Accessibility campaigner Dr Shani Dhanda has joined The Business of Events as a partner, reinforcing the organisation’s emphasis on inclusion across the global events ecosystem. Alongside this role, she has also taken up a position within the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Events, extending her influence into policymaking and industry advocacy.
The move follows Dhanda’s recent collaboration with The Business of Events on accessibility initiatives, and signals a sustained effort to embed inclusive practices across conferences, exhibitions, corporate events and large-scale live experiences.
Background and industry context
Accessibility and inclusion have moved steadily up the agenda for event organisers, venues and technology providers in recent years, driven by both regulatory requirements and changing audience expectations. From physical venue access and wayfinding to content delivery, digital platforms and hybrid formats, event design is under increasing scrutiny for how it serves disabled attendees, speakers and staff.
At the same time, the events sector is working to rebuild and evolve after the disruption of the pandemic, with hybrid and online formats now firmly established. These models offer opportunities to widen participation, but they also introduce new accessibility challenges around user interfaces, assistive technologies, captioning, audio description and inclusive networking tools.
In this context, organisations focused on policy, research and best practice are playing a growing role. The Business of Events operates as a global think tank and advocacy network, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers and stakeholders to address strategic issues affecting business events. Its work often intersects with questions of workforce diversity, inclusive growth and equitable access to live and digital experiences.
Key developments in the partnership
Dhanda’s appointment as a partner formalises her ongoing relationship with The Business of Events. A recognised advocate for disabled people and underrepresented communities, she works with organisations across multiple sectors to improve standards, review processes and integrate inclusive principles into both operations and customer journeys.
Within The Business of Events, her role is expected to centre on strengthening the accessibility and inclusion dimension of the organisation’s research, policy engagement and industry guidance. This may involve advising on consultation frameworks, contributing to thought leadership, and helping to shape recommendations presented to government and industry bodies.
As a member of the APPG for Events, Dhanda will also be positioned to support dialogue between the events industry and policymakers on issues related to accessibility. APPGs are informal cross-party groups in the UK Parliament that focus on specific topics, with the group for events looking at how business events, conferences and exhibitions contribute to the economy and what is needed to support their growth.
Dhanda’s dual involvement – within a sector-focused think tank and a parliamentary group – creates a link between on-the-ground practice, industry data and the policy environment that governs accessibility standards and compliance.
Industry impact and implications
For event organisers, venues and technology providers, the appointment highlights the continued shift from treating accessibility as an isolated compliance exercise to integrating it as a core element of event strategy. As more stakeholders seek guidance on making in-person, virtual and hybrid experiences accessible, industry-level frameworks and advocacy initiatives can help to align expectations and raise minimum standards.
Dhanda’s experience working across sectors may help The Business of Events draw on approaches already being used in areas such as retail, transport and digital services. This cross-industry perspective can inform how event businesses think about inclusive ticketing, registration flows, session formats, participant support, and the role of assistive technologies within venues and platforms.
For policymakers and public sector stakeholders, her presence in the APPG for Events can provide practical insight into where the sector faces barriers in implementing accessibility – whether that relates to infrastructure, training, investment, or the way in which regulations are interpreted and applied. These insights can support more informed discussion about how to make accessibility improvements achievable and scalable across the industry, rather than limited to flagship venues or high-budget events.
Why this matters for event professionals and technology providers
For event professionals, the announcement underlines several practical considerations:
- Strategic planning: Accessibility is increasingly being addressed at the planning stage rather than as a late-stage add-on. Engagement from specialist advocates at industry level can influence how RFPs, venue contracts and event design briefs are structured.
- Hybrid and digital formats: As events continue to blend in-person and online experiences, organisers need to ensure that platforms support captioning, screen readers, keyboard navigation, inclusive networking tools and accessible content formats.
- Workforce and talent: Inclusion extends beyond attendees to speakers, exhibitors, suppliers and staff. Industry advocacy around accessibility can encourage more inclusive recruitment, training and on-site operations.
- Measurement and reporting: With greater focus on ESG and social impact, organisations are being asked to demonstrate how they include disabled participants and remove barriers. Guidance from advocacy networks can help define useful metrics and reporting standards.
For event technology providers, the development reinforces the need to embed accessibility into product roadmaps, interface design and customer support. This includes:
- Ensuring compliance with recognised web accessibility guidelines and assistive technology compatibility.
- Offering configuration options that allow organisers to tailor accessibility settings to different event formats.
- Providing training resources and documentation that help organisers understand and use accessibility features effectively.
As industry bodies and parliamentary groups give more attention to accessibility, vendors serving the sector may see increased demand for solutions that demonstrably improve the experience for disabled participants, both on-site and online.
Conclusion
Dr Shani Dhanda’s new role as a partner of The Business of Events and member of the APPG for Events underscores the growing priority of accessibility within the business events landscape. By combining advocacy, industry collaboration and engagement with policymakers, the appointment is likely to contribute to more structured conversations about how the sector can deliver inclusive experiences at scale.
While the practical outcomes of this partnership will emerge over time, the announcement signals a clear direction of travel: accessibility is set to remain a central consideration in how events are planned, delivered and evaluated, with implications for organisers, venues and technology providers throughout the value chain.