DLS is pleased to announce that our new CEO is Mike Smith. Mike starts with us officially on 6 February although he’s already been getting to know the board and team. For over 12 years Mike has been CEO of Real, the successful user-led organisation of disabled people in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
Mike has previously been the Disability Commissioner of the EHRC and led their formal enquiry into disability hate crime. He therefore brings a good understanding of disability equality law to the organisation, to supplement his wider disability and equality knowledge from his previous trustee positions with Disability Rights UK, National Centre for Independent Living, and Stonewall.
Before his not-for-profit career Mike worked for 19 years as a chartered accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, bringing taxation law, risk management and governance experience from the private sector too.
Mike said “I’m thrilled to be asked to lead the great team at DLS, and help them continue to have a greater impact across the country. There are so many disabled people who are unable to access their legal rights fairly and equally, whether that’s in relation to equality law, housing, social care, or other areas where disabled people face structural disadvantages. It’s great to be back doing work with a national focus again, and I’m very much looking forward to working with a range of stakeholders to help more disabled people achieve justice.”