Working alongside chronic illness

Since her late teens, Catherine has lived with ME, a debilitating and fluctuating illness that stole much of her adult life before she learned how to design a workstyle that worked for her. Her story, however, is not just one of overcoming personal obstacles; it is a journey of discovery, connection, and purpose.

After graduating, Catherine entered a long period of exclusion. For two decades, she was effectively shut out of the labour market. The more personalised approaches that had enabled her to succeed as a student simply did not exist in the world of work. In 2002, when she approached disability employment specialists to ask about home-based, part-time, flexible roles, it was as if she had asked for the impossible.

A turning point came in 2011, when the internet opened up new possibilities. Blogging and social media connected her with a vibrant community of digital activists - people campaigning for justice from their beds and sofas. 

Through research and storytelling, Catherine found her voice, using data to uncover hidden narratives. Volunteering soon turned into paid work, and she learned to manage her workload in short bursts of energy, often working from bed. This inspired Catherine to set up Chronic Illness Inclusion as a voice for disabled people with energy limiting chronic illness, energy impairment, and chronic pain. 

Through her work there and later with Astriid, Catherine discovered that her experience was far from unique. Thousands of skilled, motivated people with fluctuating, energy-limiting conditions were facing the same barriers - excluded not because of their abilities but because of rigid job design.

This realisation led her to rethink what work could look like. Catherine and her peers were all seeking something more than just flexibility- combining part-time schedules, remote work, and flexible hours.

Catherine has told us that being a Workstyle Pioneer is more than an honour; it is a recognition of a broader movement. One that insists work should bend to life, and not the other way around.