Staff

Alex Covell (she/her)

Interim Head of Live Events Access

I manage the Live Events Access Charter venues, festivals, and projects. I’m passionate about engaging with organisations and sharing the joy of inclusion. 

I’ve been lucky enough to work in Access Management roles in venues and festivals, and see the impact that good practice makes on a personal level. Working at Attitude is Everything gives the opportunity to democratise this knowledge across the whole sector – raising standards and creating a community of practice that ensures that people don’t feel like they have to re-invent the wheel.

Previously, I’ve worked as Access Manager at Shakespeare’s Globe, working cross-departmentally to inspire teams to take ownership of accessible practices. Prior to this, I worked at Access All Areas facilitating drama workshops for learning disabled adults. The spaces fizzed with creative disabled joy and I loved every moment.

Each of these experiences support me in my practice at Attitude is Everything to lead from a place of kindness, and knowing that a society that celebrates diversity is richer for it.

A close-up of Lish, a white woman with dark brown hair looking at the camera. She's wearing large star-shaped silver earrings. She is happy as she is at a gig; in the background, there are other gig-goers in the distance.

Aylishia Chiffers (she/her)

Volunteering and Skills Development Coordinator

In my role as Volunteer and Skills Development Coordinator, I support improving access and outcomes for music audiences and professionals. Across my experiences, whether through facilitation and supportive roles, or advocating for myself, I’ve learned how powerful community is, and how co-creation can lead to real change when it’s rooted in lived experience. 

Music is medicine for me – being immersed in it, talking about it with others, and being around creative people. As a previous Mystery Shopper with Attitude is Everything, I know how rewarding self-advocacy can be, but also how exhausting it is. I believe individually and collectively, we can create change for the positive.

Outside of my work at Attitude is Everything, I set up an autistic self-advocacy group, which is member-led. Part of the group’s work involves co-creating inclusive practices with local organisations. It’s essential to create and evolve inclusive, brave spaces for people to be themselves.  

Bee, a white femme person with mousy brown shoulder length hair and a fringe, is looking directly at the camera with a wide smile. They are wearing a black jumper and silver layered necklaces the jumper has two tigers on with the words ‘chasing freedom’. There is fencing in the background of the picture.

Bee Grzegorzek (she/they)

Inclusive Communities Manager

As Inclusive Communities Manager, I manage our Inclusive Communities project which aims to build accessible music communities in areas of low arts engagement. Through the project we are ensuring that we grow our work with diverse communities and disabled people who live in these areas.

Leading by example as a disabled manager working in accessibility, I try to model best practice when managing my own access needs in order to set a positive example to staff and our wider supporters.

My previous experience includes gaining my Masters in Teaching and Learning in the Creative Industries, which is an achievement I’m incredibly proud of as I never thought of myself as an academic person. The most valuable experience was studying coaching and mentoring practices on top of my previous experience of working in pastoral roles. This allowed me to improve my understanding of resistance to change, interpersonal and communication skills, and how to work with people’s strengths to support progression.

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Catherine Pymar (she/her)

Chief Executive Officer

I am the Chief Executive Officer at Attitude is Everything. I believe that music creates community and offers an opportunity to both express what is going on around us, and to challenge or disrupt the status quo. 

I am excited for the opportunity to bring about meaningful and long-lasting positive change, that is directed by the disabled community. 

I was diagnosed as autistic as an adult. Until that point, I had spent a lot of time questioning why I found some things so much harder than other people. The diagnosis has brought with it acceptance of who I am and deepened my understanding of how society creates barriers for people. It has also added fuel to my drive to ensure every disabled adult, whether their disability is visible or non-visible goes beyond being accepted to being valued and welcomed. 

My previous role was as Executive Director of Hillside Clubhouse, a co-produced mental health charity.  The organisation held the mental health community at the heart of all its work and meant that we were able to make real genuine change for people that met their direct needs. This shapes the work I do at Attitude is Everything, where all work is directed by the disabled community. 

Dom, a white non-binary person with long, wine-coloured curly hair and a shaved undercut, looks into the camera with a soft smile. They are wearing black-framed glasses, a black blazer, and layered silver chain necklaces, standing outdoors in front of a black iron fence and greenery.

Dominique Gibson (they/she)

Training Manager

As Training Manager for Attitude is Everything, I lead on the development, management and delivery of our online and face to face training courses to improve accessibility in the music and live events industry and related sectors.

Advocacy and inclusion are central to all that I do. Previously, I served as Co-Chair of the LGBTQ+ Pride Committee for CNWL NHS Trust. I also helped women who experienced domestic violence find refuge at Hestia.  

I use my lived experience of disability and neurodiversity to inform the tone, content, and delivery of our training. It enables me to design learning that is authentic, practical and rooted in the realities disabled people face, while helping others understand both the structural barriers and the human impact. It also supports me to model inclusive ways of working across the organisation. 

Jen Lawes (they/them)

Marketing and Communications Manager

As Marketing and Communications Manager, I lead on the development, management and delivery of Attitude is Everything’s marketing and communications. This includes securing positive coverage of the charity’s work, promoting training and consultancy services, and ensuring that a diverse range of disabled people feel engaged and included within our work.

As an autistic person with an invisible disability, who has grown up within the live music industry, I have first-hand experience of the barriers faced both in playing in live music venues, and accessing them as an audience member.

Before working at Attitude is Everything, I previously worked in marketing and communications within the arts, education and charity sectors, where producing high-quality, inclusive and accessible digital content has been central to my work. I also have 10 years’ experience working within the music industry – as a musician playing trombone in live bands, and as a music journalist and content writer in the London and Brighton music scenes.

Jess Kovalets (she/her)

Fundraising and Communications Coordinator

As Fundraising and Communications Coordinator, my role is split across two part-time roles. Across communications, I support in sharing content on our social media platforms and developing our communication channels, and across fundraising I contribute to Trust and Foundations funding bids and reporting whilst supporting our corporate giving and individual giving programmes. 

From working within the live events industry, I have organised music events that centre inclusion and diversity.

Outside of work, you can find me trying to finish a book before buying a new one (but failing), getting lost in a video game, wandering around a gallery or green space, and occasionally falling down a YouTube essay rabbit hole.

Johann, a young man with thick, slightly tousled brown hair and a short beard smiles at the camera. He is wearing a white shirt with small multicoloured dots, and stands against a plain light-coloured wall.

Johann Meux (he/him)

Skills Development Manager

As Skills Development Manager, I oversee the Beyond The Music network, and the Future Leaders initiative is central to that. The aim of the Future Leaders initiatives is to empower aspiring music and live events industry professionals who identify as deaf, disabled or neurodivergent to become leaders in their chosen fields, which is something that I’m certainly very passionate about!

I am particularly interested in the political and linguistic discourse surrounding issues of disability and accessibility. One of my main goals is to contribute towards Attitude’s mission of reducing the fear when discussing these themes – I think conversation where everyone feels they can safely express their thoughts and concerns is the best way forward!

I have been a musician for my whole life and, when I’m not working for Attitude is Everything, I essentially spend every waking hour doing the millions of tasks you have to do when you’re an independent artist. Never a dull moment! Music is by far my main passion in my life, and I hope to contribute to making it more accessible for everyone.

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Joy Addo (she/her)

Digital Content Coordinator

I work on all things digital at Attitude is Everything, looking after our socials and assisting colleagues to amplify the voices of disabled audience members, artists and professionals.

As a woman who loves live music and also has a visual impairment, improving people’s experiences is something that is close to my heart. Most of my previous job roles have included working with and advocating for those of us living with impairments. This has included working for sight loss charities and delivering disability awareness training for various organisations.

I think it is important to have the freedom to express your thoughts and discuss your lived experiences, which is why I started my own podcast to openly discuss life as a mother with a visual impairment trying to navigate the world unapologetically.

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Lamyaa Elgen (she/her)

Inclusive Communities Coordinator

I coordinate all things Mystery Shopping at Attitude is Everything to amplify the voices and experiences of disabled audience members at live music events and build relationships with nationwide venues and festivals who are committed to improving accessibility. I also support our Next Stage Artists and Beyond the Music Professional networks to create opportunities for disabled talent to access and navigate the music industries.

Outside of Attitude is Everything, I’m an international award-winning and self-taught songwriter and composer, pianist and vocalist with a deep-rooted passion for sync, motion picture and film scores. I love creating cinematic soundscapes inspired from my North-African heritage and empowering lyricism, as well as cosmic oil painting on canvas and wood.

My lived experience of invisible disability, chronic pain conditions, mental health and lately diagnosed neurodivergence – intertwined with being a Moroccan Muslim woman – inspires me to rebuild confidence and advocate the removal of barriers for intersectional voices for aspiring creative professionals, audience and artists.

Lara is a British-Moroccan woman in her early 30s. She has caramel skin and wavy dark brown hair. She is wearing a navy turtleneck and a gold necklace with an arabic pendant. She is looking directly at the camera with a slight smile.

Lara Marshall (she/her)

Accessibility Lead

As the Accessibility Lead, I work with the Live Events Access Charter to support organisations in the delivery of their accessibility aims.

I first got involved with Attitude is Everything as a Charter member and experienced first-hand how transformative it was in delivering an accessible event! I am so excited to be a part of the change, and supporting events to achieve best practice with Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people. 

I’m proudly British-Moroccan and neurodivergent – this lived experience empowers me to advocate for intersectional experiences in my role as Accessibility Lead. 

I have worked across music events, theatre, and community projects, all with access at the heart. Being an access support worker to some fantastic people in these industries has showed be that it is not only possible, but vital that we improve access. 

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Maia Barker

Artist Engagement and Charter Systems Coordinator

As Charter Systems Coordinator, I manage our online portal. This includes completing data entry, proofreading and editing Charter content, and ensuring that the portal runs as it should.  

As Artist Engagement Coordinator, I work to support the Next Stage Network. This includes administration, creating content, researching opportunities for the newsletter, working on our peer support offer and revamping our onboarding process. 

I started my access career as a postgraduate researcher, and I must have referenced the State of Access and Next Stage Artist Snapshots more times than I can count in my research. The legacy of Attitude is Everything is incredible, and the opportunity to be a part of this work was really exciting. 

Previously, I researched sensory accessibility at live music and events because of my lived experience, and have presented this research at multiple conferences. I learned so much about sensory access, and had the opportunity to write that section of the new Live Events Access Charter. Through writing and presenting my thesis, I also learned how to approach people in the industry who may not be access focussed.

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Paul Hawkins (he/him)

Deputy CEO

I oversee our work making the music and live events Industry more accessible for those who work and volunteer in it. This includes our Beyond the Music initiative, mystery shopping and festival volunteering. I also design Attitude is Everything’s training and led on our Accessible Employment Guide, Accessible Workplace Training and Train the Trainer projects.

I am a PGCE-qualified trainer and prior to working at Attitude is Everything I worked in a range of areas including ESOL, mental health, youth employment and the charity sector. I joined Attitude is Everything in 2015, first working as the Festivals Project Manager, then Festivals and Volunteering Manager before beginning my current role in April 2020.

I have had lived experience of disability since I was child and am passionate about Attitude is Everything due to my own experiences of feeling unable to attend music festivals as a teenager due to my access requirements not being met. It gives me immense pride to know that someone with my access requirements can now camp at a wide range of UK festivals.

Outside of work, I am the Chair of Inclusion in London and also an author and musician. I first came into contact with Attitude is Everything when my band the Awkward Silences played a Club Attitude night.

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Phoebe Roberts (she/her)

Interim Head of Programmes

I’m Attitude is Everything’s Skills Development Manager, leading the activity of our Beyond the Music initiative, including the creation of our Professionals Network and by brokering training, mentoring, shadowing and skills development opportunities.

We also work with industry organisations to become more inclusive employers. We do this via our Accessible Employment Guide, training courses and by offering bespoke advice on making your policies, processes and practice as accessible as possible.

I have 20 years of experience in the music and live events industries, working as a Live Events producer with clients including Sky Arts, Sony, Google & Doc Martens leading their music based experiential projects. I also work producing large scale electronic music festivals such as Eastern Electrics, Maiden Voyage & Boiler Room Festival.

I am neurodivergent and passionate about advocating for better working practice for those in the Music and Live Events Industry who are neurodivergent or have long-term mental health conditions.

Rhiannon Griffin (they/them)

Charter Coordinator

I support our industry development work including our Live Events Access Charter and Inclusive Communities work and am often the first point of contact for our venues and festivals.

I am queer, autistic and have experience living with a long-term mental illness. I have used art and music to cope from a young age and am very passionate about creating opportunities for others to do the same. I moved to London from Australia where I played in various orchestras and bands. My creative outlet these days mostly involves painting, mosaic and using mixed media to create more visual work. On the weekends you can find me in East London sitting in parks, going to gigs and eating too much vegan food.

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Sarah Wilkinson (she/her)

Administrator

As Administrator for Attitude is Everything, my role is to support the CEO and the team and ensure the office runs smoothly. Working for a small charity brings many benefits, the satisfaction you gain from making a difference, helping others, learning new skills and working in a supportive team environment.

My eldest daughter was diagnosed with autism at a very young age and I am passionate about her being able to experience music events and theatre shows that take into consideration her needs.

I previously worked in the corporate industry for 30+ years, so like to think I bring a strong work ethic to the organisation.

T Brown (they/them)

Operations Coordinator

As Operations Coordinator, I provide administrative support, act as triage for all general enquiries, and support internal communications at Attitude is Everything.

As someone who cares deeply about championing access in the arts, working at Attitude is Everything seemed like an amazing opportunity to use my skills to help increase accessibility. The team here are so welcoming as well, a truly amazing group of people. 

I am autistic, and struggle with sensory overstimulation and burnout. Having previously worked across the arts industry as an event producer I’ve seen firsthand how little accommodations and opportunities there can be for disabled people, and how many amazing, diverse, stories go untold. 

I’m really proud of my time as producer of View Festival 2024. My focus on showcasing the intersectionality between different queer and trans identities, whilst working with disabled and neurodiverse creatives, allowed for a really imaginative and accessible experience for both audiences and team members. Running the live captioning for the festival, with all the positive feedback we got was truly special.