Marney graduated from Dorset House, School of Occupational Therapy, Oxford in 1992 and completed a MA Design Research for Disability from the London Metropolitan University.
Marney has a unique combination of training and experience in both occupational therapy and design. She has over 20 years experience spanning health, social care, housing and design for dementia. Her career choices have been motivated by a commitment to equal opportunities and a passion for good design. A central consideration in her practice is a conviction that the design of the environment can have a positive impact on quality of life and well being. Over the past 12 years she has developed specialist expertise advising on the inclusive design aspects of new build extra care and supported housing for older and disabled people, to maximise access for people with physical, sensory and cognitive impairments. She is especially interested in how to design housing that is care ready and adaptable whilst avoiding over specification.
Marney has presented at national conferences on her specialist expertise in new build and design for dementia. In a voluntary capacity she has been an inclusive design advisor for the Civic Trust Awards since 2007.
Marney is a member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists and the College of Occupational Therapists Specialist sections – Independent Practice and Housing as well as being registered with the Health Care Professionals Council.