing at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics
Rachael Latham is also a sports broadcaster, TV presenter, and public speaker.
Ryan has high-functioning autism and shares his authentic experience of neurodiversity with our clients through educational workshops, the design & development of content, and empowering 1-2-1 connections.
At school, Ryan's careers advisor told him he would never get into a Russell Group university, so need not bother applying. Four years later, he graduated from Durham University with a degree in Archaeology and has since completed a Master's programme, and the same quiet determination led him to become a junior black belt in karate.
That determination has stood Ryan in good stead so far. He says, "If you do good things and be nice to others, you build an environment where good things will happen to you."
In 2008, Sam won Gold at the Beijing Paralympics, broke the S8 400m freestyle world record, and took Bronze in the SM8 200m freestyle medley. He was 17. Four years later, he earned a Bronze at London 2012 to stand alongside the ten medals he'd won at World and European swimming championships.
Sam's energy and passion to overcome barriers are limitless, as you might expect from someone born with muscular dystrophy and representing Great Britain even before he took his GCSEs. He is an essential team member, delivering our sessions to leaders and teams across the UK.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Director
- Founder
Steve Carter, the founder of The Ability People, is a recruitment professional with almost 32 years' experience across the UK, Ireland, Asia and Australia.
He has held executive positions in large public organisations and emerging global private staffing groups including: Group Board Director and Shareholder - Morgan McKinley, Managing Director (UK) - Robert Half International, Director (Asian Operations) and Managing Director (Australia) - ADIA (now Adecco).
Always frustrated by the lack of career opportunities available to outstanding individuals living with disabilities, Steve was even more confused by the reluctance of employers to approach securing great talent without bias. The Ability People was created to help put this right.
Steve's leadership, innovation and straightforward communication is a driving force behind TAP's mission to shake up the recruitment industry and bring opportunity to people who have been too long overlooked.