Leesa Flynn is a primary school teacher and disability advocate from Co. Leitrim. She qualified as a primary school teacher in Maynooth University in 2023. As Leesa was born with Spina Bifida, she is a wheelchair/walking-frame user, and is the first wheelchair user to qualify as a primary school teacher in Maynooth University. It is also thought that she is the first wheelchair user to do this on a national level. Leesa uses her online presence on social media to highlight the struggles that people with disabilities face, but also how she has overcome these hurdles. She is currently working as a teacher at home in Leitrim.

Danielle has worked in technology and education for many years now, starting out as a mentor with UCD Access & Lifelong Learning Centre during her undergraduate degree. She is an experienced Instructional Designer and Learning Technologist, with a keen interest in accessibility and inclusion in technology. She currently works as the Digital Media and eLearning Officer with AHEAD.

Trevor Boland is an advocate for inclusion in Education and over his 20 years in Education he has worked with and for students on initiatives that include Assistive Technology, Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning. He is the AT Officer in Dublin City University and collaborates internally and externally on inclusion initiatives to enhance inclusion in Education.

Caoimhe is the Education Events Officer in AHEAD, where she coordinates and delivers national education events, including the AHEAD Conference and the John Kelly Awards. She is also a socially engaged Artist working at the intersection of education, inclusion, and the arts. She is passionate about co-creating projects and events that drive equity, creativity, and social impact.

Rachael is the Development Coordinator for the National Student Engagement Programme (NStEP). In her role, Rachael works to support and expand NStEP's Student Training Programme, to identify and develop resources for students and staff to ensure the successful implementation of the programme strategy, to manage the National Student Quality Assurance Reviewers Pool alongside Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), and to support NStEP's Programme Manager in day-to-day operations. 

She is currently an Advisory Board member of the Irish Open Access Publishers (IOAP), and was previously the Institute of Art, Design and Technology Students' Union (IADTSU) Deputy President and Education Officer (2020 - 2022). She is extremely passionate about student engagement and partnership.

Katie joined AsIAm in 2015 and worked with one of the longest run programmes, the AsIAm Youth Leadership Team and the AsIAm Ambassadors.

As part of Katie’s role today, she coordinates the successful national AsIAm Autism Friendly HEI Award. DCU was the first in the world to become an AsIAm Autism Friendly campus and Katie works closely with Irish and international universities, colleges and ETB’s who are on the journey to embed the Autism friendly HEI principles within their culture and are making a college that is fully inclusive. Katie is passionate about ensuring that autistic students and staff are supported and empowered on their path in further and higher education.

Luna Fleming is an activist, particularly for disability but also for mental health, queer rights and gender equality. They are currently studying Digital Humanities and Information Technology in UCC. This is their second year on the advisory group. The first year gave them several prestigious opportunities to have their voice on disability in education heard, and it greatly developed their confidence when it comes to activism. Their main area of interest is on neurodiversity as they are autistic and dyspraxic. They have also done lots of campaigning surrounding services for people with eating disorders, including organising protests and speaking in the Dáil. Currently in UCC, they are on the neurodiversity society committee, they are the disability rights representative for the students union and are an access ambassador, meaning they help shape services offered to people who come in through alternative entry routes and/or have a disability. They look forward to contributing to the advisory group even more this year as co-chair.

Joseph McLoughlin is a first-year engineering student at Dublin City University (DCU). He's passionate about spreading awareness about disabilities and making sure that their voices are heard. This passion stems from his own experiences with Autism, Narcolepsy, and ADHD. Joseph completed a PLC programme prior to starting at DCU, specifically Preliminary Engineering in Coláiste Dhúlaigh. This means that he has experience in both Further and Higher education. He has had the pleasure of knowing a wide range of people, both with and without disabilities. This has helped him understand the perspectives of both groups. Joseph believes that many of the difficulties faced by those with disabilities can be addressed through greater awareness of their experiences and a problem-solving attitude that focuses on removing barriers faced by people with disabilities in their daily lives.