About the Event

Getting recruitment practices right is incredibly important to ensure that your organisation attracts the most talented candidates. However, time and time again we see barriers within organisations' recruitment processes that can create bias and discrimination. This means that candidates with incredible talents may be screened out and never have the chance to showcase their strengths.

In this panel event we will discuss the importance of getting your recruitment strategy right, not only to minimise discrimination against neurodivergent candidates, but also to ensure that your organisation is attracting the best talent.

In this session we will be exploring:

• How neuro-inclusive recruitment drives innovation and attracts top talent.

• Identifying barriers in traditional recruitment processes and how to address them, including:

  • Practical adjustments to create neuro-inclusive job descriptions and application processes.

  • Strategies for creating equitable interview practices that showcase candidates' strengths.

• The role of training and awareness in reducing bias and supporting neurodivergent talent.

• …and more!

We’ll also wrap up the session with some top neuro-inclusive recruitment tips from our panellists and have an opportunity for audience Q&A at the end.

This will be a panel discussion event with experts in the field of neurodiversity and recruitment.

Host | Mellissa O’Byrne
Senior Consulting Business Psychologist

Mellissa O'Byrne MA (Hons) MSc GMBPsS, is a Senior Consulting Business Psychologist within Lexxic. She works with organisations on various consultancy projects to support their journey towards neuroinclusion. Prior to this role, she spent five years within Lexxic supporting individuals on a 121 basis, through assessments, training, and coaching. Mellissa's other professional experience includes management, HR, and recruitment.

Cath Dixon
HR Consultant at Warner Goodman

Cath Dixon is a HR Consultant with over 25 years of experience.  Cath is passionate about putting people first, “when employers put people first and meet them where they are at and give them the support they need, their people will thrive and so will their business”.

Emma Kearns
Director UK & EMEA at Rangam

Emma is an award-winning leader in business development and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). With a proven track record of launching and expanding businesses in new markets, Emma spearheaded the EMEA entry of a global staffing firm, securing over $2 million in contracts and establishing a strong presence in the UK, Ireland, and Germany. A passionate advocate for neuro-inclusion, Emma managed a national program to support neurodivergent job seekers and train employers in inclusive hiring. Named Inclusive Talent Management Business Leader of the Year 2024, Emma is dedicated to fostering growth through innovative, inclusive practices.

Registration for this event has now closed.

About the Event

Did you know that 15-20% of your employees are likely to be neurodivergent? Neurodivergent individuals often possess unique skills critical to your organisation’s success, including creativity, problem-solving, analytical thinking, and integrity. However, many organisations are still struggling to fully leverage these talents due to a lack of awareness in just how much value HR teams can bring to the table in supporting their neurodivergent employees.

As awareness of neurodiversity grows (60% of organisations now say they are prioritising neuro-inclusion) the need for practical, actionable strategies is more important than ever. Despite this focus, only 38% of employees say their organisation provides meaningful support to neurodivergent individuals, and just half feel comfortable asking for support (CIPD, 2024).

For this exclusive event, Rachel Potter, Consulting Business Psychologist at Lexxic, will be joined by:

• Steven Beattie, Chief People Officer at Lexxic

• Mel Francis, Chartered FCIPD, Founder of Neuroinclusive HR and Director of Neurodiversity at Work for Do-IT Solutions 

Together, they will be engaging in discussion to help HR professionals understand the practical steps they can take to build a neuro-inclusive workplace that not only supports neurodivergent talent but also creates a more productive, harmonious, and high-performing environment for all employees. 

Why should HR Professionals attend?

HR professionals often face challenges in supporting diverse teams while maintaining high performance and employee wellbeing.

This panel discussion will demonstrate how organisations can implement targeted adjustments to help neurodivergent employees thrive, empower managers to lead high-performing teams with confidence, and support HR professionals by streamlining processes and fostering a more engaged, supported and motivated workforce.

Our panellists have extensive lived-experience and professional expertise which will mean that you get to hear real-life examples of successful practices being implemented in the workplace today, along with key challenges faced with take-away practical solutions.

There will be some time set aside for questions towards the end.

Please note, we use Slido in parts throughout our webinars to allow for audience participation. Our event host will provide clear instructions on how to participate, but there is absolutely no pressure to engage if you do not wish to. You will be able to access the Slido questions by using the camera on your phone to scan a QR code which the presenter will share with you, or by visiting www.slido.com and entering a code that the presenter will share with you.

Rachel Potter
Consulting Business Psychologist at Lexxic

Rachel Potter BSc (Hons), MSc, GMBPsS is a Senior Business Psychologist at Lexxic. She has worked in the neurodiversity sector for over three years and has a wealth of experience in working with teams and organisations to enhance their awareness and understanding of neurodiversity as well as providing 1-2-1 support for individuals including delivering assessments and coaching. She now also works as a consultant, delivers webinars and interactive workshops and is passionate about supporting organisations on their journey to neuro-inclusion.

Steven Beattie
Chief People Officer at Lexxic

Steven Beattie is a highly experienced HR leader with 20 years in operational management, people leadership, and HR. As CPO at Lexxic, he brings unique insights into the tangible benefits of creating neuro-inclusive workplaces that enable businesses and their people to thrive. Steven has worked with global organisations in tech, retail, and life sciences, as well as SMEs in professional services and hospitality, giving him a deep understanding of the distinct challenges HR teams face in both large and small organisations. Passionate about empowering leaders to deliver exceptional people experiences, he champions human-centric workplaces that drive sustainable success for organisations and their people.

Mel Francis
Founder of Neuroinclusive HR & Director of Neurodiversity at Work for Do-IT Solutions, Chartered FCIPD

Mel Francis, Chartered FCIPD, is a leading authority in neuro-inclusive HR, serving as the Director of Neurodiversity at Work for Do-IT Solutions Ltd. With over 25 years of experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, Mel is uniquely equipped to help organisations transform their people practices to fully embrace neurodiverse talent Mel’s work is a powerful blend of her deep HR expertise and unwavering commitment to neurodiversity, making her an invaluable partner for organisations aiming to lead in inclusivity throughout the entire employee lifecycle.

Registration for this event has now closed.

About the Event

With over 350,000 neurodivergent individuals estimated to be working in the UK’s financial industry, it’s crucial to ensure they have the support they need to thrive. 

When individuals are supported in ways that work best for them, businesses see innovation and productivity increase, as well as improvements to employee well-being and retention. Financial organisations are increasingly recognising that by fostering neuro-inclusive workplace cultures, they can unlock the full potential of their neurodivergent employees—tapping into unique talents and perspectives that help drive innovation and business success. 

Join us for an insightful panel discussion, where professionals from the finance sector—who are at the forefront of championing neuro-inclusion within their organisations—will share their personal stories and expert insights.

Our panel will explore important topics such as:

• Why embracing neurodiversity in finance is a game-changer

• The challenges neurodivergent talent face in the industry

• How we can encourage more open disclosure and support requests

• Practical adjustments that can make a real difference

• Breaking down organisational barriers to help neurodivergent employees thrive

• …and much more!

Plus, we’ll wrap up with some top tips from our panellists on how to empower neurodivergent talent and have an opportunity for audience Q&A at the end.

Host | Pooja Sudera
Consulting Business Psychologist at Lexxic

Pooja Sudera is a Consulting Business Psychologist with a master’s degree in occupational psychology and is working towards a Chartered status in Occupational Psychology.

She is an experienced psychologist who has worked in the field of neurodiversity for both private and government organisations for over 8 years. At Lexxic, she is a senior member of the team, working with adults that have a neurodiverse condition and providing psychological services to these individuals to help them reach their true potential. Pooja is passionate about promoting employee well-being and has worked with organisations and management to raise awareness of neurodiversity to help promote diversity and improve organisational policy.

Laurence Griffin
Quality Assurance Specialist (Financial Advice) at Skipton Building Society

Financial Services professional and university graduate who started on a life-changing Autism Internship scheme in September 2016. Passionate about health, fitness, travel, technology, finances, inclusivity, and wellbeing.

Currently undertaking coach training with Mastering Your Power and co-chair of the Skipton Building Society Neurodiversity Network. In my spare time, I focus on my passion for health, fitness, travel and meeting new people.

I believe everyone should have access to good quality employment, regardless of where they are from/live and where they feel supported and are able to be their authentic selves.

Registration for this event has now closed.

About the Event

ADHD Awareness Month is taking place throughout October 2024 and this year’s theme is focussed on that "Awareness is Key!". Lexxic and the Business Disability Forum are partnering to bring you an engaging panel discussion that aims to raise awareness around common misconceptions surrounding ADHD and how to turn this awareness into action, driving real change in the workplace.

Our diverse panel of professionals with ADHD will be sharing their personal stories—highlighting not just the challenges, but the strategies and successes that have helped them excel at work.

Along with raising awareness we will be providing real-life examples of how employers and colleagues can turn awareness into practical, positive action.

This event will provide insights on how you can foster more inclusive workplaces, making the most of the unique strengths individuals with ADHD bring to their roles and lots more!

Co-Chair | Abigail Tennant
Consulting Business Psychologist

Abigail is neurodivergent with a diagnosis of dyslexia and ADHD. She has been working in the field of neurodiversity for several years, where she has developed a greater understanding on neurodiversity from working with clients and organisations. Through helping others, this has allowed her to understand herself more and find ways of working that align with her strengths. She is now working as a consultant with organisations and delivering webinars and workshops with Lexxic to educate others and continue to support the neurodivergent community.

Co-Chair | Jem Freeman
Advice Business Partner at Business Disability Forum (BDF)

I am queer, non-binary, disabled and AuDHD. I am passionate about disability advocacy and currently work at Business Disability Forum where this special interest comes into its element. I have experience spanning the music industry, television broadcast, higher education and retail.

Tania Gerard
Founder of Tania Gerard Digital

Tania Gerard is a neurodiversity trainer, podcast host, keynote speaker, and ADHD ambassador. She helps companies leverage diversity to drive creativity and business growth, with a focus on creating inclusive practices. Tania excels at bridging communication between employers and employees, ensuring accessibility in transformation efforts. As a sought-after speaker, she offers valuable insights on creating neuro-inclusive environments that empower individuals to thrive. Her presentations are rounded in cutting-edge research and real-world applications, making them informative, engaging, and inspiring for all audiences.