Q&A: Spotlighting members of our global network

We are delighted to introduce you to long-term member of GLE, Clenton Farquharson, QSM, who is the Chair of our Lived Experience Council, GLE Board member and resides in England. We’re very grateful to Clenton for taking part in our first ever Q&A.

“When the voices of those with real experiences are included in decision-making, we move from simply providing services to truly empowering individuals to have control over their lives”

 

How I describe myself and my intersectionality:
I’m a Black disabled man who has spent much of my life navigating through various systems like education, care and support, housing, public transport, work, and even everyday things like enjoying life. My identity involves different layers that come together: my race, my disability—both visible and hidden—and my lived and living experience. These layers shape how I see the world and how I advocate for others. Each one of us has the power to illuminate the path ahead. Don’t let systems or structures dull your light or silence your lived and living experience. While labels can be useful, I see myself as someone who works to make systems more equal, fair, and compassionate for everyone who engages with them.

What I’m most proud of in my contribution for others with lived and living experience:
The thing I’m most proud of is the platform I’ve helped build to ensure that people with lived and living experience have their voices heard. I’ve been involved in many spaces—co-chairing lived experience groups and sitting in on decision-making meetings.  My focus has always been on making sure people who are often left out of the conversation get the chance to shape the systems that affect their lives. I believe it’s not about being in the spotlight, but about being the spotlight, shining light on others who need their voices amplified. That’s what I want to do. When you witness something that’s not right or fair, you don’t have the luxury of staying silent. Speaking up is part of the solution, and it starts with us. When the voices of those with real experiences are included in decision-making, we move from simply providing services to truly empowering individuals to have control over their lives.

What theme areas are my passion and areas GLE members can contact me about:
I’m passionate about being part of the solution to inequalities in the systems, especially where race, disability (visible and hidden), and identity intersect. I also focus on using technology to improve systems, making them more personalised, accessible, and human. My work is about ensuring that people with lived and living experience are involved in shaping the services they depend on—whether it’s care and support, housing, public transport, or their work and leisure activities

We need to redefine leadership as being about how are you, really how are you moments are—those small, everyday instances of kindness, insight, and empowerment that we create, acknowledge, and pay forward. It’s about recognising the impact these moments have on others, even when we don’t see the immediate effect.

The question we should all ask ourselves is: how are you, really how are you moments are we creating? How many are we acknowledging, paying forward, or simply saying thank you for? It’s these moments that build relationships, shift systems, and bring about real change.

GLE members can contact me about anything related to Leadership, co-production (working together to create solutions), and intersectionality (where different aspects of identity overlap). I’m happy to connect on how we can better include lived and living experiences in shaping policies and services. I’m especially excited about how we can use technology to make these systems better while never forgetting the human side of it all.

The LEC is keen to hear from you to connect and network broadly on emerging themes that may have regional and global impacts for those with lived/living experience. Please get in touch with Jenny Wolf  (jenny@gle.world) to find out more.