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Leading With Purpose: Our Founder Joins For Brian As A Director

20th April 2026

We are excited to share that our Founder, Zubee, has officially joined For Brian as a Director. It’s been an intense and transformative journey to get here, one that has been both rewarding and deeply challenging as we navigate the weight that comes with dealing with grief.

In this blog post, Zubee dives into why she decided to step into this leadership position. She reflects on her journey so far, looking back at some of the achievements that have helped raise awareness of our work and drive change within the events industry, all while finding the strength to turn personal loss into a professional mission.

Those who know Zubee will know that she doesn't keep still and likes to stay busy! She currently balances her time across three areas: Founder of Access My Events, Co-host of My Voice Podcast, and her new role as a Director.

When Zubee’s late grandmother was diagnosed with Dementia, she was faced with a condition her family and Zubee had never encountered before. It was a steep learning curve, and honestly, an eye-opening one. We saw the gaps in awareness and the lack of support systems for Asian families navigating this path. That experience led her to ensure that no one goes through this journey alone or without the accessibility and support they deserve.

How We Met The CEO Of For Brian

Zubee regularly attends Bikeworks All Ability Cycling Club, and it’s something she enjoys. It’s also a great way to stay fit and active, and a wonderful space to socialise and meet new people. It was during one of these sessions at Little Wormwood Scrubs Park about two years ago when Zubee first met Clare. We got to chatting, and Clare said she was looking for some help with For Brian.

At the time, we were looking for work, but we were also going through a deeply personal challenge. Zubee's late grandmother was living with Dementia, and as a family, we were finding it difficult with the support she was receiving and understanding the impact it was having on my grandmother and especially our late Grandad, who was looking after her. The roles had completely reversed, and the daily routines were changed with daily carers coming in. As a disabled person and someone who is very close to both her grandparents, she wanted to help.

Zubee opened up to Clare about the challenges she's been facing trying to gain her independence while navigating family barriers. At the same time, it was an incredibly difficult and heavy time for us. Knowing that Clare supports people living with Dementia through her work at For Brian, we felt we could speak with someone who understood the challenges and helped us to navigate the support that is available and the best people to contact through Clare’s connections.

Shortly after our first meeting, we arranged a virtual chat to discuss the work Clare needed help with, and since then, we have been working together and keeping in touch. We are grateful that a day of cycling allowed us to turn a challenging time into a way to help others going through a similar situation.

Clare, the CEO of For Brian is standing in the outdoors with a fence behind her. She has grey short hair with glasses and is wearing a blue long puffer coat, looking in front smiling.

"For Brian is delighted to have Zubee Kibria join the board of directors. We share a love of cycling and her work to raise awareness of access needs for disabled people, researching and publishing blogs and highlighting upcoming accessible events, as well as interesting podcasts, is aligned with For Brian's vision for dementia inclusive activity for brain health. She brings important skills and experience to the mix and we are are working together to understand and find solutions to her own travel and mobility needs." Clare Morris - CEO of For Brian.

An AI image of people sitting in an office clapping. A desk is in front of them with a chair slightly turned. On the table is a folder and a notebook and pen. There is a small long strip card that reads Zubee, Director of For Brian in capital letters on a white background. Behind them on the wall is a banner that reads Taking on the new challenge as director with an image of a handshake.

Taking On A New Challenge

When Zubee was offered the role to become a Director, she was hesitant and started questioning herself because she had never held a senior position before at this level and the responsibilities that come with being a Director. We took a few days to think about it and we had a chat with the CEO, Clare and a close friend. Through that conversation, we thought opportunities like this don’t come up often, so why not take it as a new challenge. Zubee is always looking for ways to develop herself personally and professionally and this position is a great way to get out of her comfort zone and realise that we have the lived experience and commitment to lead and succeed in the role.

Why For Brian

At For Brian, we are dedicated to creating change for those living with dementia. Our mission in this new role is to help raise much-needed awareness of disability and Dementia, while ensuring access is never an afterthought. It’s about making an impact through the important work we do to help and support the For Brian community. Clare and Zubee share a love of cycling and community, and our professional goals align perfectly with the impact we want to make. More than anything, this work is personal because what we do at For Brian is fueled by one powerful goal: we want to keep our late grandmother at the centre of our why.

We love you and we miss you Appa Gee.❤️ This is the name we used to address our late grandmother by as a form of respect and affection.

Zubee and her late grandmother sitting on the sofa next to each other with Zubee's arm around her nan looking in front slightly smiling together. We are South Asian wearing our traditional outfits a salwar, known as a trouser and a kameez known as a short dress. Zubee is wearing a royal blue colour and her grandmother is wearing a light pinky/beige with printed flowers.

An indoor photo shows Zubee standing at a trade show at her stall for "Access My Events." She is wearing a black blazer and patterned top, and she is using a forearm crutches. The stand features a red and white flag, a tall banner, and a small table covered with a white cloth, all displaying the "Access My Events" logo, which shows a silhioutte of a person using crutches. The banner also includes social media icons and contact information. The stall is set on a purple carpet. In the background, other people and event displays are visible.

Leading With Purpose In The Boardroom And Event Floor

This new chapter sits well alongside our work as the founder of Access My Events, where we have been driven by a mission to work with organisations and advise them on what they need to do to make their events more inclusive and accessible to the deaf and disabled community. Whether it’s at boardroom level or the event floor, the goal remains the same.

Shaping The Future Of For Brian

As we step into this role as Director, our focus is on ensuring that For Brian remains a champion of inclusivity. Our work will be a blend of being mission-driven and hands-on support, including:

  • Inclusive Advocacy: We will be working to ensure all our programs and services are accessible as possible to the diverse needs of For Brian members.
  • First Point of Contact: We will be handling new enquiries, welcoming new members and organisations into the For Brian community with the same empathy and understanding we received when we first met Clare.
  • Mission Driven: Contributing to board meetings to help shape the future direction of the organisation and ensure we are making the best decisions for the community.
  • Direct Community Support: We will be on the ground during our events and activities, supporting the For Brian community.
  • Digital Presence: We will be managing our social media and website content on a regular basis so we can keep members informed of the work we are doing and the impact we are making.

An AI image of an office scene showing two people collaborating on a strategic planning board titled "Shaping The Future Of For Brian: Vision 2030. On the left, a woman with curly hair and a patterned grey shirt points toward the board while holding a yellow sticky note. On the right, a man with a beard, glasses, and a maroon sweater is placing a sticky note under the "Key Priorities" section. The whiteboard is organised into categories including Vision, Mission, People & Culture, and Key Priorities, with bullet points for "Technology Adoption" and "Global Reach." Numerous colourful sticky notes are clustered across the board. Large windows in the background let in bright, natural light, creating a professional and focused atmosphere.

An AI infographic titled Reflections On The Journey So Far: Visibility And Advocacy set in a modern, glass-walled atrium. A curved timeline across the wall highlights four key milestones with floating images and text: Breaking Barriers in Fashion (Nov 2023): Features a person in a wheelchair wearing a gold traditional South Asian outfit on a runway. Small Business Achievement (July 2023): Displays an "Access My Events" winner certificate and trophy. Access My Events (July 2023): Shows a group of people at a promotional booth for the initiative. Amplifying Unheard Voices: Shows a group of people around a podcast microphone for "My Voice Podcast." In the lower right, a diverse group of professionals in business attire walks forward confidently. The scene is bright and futuristic, symbolising progress and inclusivity.

Reflections On The Journey So Far

Stepping into this leadership role has made us reflect on how far we’ve come in terms of visibility and advocacy over the last few years. Some of the milestones that continue to energise our passion include:

  • Small Business Achievement: In July 2023, Access My Events was named a winner of Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sunday (SBS).
  • Community Presence: Exhibiting our business at the Disability Expo for the first time in July 2023.
  • Breaking Barriers in Fashion: In November 2023, we were honoured to be the first person with a disability to model at Europe’s largest Asian wedding show.
  • Amplifying Unheard Voices: Through My Voice Podcast, Zubee continues to provide a platform for disabled people from ethnic minority backgrounds to discuss the everyday challenges and cultural barriers that prevent disabled people reach their full potential.

We are excited to bring this energy to the For Brian community. To connect with For Brian, you can follow them on LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

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By Access My Events