Rachel is one of the UK’s leading neurodiversity experts and the originator of the “mental diversity” concept, which takes inclusion two steps further. She founded the neurodiversity consultancy Firebird which was the first in the UK to hire a specialist intersectionality trainer.

She is an entrepreneur with several successful businesses under her belt, having impacted over a million people through her unique travel website. Having struggled trying to be “normal” for most of her life, she discovered in her 40s that she was autistic, and has ADHD. This was not a revelation, but it was a relief, and she turned her attention to working out what would help neurodivergent people like her. After many years working in the neurodiversity field, Rachel realised that a lot of what we are taught about people like her is not true. And what we are taught about people who are “normal” is also not true. So Rachel developed her concept of mental diversity to encapsulate inclusion for everyone, and to help organisations build workplaces that are designed for real people.

Rachel has won multiple awards for her work but maintains that winning “Pot of the Day” at the Center Parcs pottery studio is the highlight of her career to date. She’s produced myriad resources for the neurodiversity community and made them free to ensure access for the people who need it. She’s a frequent guest on podcasts and is a sought-after expert voice in both the mainstream and specialist press. A TEDx speaker, she’s also served as diversity and inclusion speaker support and as a TEDx speaker mentor.

Outside work, Rachel enjoys swimming, cooking, and tending her microfarm. She dabbles in craft, does a bit of painting, and enjoys playing Minecraft. Rachel shares a house with two kids, two cats, one husband, and a ridiculous number of books.

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