Lyla has 25 years experience in multi-disciplinary approaches in research, participation, and creative techniques for people to express themselves and to lead. Her focus is on the power and value of user-led approaches, and she has experience in social inclusion, inclusive grant-making, policy, and strategic development.
Lyla is currently working on a range of freelance, research and creative projects including supporting Reform Initiatives to develop their new strategic plan, and working with a steering group of Disabled People to fill the evidence gap and explore solutions to burnout among disability activists – a continuation of her AFSEE Fellowship Project which has already developed a photobook of activists’ reflections. Lyla is also working on a Palestinian cross-stitch (Tatreez) memorialisation.
Previously, Lyla led a four-year UK Aid-funded mental health and disability programme called Ghana Somubi Dwumadie (Ghana Participation Programme) with Options Consultancy. She provided strategic organisational and technical leadership, overseeing a complex 5-partner consortium structure and an expert-embedded team of 20 people from start up to close out. As well as managing relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, Lyla oversaw a vibrant grants programme supporting organisations of people with disabilities as well as self-help groups and civil society. In this role Lyla contributed to a number of papers, including on depression among women accused of witchcraft, the impact of mental health stigma on Deaf People, and implementation of district mental healthcare plans.
Before Options Consultancy, Lyla worked for seven years as the CEO of Merton Centre for Independent Living, which delivers advice and advocacy support to Disabled People in the London Borough of Merton, UK. She also worked in a freelance capacity in Sierra Leone and the UK working on issues such as hate crime against Disabled People, diverse and inclusive communications good practice, livelihoods, and maternal healthcare. She has held posts with diverse organisations and volunteered with VSO. She has also been a member of the Market Research Society since 2008.
Lyla has an MSc in Social Anthropology from University College, London, and a BA (Hons) in History from the University of Leeds.
I'm inspired by the disability rights mantra of 'nothing about us, without us'. If we hold this as a truth, then all change-making must be undertaken collaboratively and must be user-led. I believe that supporting people directly affected by issues to be changemakers, is the main route to lasting change.Lyla Adwan-Kamara