This year's Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list has been announced and includes Praveen Kolluguri, who is a local resident in Tolworth.

Recognised for their work as a disability changemaker Kolluguri is being celebrated as one of the 100 most influential disabled individuals in the UK and a leader in their field.

The awards are publicly nominated and judged by a panel of 25 disabled champions including international business leader Dr Shani Dhanda, Chief Executive of Paralympics GB, David Clark and Coronation Street actor Cherylee Houston.

Kolluguri has been recognised for their impact, innovation, and influence in changing perceptions and stereotypes of disability.

Their work includes serving as Co-chair for the Disability Network for BT, where their campaign led BT to become the first tech company in the UK to publish its Disability Pay Gap.

They also successfully advocated for the inclusion of disability inclusion and representation targets in senior managers' objectives.

Kolluguri collaborates with companies and universities worldwide on disability and neurodiversity inclusion, raising awareness through social media by sharing their unique expertise based on lived experiences with ADHD, Autism, and severe IBS.

Additionally, they sit on the Equal Opportunities Advisory Committee of the National Union Prospect and are a human rights activist.

In their day job, Kolluguri works as a Propositions Manager.

Speaking about their award Kolluguri said: "I feel humbled and pleased to be recognised as one of the top voices of disability in the country, I started talking about it as I felt people who look like me and talk like me don't get to talk about these topics but as I got into it more, I saw there is more to it, where I could contribute more talking about race, equity, class, caste, cultural aspects of disability.

"I am open to working with companies, organisations and individuals in making their organisations and spaces more accessible for disabled and neurodivergent people, make them compliant and also aid any business case conversations."

National charity, Shaw Trust, runs the Disability Power 100 to raise the profile of disabled talent and challenge the disability employment gap head-on.

Head of Disability Power 100, Alona De Havilland, said: "The Disability Power 100 is all about creating change, it celebrates ambition and achievement, and plays a role in challenging society's perceptions of disability by recognising the strengths, contributions and successes of 100 disabled individuals each year.

"We all need role models. People who are pioneers and changemakers."

She continued: "This year we witnessed our Team GB Paralympians rightly celebrated for their elite athleticism, sporting prowess and determination to succeed.

"The Disability Power 100 celebrates disabled role models with the same determination, expertise and ambition in all sectors from architecture to construction; finance to healthcare; transport to music.

"It is a rallying cry to future generations of leaders and a call for employers and society to recognise the talents and skills of disabled people."

The full list of 2024 finalists can be found here.

You can contact Kolluguri via email: [email protected] or over the phone: 0753544778.