Getting to know you

To begin this edition of The Bridge, we’d like to introduce you to two members of the GSD Executive committee, and we’ll be introducing you to more in subsequent editions so you get to know the whole “team”

Sue Maynard Campbell MBE, Chair of GSD

Sue began her working life in articles in Surrey and then practiced as a high street solicitor focusing on non-contentious matters.  She became a partner on qualifying and eventually ran her own practice with and without partners.  She still holds a Practicing Certificate although her legal expertise is employed in the more specific area of disability.  She has over 14 years’ experience in disability equality consultancy and training.  She is Managing Director of Equal Ability CIC, one of the UK’s leading disability consultancies, based in Yorkshire.  Equal Ability is owned and run for the benefit of the disabled community and handles most of the administration for GSD.

Sue’s disability experience is extensive.  Both she and her sister have been permanent wheelchair users since early childhood.  Sue has also spent some years as a non-Executive Director (Vice Chair) of a community and mental health NHS trust, which included a regional secure unit and learning disability services.  From 1993-2000 she chaired the Association of Disabled Professionals and she continues active involvement in a number of disabled people’s organisations.  She was awarded an MBE for her work in the Golden Jubilee Honours.

Sir John Wall, CBE, Honorary secretary of GSD

John Wall became totally blind at the age of eight.  He qualified as a solicitor, and for eighteen years was a legal officer for NALGO (the local government trade union).  He then moved into private practice, specialising in litigation. He retired as a partner in Lawrence Graham in 1993.   He   was appointed a deputy Chancery master in 1990, retiring in 2002.  1990-2000 he was chairman of what is now the Royal National Institute of Blind People. He is a widower, with four sons and six grandchildren.  His interests include chess and classical music.

In 2000 he was awarded a knighthood "for services to disabled people."

In 1989, he became one of the founder members of GSD.  He was appointed honorary secretary of the Group in February, 2005.  He believes that the Group has a vital role to play in ensuring that people with disabilities can enter the legal profession, can earn respect from their colleagues, and can have fruitful and rewarding careers "in the law."