Chairman

Sir Bert Massie CBE

Sir Bert Massie CBE has spent most of his adult life promoting equality and human rights of disabled people. From 2000-2007 he was Chairman of the Disability Rights Commission, and was the Commissioner for the Compact from 2008-2011. The Compact was set up to guide relationships between local and national government and the voluntary sector.

Prior to that he was the chief executive of The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation and was instrumental in ensuring that parliament passed the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

He has been a member of many statutory committees concerned with meeting the needs of disabled people or advising ministers on appropriate policies. He has close links with many disability organisations and is a leading thinker on social policy issues affecting disabled people.

Sir Bert is a trustee of a number of charities including Motability, and is a governor of Liverpool John Moores University. He was a founding Commissioner on the Equality and Human Rights Commission and has his own consultancy business, Bert Massie Ltd.

Sir Bert was appointed a CBE in 2000 and knighted in 2007.

Sir Bert Massie CBE says:

“I am delighted to be part of the Code of Practice Scheme; it is a credible and ethical Scheme that will deliver tangible benefits to disabled and non-disabled people alike. The introduction of the Code is timely and necessary in the light of on-going changes in health and local authorities, together with current financial pressures”. He adds, “Rather than proposing short term solutions, which are usually more expensive in the longer term, the Code looks long term. This is about getting the right equipment at the right time, which supports initiatives related to self-determination, independence, rehabilitation, early intervention and prevention, together with end of life care. This Code is a template for a service for the future that can withstand the short term pressures of today. The Code should be used everywhere where disabled people use equipment.”

Contact details:
Email: bertmassie@cecops.org.uk