Online Symposium: Professional Services, Disability & Inclusive Research Cultures

Speakers 

Rhea Halsey is the Project Manager for Disability Matters and is crucial to its day-to-day running. She brings together our academic and professional services colleagues, as well as external community partners, to achieve the aims of the programme. Rhea studied at the University of Leeds, going on to work in the student union movement and the private digital sector, before joining Disability Matters at the University of Sheffield in 2023. 

Liz Dew is the Project Coordinator for the Wellcome Trust Anti-ableist Research Culture project. Liz finds meaning in work rooted in social justice. She's driven by a desire to question conventional wisdom and dismantle normative assumptions that shape our workplaces and the wider world. Liz's varied career in Higher Education began in widening participation at the University of Salford, leading to involvement in diverse outreach and social justice initiatives across the sector,  as well as time in central services and student support. Before joining the University of Sheffield, Liz was project manager at the Refugee Rights Hub — a project dedicated to reuniting refugees with their family members.

Lucy Dunning is an Operations Manager supporting the strategic day-to-day functions for the Social Research Institutes at The University of Sheffield. In this role, Lucy oversees a range of processes, working with others to align operational practices with the department’s academic mission and institutional goals.
Prior to joining The University of Sheffield, she held roles at WWF and Auckland Council. Lucy is passionate about fostering inclusive, efficient, and high-performing academic environments. 

Link to papers