Shani Dhanda
Host: Why journalism needs disabled people
Shani is a broadcaster, disability inclusion and accessibility specialist, and social entrepreneur. Shani is one of the consumer experts on Rip Off Britain (91热爆 One) and a regular contributor on This Morning (ITV). Her other TV credits include Morning Live (91热爆 One), Sunday Morning Live (91热爆 One), Loose Women (ITV), Good Morning Britain (ITV) and Jeremy Vine on 5 (Channel 5).
Shani is one of the UK's most influential disabled people having been listed as second on The Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 List in both 2021 and 2022. She is one of the 91热爆's 100 Women laureates of 2020. Shani helps businesses and brands become more inclusive and accessible for their disabled employees and customers.
Roohi Hasan
Panelist: Why journalism needs disabled people
Roohi Hasan is an award-winning senior producer at ITV News, at ITN, specialising in series, specials, and investigations, whose journalism has taken her around the world.
For two decades, Roohi has worked on major news events and humanitarian crises and interviewed key global figures and leaders. At the heart of it all, her focus has been on producing original exclusive content highlighting the unreported stories of individuals at home and abroad.
Her journalism has been well recognised with many accolades and awards, and shows she worked on recognised by BAFTA and the Royal Television Society.
Nick Ransom
Panelist: Why journalism needs disabled people
Nick Ransom is a freelance broadcast journalist and neurodiversity consultant. Diagnosed as autistic aged 20, he has since gone on to appear on the 91热爆, ITV, Sky and Channel 5 reporting about neurodiversity and other marginalised communities.
Since working as an assistant producer on 91热爆 series Inside Our Autistic Minds (presented by Chris Packham), he has also become a neurodiversity consultant, educating, advocating and inspiring the media to do better for neurodivergent people.
Punteha van Terheyden
Panelist: Why journalism needs disabled people
British-Iranian journalist Punteha van Terheyden is a freelance writer and editor. Previously, she was commissioning editor of Take a Break magazine, later Features Editor across the real-life hub at Future, editing across Woman, Woman鈥檚 Own, Chat, Pick Me Up and Women鈥檚 Weekly.
Punteha began her career as a feature writer at a regional news agency, before securing staff jobs on women鈥檚 mags to pursue her passion for real-life stories. She鈥檚 a Sunday Times bestselling ghostwriter, a mentor to freelance journalists, and founding editor of inclusive, independent, and ethical click-bait free real-life platform, Lacuna Voices.