On Wednesday 11 March 2026, we hosted an Access to Success Panel event organised by Julia Sienko and supported by the Support Zone and the Student Equality Network.

The panel featured guest speakers who shared insights into their careers, their lived experiences of disability and how this shaped their professional journeys. It was a great event with lots of engagement and great questions from attending students and staff.  We were joined by: 

Julia Sienko: Julia is a final year student and part time Support Zone officer who is actively involved in student representation and advocacy. With extensive experience across the HR profession and the charity sector, she has provided advice to the University as an Access & Participation Student Advisor, worked in the community as a Scope volunteer and even co-founded and co-hosted the Ramped Up Podcast, exploring lived experiences as a wheelchair user and bringing attention to disability awareness and inclusion. Julia is the organiser and the host of this event. 

David Bedford: Dave is a lived-experience Neurodiversity & Inclusion speaker with 25+ years in software testing, and has founded his own company AuDHD Unzipped- providing insight and support to companies in building inclusive workplaces and retaining Neurodivergent staff. 

Izzy Watkins:  A Surrey Alumni and VP Community from 2020-21, Izzy is a Training Lead with Mental Health First Aid England and Disability Consultant advising organisations on good practice and inclusive policies to best support employees with disabilities. 

Libby Taylor: Libby is a University of Surrey alumni and currently works as a Corporate Partnerships Executive at Carers UK. She has been involved with advocacy and fundraising for multiple years, bringing awareness to charities like Maggies Centres, Compton Care and the NSPCC. 

Please see below for an event summary by the organiser, Julia Sienko:  

A few weeks after hosting the pilot of Access to Success, I’ve had time to reflect, and I’m still incredibly proud of it, both as a student and as an individual.

This event stemmed from something I’ve wanted to see for a long time: a space where students could hear honest, real experiences about navigating disability in the workplace. So often, we only hear about the results, not the stories behind them, and that’s what I wanted to change.

What started as a small idea grew into a room filled with openness, with professionals sharing both the challenges and successes they’ve encountered in their careers. As a student, it was genuinely inspiring to hear those stories, and even more so to see others connecting with them. It was also very encouraging to see that the event brought together not only disabled students but allies as well, creating a space where everyone could listen, learn, and participate in the conversation.

Looking back, the most powerful part was the level of engagement. I had conversations with students afterwards who shared that they had always believed their experiences were unique, involving microaggressions, dismissal, isolation, or fear of speaking up.

Hearing others’ stories helped them realise they weren’t alone. It opened their eyes to the understanding that, while these experiences are real and challenging, they can also contribute to building resilience and strength without dismissing or ignoring how they truly feel.

I am very grateful to everyone who attended and helped bring this event to life. The response has demonstrated just how vital these conversations are, and I’m really looking forward to continuing this work with Access to Success.