Following the transformative aha Forum, in Partnership with Thomas Franks, the Accessible Hospitality Alliance (aha) is proud to announce the appointment of Mike Tunnicliffe to its Advisory Board. Tunnicliffe brings decades of experience at the highest levels of the global music, entertainment, and media industries as well as a powerful, personal perspective on disability inclusion.
The aha Forum has been widely recognised as a milestone moment for accessibility in hospitality. It brought together leaders from across the industry alongside voices of lived experience to spark real change. That momentum continues with Mike Tunnicliffe’s appointment, someone whose career and advocacy span both influence and authenticity.
His professional journey began in the world of advertising and media, where he held multiple C-suite roles including Chief Growth & Marketing Officer for GroupM, the world’s largest media investment company (now WPP Media). His leadership roles spanned London, New York, and Los Angeles, guiding strategy and innovation for some of the world’s biggest brands.
Later, at Universal Music Group, Tunnicliffe spearheaded a team that created groundbreaking partnerships between consumer brands and artists. His work helped emerging talent gain visibility and connected global artists with meaningful campaigns. Throughout, he remained passionate about using media and music as forces for cultural and social progress.
In 2021 his life changed dramatically when a spinal cord injury left him paraplegic. Yet his sense of mission only deepened. “Disability is a part of me, but it doesn’t define me,” he said in a recent interview. “What defines me is purpose, and that hasn’t changed.”
Since then, Tunnicliffe has become a prominent voice in championing disability inclusion within entertainment, business, and beyond. He is a member of and advises RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities), a US based organisation that elevates disability representation in music and works with companies that want to engage authentically with what he calls “Disability Culture”.
Tunnicliffe’s appointment to the aha Advisory Board reflects the organisation’s growing ambition and expanding influence across sectors. It also underpins a strategy of expanding advocacy partnerships with aligned industries including entertainment.
“Mike brings a combination of strategic expertise and lived experience,” said Robin Sheppard, co-founder and chair of Accessible Hospitality Alliance. “He understands global brands, he understands cultural influence, and how to bring them together, most importantly, he understands what inclusion really means and what it can achieve.”
The aha’s growing Advisory Board now includes a diverse and influential group of individuals drawn from business and lived experience. Their role is not simply to advise, but to challenge, inspire, and support the aha in accelerating positive change.
Reflecting on his new role, Mike Tunnicliffe said: “I’m really pleased to be joining the advisory board of the aha. I admire their mission and ambitions, and I hope to contribute alongside the other board members, particularly in helping to identify, prioritise, and act on the key topics the aha wants to address.”
The Accessible Hospitality Alliance welcomes Mike Tunnicliffe with gratitude and excitement. The future of hospitality must be inclusive of and accessible to all, shaping that future is the responsibility of all in our industry.
