Anya works as a commissioning manager in the disabilities team at Essex County Council, one of the largest local authorities in the country. Anya has extensive experience of developing and embedding meaningful strategies across Suffolk and Essex. In her current role, Anya is the lead for the Essex All Age Autism Strategy and Partnership, inclusive employment and community support.
Before working in commissioning, Anya worked for an advocacy charity to enable people with learning disabilities to work directly alongside health and social care commissioners, bringing about lasting cultural change.
Anya brings lived experience both as a big sister to a young man who is autistic and as someone who has a life-changing chronic illness herself. These experiences, learning and insight continue to influence Anya’s role and approach. Anya is passionate about making sure voices are heard, understood, and supporting realistic, meaningful, change.
Despite leaving school at 16, Anya has a degree in Disability Studies from the University of Bedfordshire, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Autism from Sheffield Hallam University. Anya’s academic assignments have explored everything from independent travel training to ethical autism research.
In her spare time, Anya will likely be with her dog, listening to music, reading a murder mystery, or travelling.
