Roland Chesters

Following a life-changing diagnosis of HIV and AIDS in 2006, whilst working in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Roland Chesters became a campaigner for disability rights. He was elected Chair of the FCO’s Disabled Staff Network and worked with the Civil Service Disability Network. He is now a self-employed Diversity and Inclusion Consultant. 

Roland has sat on a number of Boards, including Disability Rights UK, the National Long Term Survivors Group, the London AIDS Memorial Campaign and Peer Action.  He also works in a voluntary capacity as a Positive Voices speaker for Terrence Higgins Trust, as a Peer Mentor for Positively UK and as a Retreat Facilitator for HIVitality. 

He is the author of ‘Ripples from the Edge of Life' published in 2018. Roland has also contributed chapters to ‘Stress ‘N Stuff’ by Ruth Fogg, to ‘Psychological Perspectives in HIV Care,' edited by Michelle Croston and Sarah Rutter, and to ‘Fifty over Fifty’ from the Whole Care Partnership.

Roland was a finalist in the 2019 National Diversity Awards as a role model for Disability.