Suzanne founded Attitude is Everything in 2000 as a short project to examine the issues that impacted Deaf and disabled people’s access to live music, after the National Music Department at Arts Council England (ACE) spotted an article she had written on experiences at festivals. It quickly became apparent that the live music industry required clear guidance and a supportive framework to break down access barriers. This led to the creation of Attitude is Everything’s Charter of Best Practice for venues and festivals. Feedback from the music industry spurred Suzanne to nurture the project into what Attitude is Everything is today - an ambitious and successful ACE National Portfolio Organisation driven by feedback from hundreds of Deaf and disabled mystery shoppers. The charity has trained thousands of industry professionals, provided access consultancy for a diverse range of events and new venue builds, and currently works with numerous industry networks and over 150 venues and festivals across the UK via the Charter of Best Practice.

Having been Project Manager for 8 years, Suzanne was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Attitude is Everything in 2008. In 2013, Suzanne was honoured with an MBE for services to music, arts and disabled people. In February 2017, she was appointed as one of 11 business sector champions by the government’s Minister for Disabled People, Work and Health to further champion the benefits to the music industry of being inclusive to disabled people. In July 2017, UK Music’s influential UK Live Music Group officially endorsed the Charter as the “industry standard” for access provision.

Panel: Break down barries, we will come