Katie Munday
Nominee Profile
Location: Portsmouth
Katie Munday is a researcher, community practitioner and advocate working to improve the lives of Disabled, neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ people. Their work brings together lived experience, research and grassroots action to challenge inequity.
Katie is currently completing a PhD in Psychology at the University of Portsmouth, where their research focuses on the health and social care experiences of transgender and gender-diverse Autistic adults in the UK. Their work is grounded in community-led approaches, ensuring that the voices of marginalised people are at the centre of research and decision-making. They have contributed to a growing body of work on accessible healthcare, including cancer services and substance use support, helping to shape more inclusive practices within the NHS and beyond.
Alongside their academic work, Katie is deeply involved in community-based research. They have worked closely with Disabled and trans+ people to explore their experiences of cancer care, co-producing resources and training for healthcare professionals. This work has supported tangible improvements in how services understand and respond to the needs of underserved communities.
Katie is also co-founder of the Autistic Substance Use Network, where they lead work to better understand and improve support for Autistic people navigating substance use. Their work in this area addresses a significant gap in public health and advocates for more compassionate, informed and accessible services.
Katie has a long-standing commitment to youth work and inclusive sport. As a wheelchair basketball coach, they have supported hundreds of Disabled children and young people to access sport in an inclusive and empowering environment. They have helped several players progress into national league teams, including supporting four athletes on their journey towards Team GB pathways. For many of the young people they work with, these spaces provide a rare opportunity to feel confident, included and able to be themselves.
Katie also works as a trainer and consultant, delivering sessions for organisations including NHS teams, charities and community groups. They cover topics such as neurodivergence, mental health, disability and LGBTQIA+ inclusion, combining professional expertise with lived experience to challenge assumptions and improve practice.
As a speaker and writer, they contribute to national conversations around inclusion and equality, sharing knowledge through conferences, publications and accessible resources. They are passionate about ensuring that research reaches the communities it is intended to support and leads to real-world change.
At the heart of Katie’s work is a commitment to creating spaces where people feel seen, heard and valued. Drawing on their own experiences as an Autistic, ADHD and chronically ill trans person, they are dedicated to breaking down barriers and supporting others to thrive.
Through their work across research, community and advocacy, Katie continues to push for more inclusive, equitable systems that reflect and respect the diversity of the communities they serve.
Katie is currently completing a PhD in Psychology at the University of Portsmouth, where their research focuses on the health and social care experiences of transgender and gender-diverse Autistic adults in the UK. Their work is grounded in community-led approaches, ensuring that the voices of marginalised people are at the centre of research and decision-making. They have contributed to a growing body of work on accessible healthcare, including cancer services and substance use support, helping to shape more inclusive practices within the NHS and beyond.
Alongside their academic work, Katie is deeply involved in community-based research. They have worked closely with Disabled and trans+ people to explore their experiences of cancer care, co-producing resources and training for healthcare professionals. This work has supported tangible improvements in how services understand and respond to the needs of underserved communities.
Katie is also co-founder of the Autistic Substance Use Network, where they lead work to better understand and improve support for Autistic people navigating substance use. Their work in this area addresses a significant gap in public health and advocates for more compassionate, informed and accessible services.
Katie has a long-standing commitment to youth work and inclusive sport. As a wheelchair basketball coach, they have supported hundreds of Disabled children and young people to access sport in an inclusive and empowering environment. They have helped several players progress into national league teams, including supporting four athletes on their journey towards Team GB pathways. For many of the young people they work with, these spaces provide a rare opportunity to feel confident, included and able to be themselves.
Katie also works as a trainer and consultant, delivering sessions for organisations including NHS teams, charities and community groups. They cover topics such as neurodivergence, mental health, disability and LGBTQIA+ inclusion, combining professional expertise with lived experience to challenge assumptions and improve practice.
As a speaker and writer, they contribute to national conversations around inclusion and equality, sharing knowledge through conferences, publications and accessible resources. They are passionate about ensuring that research reaches the communities it is intended to support and leads to real-world change.
At the heart of Katie’s work is a commitment to creating spaces where people feel seen, heard and valued. Drawing on their own experiences as an Autistic, ADHD and chronically ill trans person, they are dedicated to breaking down barriers and supporting others to thrive.
Through their work across research, community and advocacy, Katie continues to push for more inclusive, equitable systems that reflect and respect the diversity of the communities they serve.