Alia has spent the majority of her career working in the Financial Services sector, joining HSBC in 2013. In 2018 she took on co-leadership of the HSBC UK Ability Employee Resource Group, and in 2020 transitioned into co-leadership of the Global Ability network which extends across the full reach of HSBC’s global footprint, over 60+ countries. The HSBC Ability agenda covers the full scope of Disability, including both physical and mental health as well as sensory and motor impairments and Neurodiversity. She works closely with colleagues to understand the variety of lived experiences and to ensure the employee voice is represented in global programmes intended to improve Wellbeing and build Disability Confidence. This experience has opened her eyes to the challenges faced by colleagues with Disabilities as well as those with Caring responsibilities. She is a passionate and proactive advocate for this diverse community as well as a strong supporter for wider equity and inclusion for all minority represented groups. Over the years Alia has learnt how best to manage her own mental health and is committed to improving wellbeing through reducing the stigma attached to disability. She manages her own mental health by spending as much time as possible with her pets, horses and 2 year old niece.