Dr Kush Kanodia
Nominee Profile
Location: London
Kush Kanodia is a visionary disability and race equality champion, a multi-award-winning social entrepreneur, and systems leader, driving transformative change for disabled people across sport, healthcare, and government.
After leaving a successful career in investment banking, Kush co-founded Choice International and dedicated his life to systemic inclusion. He holds an MBA with Distinction and has worked with organisations like HSBC, Bloomberg, the NHS, and the BBC. His advisory roles include Vice Chair of the Disability Unit’s Regional Stakeholder Network (Cabinet Office), Trustee of AbilityNet, Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE), and Inclusion London, and Ambassador for Disability Rights UK.
Kush’s campaigns have reshaped national policies. His #NoWheelChairTax campaign abolished disabled car parking charges across 200+ NHS hospitals, benefiting 3 million people. He influenced accessibility compliance across all Premier League clubs and led the successful reform of London’s ULEZ to include vital exemptions for over 250,000 disabled people.
Kush was a London 2012 Paralympic Torchbearer, received the Asian Achievers Award for Entrepreneur of the Year, and ranked second in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100. He was also named one of the top 10 BAME tech leaders by the Financial Times. In 2022, the University of Kent awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Science, calling his NHS reforms “the single largest and most impactful change in the treatment of disabled people in the history of the NHS.”
Transformed the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London, creating reasonable adjustments for disabled people with the support of Inclusion London. Exempting DWP disability benefits and increasing grant payments to £10K for wheelchair adapted vehicles. Described by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan as a ‘passionate disability rights champion’ who has ‘made a massive difference to the lives of disabled people in London’.
Kush’s legacy is one of intersectional leadership, driving social justice and accessibility for millions. His work exemplifies the spirit of the National Diversity Awards, making him a truly deserving nominee for the Lifetime Achiever Award.
After leaving a successful career in investment banking, Kush co-founded Choice International and dedicated his life to systemic inclusion. He holds an MBA with Distinction and has worked with organisations like HSBC, Bloomberg, the NHS, and the BBC. His advisory roles include Vice Chair of the Disability Unit’s Regional Stakeholder Network (Cabinet Office), Trustee of AbilityNet, Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE), and Inclusion London, and Ambassador for Disability Rights UK.
Kush’s campaigns have reshaped national policies. His #NoWheelChairTax campaign abolished disabled car parking charges across 200+ NHS hospitals, benefiting 3 million people. He influenced accessibility compliance across all Premier League clubs and led the successful reform of London’s ULEZ to include vital exemptions for over 250,000 disabled people.
Kush was a London 2012 Paralympic Torchbearer, received the Asian Achievers Award for Entrepreneur of the Year, and ranked second in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100. He was also named one of the top 10 BAME tech leaders by the Financial Times. In 2022, the University of Kent awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Science, calling his NHS reforms “the single largest and most impactful change in the treatment of disabled people in the history of the NHS.”
Transformed the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London, creating reasonable adjustments for disabled people with the support of Inclusion London. Exempting DWP disability benefits and increasing grant payments to £10K for wheelchair adapted vehicles. Described by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan as a ‘passionate disability rights champion’ who has ‘made a massive difference to the lives of disabled people in London’.
Kush’s legacy is one of intersectional leadership, driving social justice and accessibility for millions. His work exemplifies the spirit of the National Diversity Awards, making him a truly deserving nominee for the Lifetime Achiever Award.