Scottish Disability Equality Forum

Wyn Merrells, Manager

Before joining SDEF, Wyn was Manager of the Stirling Council on Disability, having previously been with Disability Scotland as Development Manager (Community Care). For part of his career, Wyn worked in the field of mental health, spending over four years with the Scottish Association for Mental Health, latterly as Operations Officer. He was also the National Groups Co-ordinator of Depression Alliance Scotland.

Wyn comes from Aberdeen and worked for over six years as a Training Officer with Grampian Region, helping young people from Banff & Buchan enter the care field.

Keith Robertson - Access Development Officer

Keith Robertson is the Access Development Officer who supports the entire 50+ Access Panels in Scotland.  Keith is a Royal Navy Veteran but was invalided out of the force in 1973 after an accident that left him disabled and a paraplegic wheelchair user.

Keith believes that Access is the very essence of Independent Living and works hard to have the opinions and voices of disabled people heard in their local areas especially to the decision makers of both Local and Scottish Government.

Sasha McDougall, Network Development Officer

Sasha joined SDEF from Health in Mind, an Edinburgh based mental health organisation, where her work focused on responding to the needs of individuals and strengthening the network of organisations that support them. Prior to this, she worked with SCVO to develop the infrastructure of regional voluntary organisations across Scotland.

Sasha is focused on strengthening the voluntary sector and building the capacity of individual organisations to ensure people have access to services, supports and lifestyles of their choice.

Susan Grasekamp, Policy Officer

Hi - I'm the Parliamentary, Information and Policy Officer (PIPO) for Scottish Disability Equality Forum.  I'm delighted to be working with SDEF and with the many members who give their time to us with the aim of influency the policies which affect us all.

My background is in business development and psychology, and previous to this, I ran a Psychotherapy Training Centre in Glasgow for some years.  I also work with charities on profile development and funding, which I enjoy.

Maeve Bain, Office Adminstrator

I am from Armagh, Northern Ireland, where I worked for the Education Board for almost 20 years.  In 2002 I went to a football match in Glasgow and met my future husband!  I moved to Menstrie, Clacks, in 2004 and I began working as Office Administrator in SDEF in August 2004. 

I enjoy my job, in particular getting out and about meeting and chatting with our members at our AGM, Conference etc.  I am the first point of contact for SDEF and I am happy to assist with the wide variety of issues that regularly crop up.

Marta More, Access Development Worker

Marta joined SDEF during 2009 and provides administrative support to both our general and access work, and also produces our newsletter Open Door four times a year.  She was educated at Bannockburn High School and Napier University, gaining a Diploma in Law, and has worked since early 2005 in the administration field, firstly with Prudential and later as a Departmental Secretary at the University of Stirling.

Marta has also worked in the catering industry, most recently as a Restaurant Manager.