A housing association chief executive has been appointed as the government’s Disability and Access Ambassador for housing.

Emma Palmer, CEO of Eastlight Community Homes, joins 20 other senior leaders from UK businesses – who will use their influence to improve accessibility and champion the inclusion of disabled people as consumers and employees.

Appointed by the Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Social Security and Disability, Emma will act to encourage the housing sector to do better in terms of accessibility.

In this voluntary role, she will work across the housing system – from local authorities and housing associations to private developers, contractors, suppliers and agents – to highlight good practice, challenge inaccessible design and service delivery, and contribute to the development of inclusive policy.

The Disability and Access Ambassador programme, led by the Office for Equality and Opportunity’s Disability Unit, is part of the government’s wider efforts to reduce inequality and create a more inclusive society for disabled people.

Ambassadors are selected for their expertise, their commitment to change and their ability to shape conversation and policy within their sectors.

As well as leading Eastlight – a resident-led housing association with 14,600 homes across the East of England – Emma also sits on the board of A2Dominion, one of the UK’s largest housing providers, giving her a strategic perspective across the wider housing landscape.

Emma Palmer, Chief Executive of Eastlight Community Homes, said: “It’s a real honour to be appointed to this national role. Every part of the housing sector – whether social, public or private – plays a vital role in shaping the environments we live in.

“Homes and communities must work for everyone, and that includes being accessible and inclusive by design. I’m proud to represent the housing sector at a national level, and I look forward to learning from others, sharing progress and driving forward the change disabled people rightly expect.”

Emma’s appointment builds on Eastlight’s recognised leadership in this area. The organisation became a Founding Partner of disability inclusion organisation Purple in 2023, following several years of work to improve the disabled customer experience, diversify recruitment practices and support inclusive leadership.

The Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Social Security and Disability, said: “I am very pleased to be working with this impressive group of senior leaders, whose expertise and enthusiasm engenders positive changes in accessibility for disabled people. They are really supporting the government in this important work. They are generous with their time and support.

“The Disability and Access Ambassadors help us to improve all disabled people’s lives, by using their experience and insight throughout their sectors, and supporting the changes in accessibility we want to see across a wide range of private sector industries.”

The ambassador programme will run for one year initially, with the option of a further two-year extension. Ambassadors are expected to collaborate across sectors, advise government departments and share examples of inclusive practice from their industries.

Emma’s appointment signals a clear call to action for the housing sector to take a leading role in building a more inclusive built environment and customer experience.