After Dinner or Conference Speaker
Stephen Duckworth OBE, PhD, MSc, LRCP, MRCS
| Stephen Duckworth is a doctor and an academic but first and foremost he is an entrepreneur. He combines these attributes with the flare of an alchemist to help companies find gold. The gold of a largely untapped market and the gold of an under-utilised labour pool. |  |
| The name of his company "Disability Matters Limited" speaks for itself. This world-class commercial consultancy helps organisations profit from the potential of disabled people. Clients include: Abbey National, Asda, Barclays Bank, Cabinet Office, Department of Transport Local Government and the Regions, HSBC, Ministry of Defence, RBSG (Royal Bank of Scotland), Unum, Waitrose and many more. Stephen believes that: "Profit is not a dirty word when disabled people are concerned. It drives change harder and faster than any form of regulation to help disabled people reach their potential". |
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| Duckworth should know. Not only has he written the book and made the film but he has also got the tee shirt. He has contributed to over twenty authoritative texts on disability. He has produced, scripted and featured in numerous corporate training videos. All this since he broke his neck in a rugby accident at the age of 21 whilst still a medical student. |  |
As a dad with four boys he develops the issue of work life balance to the ultimate degree. He drives his Mercedes van independently with a voice activated computer and provides him with an excellent taxi service.
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Now at 41 he uses an electric wheelchair as he is been paralysed from the neck down other than slight movement in his right arm and two fingers of his right hand. He currently advises the Chief of Defence Staff and Permanent Secretaries at the MOD and DTLR. He is a Member of the Council of the University of Southampton and Trustee of a charity to help sports tetraplegics, chaired by Lord Mountbatten.
Testimonials
Head of Disability Issues, Barclays Bank
The feedback has all been extremely positive. Thank you very much Stephen. Yesterday went a long way to changing the perceptions of our personal sales force.
Sir Richard Wilson, Cabinet Secretary
Diversity is good for business. Stephen knows it's normal to be different. I found the whole thing a very enriching experience.
Marketing Director, UNUM
For many people your presentation was the highlight of the morning. I think it gave them a real insight into the issues faced by disabled people, in a way they had not been able to appreciate before.
Employee Relations Director, HSBC
Excellent presentation that really helped raise my personal awareness of disability equality and absence management.
Diversity & Equality Director, Land Rover
Two hundred people were spellbound, turned around and re-energised.
Customer Service Director, NOP
Very stimulating, delivered in a relaxed but highly transferable way. Humorous, but serious. A delivery that kept everyone's attentions.
