Conference Chairperson & Opening Remarks

Sue McLoughlin MBA, Founder and Managing Director, StriveToThrive.ie

The Employer’s Role in a Neurodivergent Workforce

Speaker: Regan O'Driscoll, Partner at CC Solicitors

• Understanding legal duties and ethical responsibilities under the Equality Act
• Workplace discrimination: Key statistics and the impact on neurodivergent employees
• How conflict resolution strategies can support neuroinclusion

Turning Neurodiversity Awareness into Organisational Action – The Business Case

Speaker: Alanah Herron, Director of Frankly Speaking Coaching Ltd 

• Making the Business Case: How to position neurodiversity as a strategic priority, not just a moral one
• From Grassroots to Strategy: Starting with an ERG and embedding it into wider organisational frameworks
• Overcoming Resistance: Practical ways to address common objections and gain leadership buy-in
• Using Data to Influence: Metrics that matter and how to track the impact of neurodiversity initiatives
• Case Study in Action: A real-world example of how a neurodiversity ERG evolved into a systemic strategy

Reasonable Adjustments & Workplace Communication Best Practice

Speaker: Dr Áine O’Dea, Director of Radiance Consulting

• What ‘reasonable adjustments’ really mean and how to implement them effectively
• Do employees need a formal diagnosis for accommodations?
• Understanding diverse communication styles in neurodivergent employees
• Breaking down misconceptions and fostering inclusive workplace interactions

The Law on Reasonable Accommodation - Recent Developments and Case Law

Speaker: Sharon Dillon Lyons, BL, The Law Library

• What is the obligation placed on an employer
• What to do where reasonable accommodation is sought - guidance from the Courts
• What are the limits of the obligation - the WRC and Labour Court's view
• Future proofing your organisation's approach - expansion to parents of children with a disability? The CJEU's perspective

Tackling Unconscious Bias & Shifting Workplace Perceptions

Speaker: Jeanette Delahunty, Founder, Consultant and Lead Trainer TSK Academy

• Recognising and addressing common workplace biases
• The impact of early life experiences (education, stigma) on professional confidence
• Breaking the misconception that neurodivergence equals lower ability
• Supporting employees who may not have disclosed their neurodivergence

The Neuroinclusive Culture Playbook: Mindset, Language & Everyday Practice

Speaker: Hannah Linehan, Neuroscience-Based Leadership Expert & Coach

• Why culture eats policy for breakfast
• Changing minds, not just metrics: The neuroscience of bias, empathy, and behaviour inaction
• Coaching conversations & courageous curiosity: How real listening builds psychological safety and retention
• From lived experience to leadership insight: What neurodivergent professionals wish you understood

Attracting, Hiring & Retaining Neurodivergent Talent

Speaker: Terry Gleeson, Business Development Manager, Specialisterne

• The advantages of a neurodiverse workforce: Why businesses can’t afford to miss out
• Identifying and removing barriers in recruitment and retention
• Making hiring processes more inclusive and accessible
• Practical, cost-effective strategies that benefit all employees

Strategies & Tools for an Employee-Centric Neuroinclusive Workplace

Speaker: James Boylan, Corporate Resilience Specialist, Irish Life Wellbeing

• Designing a neurodivergent-positive toolkit for managers and HR professionals
• Setting up Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and peer-to-peer support networks
• AI and technology in neurodivergence management: Where it helps and where it doesn’t
• Creating a sustainable, long-term strategy for neuroinclusion