The Northern Ireland Neurodiversity in the Workplace Conference 2026
The Malone Hotel, Belfast, Northern Ireland 14 April 2026, 9:00am - 4:00pm
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8:30am
Delegate Registration and Networking
9:45am
Chair’s Welcome Address
Professor Mary Hannon-Fletcher, Dean Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion; Aurora and Athena Swan Champion, Ulster University
9:55am
Opening Keynote: Challenges Facing Neuroinclusion Initiatives in 2026
- A human rights based approach to Neuroinclusion
- Understanding NI specific rights framework and employers’ responsibilities
- How do we support neuroinclusion in Northern Ireland?
Dr Claire McCann, Senior Policy and Research Officer, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
10:15am
Neuroinclusion by Design: Building Cultures Where Neurodivergent Talent Thrives
- Shifting from individual accommodations to inclusive systems and culture
- Embedding neuroinclusion into leadership, people processes, and values
- Stigma, burnout, and retention - addressed through cultural change
- Practical steps organisations can implement immediately
Frances Beagon, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Neurodiversity Lead for Psychological Services, Belfast HSC Trust
10:35am
Unlocking Neurodivergent Potential Through Organisational Design - Case Study of Northern Health and Social Care Trust
- The practical application of creating a neuroinclusive organisation within the NHSCT
- Background and strategic context
- Insights from staff engagement
- Future focused recommendations and action plan
Jayne Colville, Public Health Autism Coordinator, Northern Health and Social Care Trust
10:55am
Questions And Answers Session
11:10am
Break and Networking
11:40am
The Power of Staff Networks: bringing neurodivergent staff and allies together to embed neuroinclusive practice in the workplace
- Examine the part staff networks can play in the workplace
- Explore what staff Networks can achieve
- The importance of allies
- Ulster University Neuronetwork as a case study, what we do and how we do it
Sharron Sturgess, Co-Chair of the NeuroNetwork, Ulster University
12:05pm
Beyond Compliance: Having Meaningful Conversations About Reasonable Adjustments
- Understanding the purpose of reasonable adjustments in neuroinclusive workplaces
- Where do adjustment conversations often go wrong?
- Practical language and frameworks for effective discussions
- The importance of shared ownership between employees, managers, and organisations
Daria Gates, Neuroinclusion Practice Lead, Neurodiversity SPARK
12:30pm
Panel Discussion: The Disclosure Dilemma - Rethinking Neurodiversity at Work
- Explore the personal, professional, and cultural factors influencing disclosure
- Risks, benefits, and power dynamics in disclosure decisions
- How does organisational culture impact psychological safety?
- Alternatives to disclosure-dependent inclusion
Speakers:
- Giulia Boggiano, Head of Development, Diversity Mark
- Daria Gates, Neuroinclusion Practice Lead, Neurodiversity SPARK
- Laura O’Donovan Calvert, Head of Business Development, Irish Centre for Diversity
- Sharron Sturgess, Co-Chair of the NeuroNetwork, Ulster University
12:55pm
Lunch And Networking
1:45pm
Better Communication for Better Work: A Neuroinclusive Approach
- Common workplace communication breakdowns and their impact
- Inclusive approaches to meetings, feedback, and written communication
- How does inclusive communication reduce stress, conflict, and burnout?
- Practical examples of communication standards teams can adopt
Sarah Castor-Perry, ADHD / AuDHD coach and Neuroinclusion Consultant
2:05pm
Talent Is Everywhere. Opportunity Should Be Too
When we talk about neurodiversity in the workplace, it is encouraging to see increasing awareness and commitment from employers. But there is an important perspective that is sometimes missing from these conversations — the perspective and experience of the learning disability community.
Leslie-Anne Newton, Director, ARC NI
2:25pm
Panel Discussion: Intersectionality in Practice - Understanding Neurodiversity in Context
- Explore how neurodiversity intersects with race, gender, sexuality, disability, and class
- How systems of power and bias compound workplace barriers
- Lived experiences of navigating multiple identities at work
- The impact of the emotional labour of navigating visibility and marginalisation
- How do intersecting identities shape diagnosis, disclosure, and support?
Speakers:
- Sarah Castor-Perry, ADHD / AuDHD coach and Neuroinclusion Consultant
- Laura O’Donovan Calvert, Head of Business Development, Irish Centre for Diversity
- Leslie-Anne Newton, Director, ARC NI
2:55pm
Break and Networking
3:20pm
Technology as an Enabler: Using AI to Support Neurodivergent Colleagues
- How AI and assistive technologies can reduce cognitive and sensory load
- Practical tools that support communication, organisation, and focus
- Risks, limitations, and ethical considerations of AI at work
- Reframing technology as a support for inclusion, not performance surveillance
Gary Gates, PhD Researcher on ADHD Late Diagnosis, Co-founder Neurodiversity ‘SPARK’, u-Hub Board Member, Ulster University NeuroNetwork Committee Member
3:45pm
Align with the Neurodiversity Paradigm: Benefits of Neuroaffirmative Supervision
- The Three Pillars of Oversight: How to adapt the three core functions of supervision for a neurodiverse workforce
- Looking Through the Systemic Lens: How workplace structures and environments shape employee experience
- Closing the Empathy Gap: Addressing the "Double Empathy Problem"
Danny Trigg, Neuroaffirmative Supervisor, ADHD / AuDHD Coach, Founder | Divergent Training & Coaching
4:05pm
Questions And Answers Session
4:15pm
Chair’s Summary And Close
Professor Mary Hannon-Fletcher, Dean Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion; Aurora and Athena Swan Champion, Ulster University