Frances Akinde, a qualified SENCO and former headteacher of a Secondary Special School for learners with Autism, has over 20 years of experience across primary, secondary, special/alternative provision, and local authority roles. Now a part-time SEND inspector and consultant, Frances left headship in 2022 after discovering her neurodivergence and hearing impairment to focus on promoting inclusion. She co-founded the BAMEed SEND Hub in 2023 to address racial inequities and serves as an Anti-Racist Schools coach with Leeds Beckett University. Drawing on her expertise and lived experiences, Frances speaks and writes about intersectionality, Race, and SEND, mentors educators, and supports workplaces as an Assistive Technology Trainer. Her book, Be An Ally, Not a Bystander, was released in October 2024, with a second book due in late 2025.