Peter Beresford is Professor of Citizen Participation at the University of Essex and Emeritus Professor of Social Policy at Brunel University London. He is also Co-Chair of Shaping Our Lives, the disabled people's and service user organisation and network, and a long-term user of mental health services.

Peter is a writer, researcher, educator and campaigner with a long-standing interest and involvement in issues of participation and empowerment.

He is also Visiting Professor at the Universities of Edge Hill and East Anglia.