This independent review is the first full examination of PIP since the benefit’s introduction, aiming to ensure the system is fair, fit for purpose, and responsive to the lived realities of disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.
The steering group comprises twelve experts with professional and lived experience of disability policy, advocacy, accessibility and governance. Working alongside the Timms Review’s three co-chairs — Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms, Sharon Brennan, and Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE — the group will help shape priorities and strategic direction for the Review.
Dr Felix Shi brings to the steering group not only his academic expertise in management and policy implementation but also valuable insights into disability policy across national contexts and lived experience as a disabled academic.
Dr Felix Shi said: “I am proud to be appointed to the board, and to connect Disabled People’s Organisations and Welsh disabled people, ensuring that the review properly reflects lived experience across Wales. I also bring my perspective as a disabled academic, helping to bridge research, policy, and everyday realities.”
The Timms Review will look at the role of PIP in enabling better health outcomes, promoting independence, and ensuring fair access to support across the benefits system. An interim update is expected later in 2026, with the final report to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions due in autumn 2026.
Dr Felix Shi is a Lecturer in Management at The Albert Gubay Business School at Bangor University. His research spans organisational behaviour, public policy implementation, and comparative analyses of social support systems. Dr Shi’s academic and professional work focuses on enhancing understanding of how policies can be effectively designed and implemented to support diverse communities, including disabled people.