Phil Friend is acknowledged as one of the UK’s foremost consultant on disability matters. A powerful and highly popular communicator, he has provided consultancy to many of the country’s best-known companies.
He is the co-author of “Why are you pretending to be normal?” a self-help book designed to encourage disabled people to manage rather than cope with their disability. He co-hosts the podcast “The Way We Roll” and produces and hosts the “Gear, Gadgets and Gizmos” podcasts.
Phil is a long-standing Ambassador of the Business Disability Forum, Chair of Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RIDC), and Vice Chair of the Activity Alliance, a Churchill Fellow and a former chair of Disability Rights UK and RADAR. He is Vice Chair of the BT Customer Inclusion Panel.
He was awarded an OBE in 2001 for services to equal opportunities and disabled people. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science (Hon DSc) in 2009 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to equality and diversity from University of Hertfordshire.
Twitter: @PhilFriendEsq
Website: philfriend.co.uk