Our people in the UK

"Little things like an offer of help when you need it can make a huge difference and start to help break down obstacles to being able to pursue your dreams."

As Chief Brand Officer at Sunflower, Annette Cmela leads our global brand and marketing strategy to champion awareness and advocacy for people with non-apparent disabilities. Her goal is to help create a world where accessibility is the norm and everyone can participate and contribute. With over two decades of experience in brand strategy, Annette combines empathy and a global outlook with a deep commitment to inclusion and meaningful social impact. She collaborates with organisations around the world to remove barriers, advance accessibility, and ensure individuals with non-apparent disabilities are recognised, supported, and valued.

Many of us can’t imagine what a day in the life of someone with a disability is like – through the work we're doing, here at Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, we are educating both ourselves and others while increasing public awareness about the challenges that some people face.

Communications Manager - UK, Chantal Boyle, is responsible for our social media channels in the UK and manages the Sunflower Conversations, our weekly podcast that delivers a deeper understanding of the Sunflower's role in supporting people with non-visible disabilities. Prior to this, Chantal was a Corporate Responsibility Executive where she managed community and staff engagement for the shopping centre landlord, intu.

"It's a pleasure to work for a brand making such a tangible difference. As a Sunflower wearer myself, I get to receive the benefits that visibility brings, and spread the joy to make lives a little bit easier."

eCommerce Coordinator, Emi Vokoun, has previously worked for sports and outdoor wear and luxury skincare brands, making sure their websites were all running at a high standard, and helping to solve issues relating to products, websites, queries, and everything in between.

"I feel strongly about working for a company that represents hidden disabilities… This is something that is close to my heart. I am able to work creatively with people around the world across all platforms using my experiences to communicate inclusion for everyone, whatever the condition. I think the values of the Sunflower are simple but incredibly powerful"

Production and Moving Image Designer, Paul Shriever, is the creator of our animations and training videos. Paul previously worked at a number of award-winning brand consultancies Wolff Olins and The Clearing to name a few.

"I have a genuine desire to ensure that the wearers of the Sunflower receive the patience, care and understanding they may need throughout their day, by whoever they meet, wherever they may travel."

CEO, Paul White, is a passionate and dedicated advocate for disability rights, driving real change as the global CEO of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. With an unwavering commitment to inclusivity, accessibility and championing equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities, Paul has a genuine desire to ensure that the wearers of the Sunflower receive the patience, care and understanding they may need throughout their day from whoever they meet, wherever they may travel.
Paul was part of the original team that founded the Sunflower back in 2016 and is committed to raising awareness of the Sunflower on a global level.

"Supporting people with non-visible disabilities is important to me as I have friends and family with hidden conditions which has caused me to appreciate the daily challenges they face. From a young age, I have helped support my mum who has a non-visible disability."

Customer Services Executive, Rebecca Mears, deals with all of our customer enquiries ensuring queries, questions or issues are resolved. Rebecca previously worked for a leading IT company in the escalations department. She has also worked in large businesses in the private sector handling a wide range of account, technical and legal queries.

"Equality has always been important to me. I believe it isn’t about treating everyone exactly the same, but about recognising that we all need different kinds of support. The Sunflower helps make that belief a reality in everyday life for so many people, and I feel genuinely proud to be part of it."

Operations Manager, Rob Kelly, manages the company’s finances, operational systems and customer service desk.
Rob previously held management positions within the hospitality industry until eight years ago when he began working in finance, administration, and operations.

"I’m passionate about raising awareness of non-visible disabilities, and am proud to work with the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, supporting our wearers so they feel understood, valued, and treated with empathy and kindness."

Global Business Director, Ruth Rabét, raises awareness among businesses and other organisations throughout the UK. Ruth is also responsible for the growing network of global airports that have adopted the Sunflower. Prior to this, Ruth spent 35 years working in Aviation holding various roles in Airline Operations. Her final 5 years were spent managing the Assistance Team at Gatwick Airport, a role that would see her play an integral part in creating the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.

"It is amazing to work for such a supportive brand who are changing the perception of invisible disabilities, and I am proud to be a part of that change. I hope my experience can also improve the usability and shopping experience of the website for Sunflower wearers."

eCommerce Marketing Manager, Shannon Ryan, previously worked for a luxury jewellery brand managing the daily operations of their site. Maintaining their sales, site optimisation and customer experience. As well as also handling customer requests, orders and stock management.

“Small moments of understanding can remove big barriers. Working at Hidden Disabilities Sunflower allows me to support a mission that helps people feel seen, respected and more confident navigating everyday life.”

Operations and Franchise Manager, Sitora Yarasheva, supports the day-to-day operations and international franchise network at Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. With a background in global business operations and executive support, Sitora works closely with internal teams and international partners to help strengthen operational processes, improve coordination, and support the continued growth and development of the organisation.

To help people with a hidden disability feel seen and have the support they deserve, provides deep personal fulfilment and is one of the many reasons why I love to work for the Sunflower.

Admin Specialist, Tasha Aiken, previously worked in sales administration at a fragrance house, where she managed daily tasks, provided customer service support, and coordinated the distribution of product samples.