CAE Team

Our inclusive design team work collaboratively on projects with design teams including architects, building control and heritage officers at an early stage to ensure that design and build is inclusive from the start to ensure accessibility of user experience and avoiding later costs for remedial work. We are active members of National Register of Access Consultants (NRAC), Access Association, International Association of Access Professionals and the BSI Committee for Access to Buildings.

To contact us please email info@cae.org.uk

Fara Muneer, MA, Design Council Expert, IAAP – Head of Business Development

Fara leads the Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE). She is an access and inclusion specialist with over 15 years’ experience delivering access audits, accessibility strategies and Equality Impact Assessments across the built environment. She has led accessibility programmes for public, private and third-sector clients across buildings, housing, transport and policy. In 2020 she led on the ;launch of CAE’s award-winning Pathways Academy, which trains disabled people for careers in access and inclusion. Fara is a Design Council Expert, Chair of Network Rail’s Built Environment Access Panel (BEAP), and a member of the Sport England panel, BSI Committee B/559 (Design of an Accessible and Inclusive Environment) and the Scottish Government’s Accessible Housing and Building Standards Working Group. She is also a specialist tribunal expert for the Ministry of Justice and HM Courts & Tribunals Service.

Nick Holland, BEd (Hons) Design & Technology, CAE Senior Access Advisor, NRAC Consultant Stage 1

Nick is an access consultant with experience delivering access audits, inclusive design reviews and accessibility advice across the transport, healthcare, education, cultural, residential and public sectors providing accessibility consultancy for a diverse range of clients and environments. His experience includes accessibility audits of railway stations, hospitals, schools, museums, heritage buildings, residential developments and public sector estates. Recent projects have included audits for Avanti West Coast, NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, States of Guernsey, Westmorland & Furness Council, City of London Corporation and accessibility reviews of British Embassies, Consulates and Ambassadorial residences across Europe. His background in Design and Technology, and brings a practical, user-focused perspective to the delivery of inclusive environments. Nick is a Stage 1 Applicant of the National Register of Access Consultants (NRAC) and a member of the Access Association.

Corinne Keany, BSc (Hons) Architecture, NRAC Consultant – Inclusive Environments Specialist

Corinne is CAE’s Inclusive Environments Specialist. She is an NRAC Consultant with an architectural background and has worked as an access consultant for over 20 years for a wide selection of public and private sector clients. Corinne’s projects include access consultancy across all sectors including corporate, university, housing and charity sectors. In her previous roles Corinne has been involved in a variety of projects including Natural History Museum, redevelopment of London Bridge station, Built Environment Assessor for the Irish Government funded National Disability Authority Excellence through Access Award Scheme and providing access consultancy services for provision of temporary overlay to existing facilities being used as venues for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Ian Watkins, BSc Ergonomics, MSc Audiology, LLB Law, NRAC Access Auditor – Access Advisor

Ian has been an Auditor Member of the NRAC since 2003. He has extensive experience in access auditing, reviewing plans for compliance with Part M, preparing Access Statements, and providing training on the Equality Act. Ian is experienced in auditing a wide of properties including Office Buildings, Shopping Centres and Malls, Retail and Business Parks, Leisure and Sports Centres, Historic and Listed Buildings, University and College Campuses, Public Houses, Hotels, Public Buildings, Healthcare Buildings, Museums, External Public Spaces, Parks, Playgrounds and Tourist Attractions. Clients include Architects, Local Authorities, Facilities Management Companies, Universities and Colleges, Schools, Housing Associations, Churches, Football and Sports Clubs, Small Businesses and Charities. With broad experience in designing for disability, and qualifications in Law, Ian is able to advise on interpretation and application of Equality Act duties, and reasonable adjustments, where the issues may be more complex.

Maddy Rees, MA, LLM – Senior Project Manager

Maddy manages CAE’s Consultancy and Training Services. She supports organisations and individuals to improve their knowledge and awareness of inclusive design through public and bespoke training courses and through the planning and project management of CAE consultancy projects. Having worked in the disability sector for more than a decade with a background in advocacy and campaigning for the rights of disabled people she now supports organisations to improve inclusive design in the built environment.

Katy McLeod, BA (Hons), Churchill Fellow – Project Manager

Katy supports organisations to improve inclusive design in the built environment through the project management of CAE’s consultancy and auditing services. Katy developed her access knowledge by completing CAE’s Pathways Academy. Alongside working as a freelance Disability Access Consultant since 2020, she has had a 14-year career in live events as a Producer, working in both commercial and subsidised sectors and across the UK on projects of national remit. Katy holds a fellowship in fundraising, awarded for leading an international research project supported by the Churchill Foundation. In 2024, she was awarded a grant by Arts Council England to develop her expertise in digital accessibility whilst maintaining her specialism in theatre.

Raheem, Training Coordinator

Raheem manages CAE’s public and bespoke training courses, supporting organisations and individuals to improve their knowledge and awareness of inclusive design. Raheem is also the main point of contact for our Pathways Academy, an award-winning course funded by the City Bridge Foundation to train disabled Londoners to become access and inclusion professionals. As a graduate of the Pathways Academy himself, Raheem is also an experienced access auditor, providing advice and guidance on access in the built environment.