Alex Covell (she/her)

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.

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. 

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. 

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Paul Hawkins (he/him)

Deputy CEO

I am the Deputy CEO for Attitude is Everything.

I’ve experienced barriers to access as a musician and audience member. When I was younger, I had friends going off to festivals that I wasn’t able to access and I always regretted missing out on that formative experience. When I started working, I experienced a continuing frustration that employers who weren’t meeting my access requirements would then judge my potential on situations where I could not succeed. I’m keen to ensure other people don’t experience the barriers that I did.  

When I was a teenager, I was virtually written off in music education as I couldn’t learn an instrument in group settings. When I tried to take singing lessons, the teacher told me they couldn’t do anything to help me. I’ve somehow managed to get airplay on Radio 1, record a session at Maida Vale, play 3 festivals, release 4 albums and be featured in a documentary about outsider music. Probably without improving my signing or guitar playing!  

Phoebe Roberts (she/her)

Head of Programmes

I’m Attitude is Everything’s Head of Programmes, with oversight across Artist Development, Inclusive Communities, Professional Development, and Comms and PR. I lead the strategic design and delivery of this work, developing sector-wide programmes and networks, and brokering training, mentoring, shadowing and skills and artist development opportunities that create meaningful, accessible pathways into the music and live events industry.

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

In my role as Charter Coordinator, I look after the day-to-day running of the Live Events Access Charter.

I am autistic and live with long-term mental health challenges, as well as chronic pain and fatigue. I am also queer and non-binary. These experiences shape how I see the world and the work we do, and I bring them into my role by advocating for others who share similar experiences, whether that’s people with non-visible disabilities, those living with pain or fatigue, or members of the queer community. At the heart of it, I want to make sure that the voices of disabled people are heard and represented in everything we do. These experiences shape how I approach my work now – with resilience, creativity, and a deep commitment to making a positive impact.

How wild is it that there’s a whole niche field full of like-minded people who love live music and are passionate about advocating for disabled people across the UK and beyond? What really excites me is being part of a team that’s genuinely changing the industry, and how good it feels to play a part in that. 

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.