Shani Dhanda

Shani Dhanda is recognised as one of the UK’s most influential disabled people and is widely known for driving real, measurable change in diversity, equity and inclusion across business, media and society. A BBC 100 Women Laureate and multiple award-winning inclusion advocate, she is hired as a diversity and inclusion speaker for her ability to translate lived experience into practical organisational strategy. Audiences value her honest, people-led approach to tackling systemic barriers, as well as her ability to challenge thinking while inspiring action. As the co-founder of initiatives like the Access Work Collective, organisations bring her in to move beyond performative inclusion and towards meaningful, sustainable cultural change that improves both employee experience and business performance.

Shani holds a degree in Event and Venue Management from the University of Wolverhampton, where her early work focused on accessibility within the leisure and events industry. She spent over a decade working in events and corporate environments, gaining first-hand insight into structural barriers faced by underrepresented groups. This experience shaped her transition into inclusion leadership and social entrepreneurship. She has founded major initiatives, including the Asian Disability Network, the Asian Woman Festival and the Diversability Card, each designed to address gaps in representation and access. More recently, her work has expanded into media and national influence, including hosting BBC Asian Network Motivation and chairing the Disability Journalism Forum. She has also contributed to national and global conversations through advisory and board positions across business, research and social impact organisations. For example, she serves as a Cultural Advisory Council Member for ITV and Network Expansion Belonging Lead for Virgin Media.

Her impact has been recognised through some of the most prestigious honours across leadership, media and social change. She has been named the UK’s most influential disabled person by the Shaw Trust and London’s Most Influential Figure by the Asian Standard, alongside being included on the Inclusive Companies Diversity Powerlist. She has received an Honorary Doctor of Social Sciences and has been inducted into the University of Wolverhampton Alumni Hall of Fame. Her industry recognition includes the Diversity in the Media Award from the Asian Media Awards, global changemaker recognition from CEO Magazine, and fellowship recognition from the Royal Society of Arts. Her selection as a juror for the Glass: The Lion for Change at Cannes Lions further reflects her global influence in shaping inclusive narratives.

Shani’s combination of lived experience, commercial insight, policy influence and media leadership is why she is hired as a diversity and inclusion speaker. She brings credibility across sectors, connecting inclusion directly to leadership, innovation and organisational success. Having delivered talks on prestigious platforms including TEDx and major global conferences like the United Nations, she equips organisations with the confidence, tools and mindset needed to create workplaces and cultures where everyone can belong and thrive.