Meet the Team
Duncan Angus
Senior Caseworker: Advice and Advocacy
I provide a casework service to disabled people who need advice and advocacy in order to access their rights and entitlements. I also do partnership work with organisations to identify ways we can work together to promote the rights and interests of disabled people.
My background in the voluntary sector is in advocacy services and support work with disabled adults and young people, and I also have extensive experience in commercial environments.
Rebecca Henderson
Information and Advice Worker
I cover the Drop In sessions, Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance form-filling sessions and provide personal advisor support to disabled people to help them access training, volunteering, leisure and employment opportunities. I have worked for Disability Action in Islington since 2000.
I am an Islington resident and, in addition to working at DAII, am a member the Mobile Repair Management Committee.
Tracey Lazard
Chief Executive
I am responsible for the day to day running of the organisation. I manage staff, fund raise and represent DAII and the needs and views of local disabled people on a variety of consultation and decision-making forums in Islington. I also work with DAII's Management Committee to set the strategic direction of the organisation.
I have worked in user led disability organisations for the past 15 years.
Liz Mercer
Public Sector Projects Manager
My work is part of the Training and Consultancy service. I am mainly involved with service development and service improvement. This involves leading on contracts between DAII and public bodies to help them promote disability equality, particularly around implementing their Disability Equality Schemes.
Before joining DAII, I worked for a local Primary Care Trust (PCT) managing a project to improve the accessibility of services to disabled and black and minority ethnic communities. I have also spent many years working for Camden Citizens Advice Bureau service, both as an adviser and as a manager of a home visiting service.
Kerrie McIlloney
Office Manager
I began work with DAII in April 2009 as Office Manager. I help to ensure that the office runs smoothly. I also help to organise events and meetings, provide administrative support, IT support, arrange our publicity, update the website and generally help out where I'm required! If you have any questions about DAII, or perhaps have suggestions for the website, you can contact me on info@daii.org.
Kirin Saeed
IDN Co-ordinator
Hi, I am Kirin, the new IDN Co-ordinator and I am looking forward to meeting both new and established IDN members at future events or meetings. My background is mainly in the arts and disability equality training. In my last job I was running around the country making theatres accessible for visually impaired people; from training staff through to ensuring the actual shows ran smoothly! I am really excited to be working in Islington; I love going to the theatre and am delighted to be in an office based near the Almeida! I am excited to be working with DAII and IDN and have been warmly welcomed by all.
Tesfa Berhane
Finance Officer
I joined DAII in September 2004 as part-time Finance Officer. For the past 20 years I have worked as a freelance accountant, mainly in private firms. Working for an organisation like DAII, which strives to raise awareness of disability issues, has been a meaningful experience for me.
My job at DAII involves taking care of the smooth, day to day running of the Finance section by accounting for all incoming and outgoing monies, project costing and budget monitoring. I also report quarterly management accounts to the Chief Executive as well as preparing various financial reports to Project Managers.
Isabel Ros Lopez
IBASS Manager
My job is to manage the Independent Brokerage and Advocacy Support Service. IBASS is a consortium of three partner organisations: Age Concern, Elfrida Society and DAII, the lead partner. IBASS provides independent advice and support to local disabled people thinking of taking up Personal Budgets. Before joining DAII, I led a national social inclusion team with United Response developing self-advocacy and user led projects, increasing users influence in governance and providing person centred communication and inclusion training to frontline staff and managers. To find out more about IBASS, give me a ring or drop me a line at isabel@daii.org.
Belinda Shadare
Volunteer Receptionist
I work with DAII 2 half days per week and am responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the reception area. This includes welcoming visitors to DAII, handling the telephone calls and also making sure that we have current information about local services, organisations and events available in our waiting area.
Liam Dillon
Administrative Assistant
I joined DAII in June 2010 and work as an admin assistant for three days per week supporting a number of projects. I come from a background of working for various London charities and most recently worked on a project supporting single parents in returning to work. I have received a warm welcome from everyone here at DAII and look forward to meeting many of our members in the coming months.
Freelance Staff
DAII also work with a number of freelance workers, trainers and consultants in order to deliver services.
Tess McManus
Freelance
Tess is currently working with DAII as a freelance trainer and consultant.
