Let’s Talk About Neurodiversity roundtable, 13 Apr 2022
It is well documented that a diverse workforce is crucial to driving business growth and innovative thinking, but so far, most corporate diversity efforts have missed ‘neurodiversity’. On 13th April 2022 from 5.30pm - 7.00pm GMT, Diversity UK Trustee Anne-Marie Taylor will host a Let's Talk About ‘Neurodiversity’ roundtable discussion with expert speakers Holly Addison, Liz Moscrop and Wallace Wang to explore this rapidly emerging area with a huge potential to increase diversity of thought and reduce groupthink.
Neurodiversity is the concept that neurological differences are to be recognised and respected as any other human variation is, such as gender, race or sexual orientation. These differences can include those labelled with dyspraxia, dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyscalculia, autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), Tourette syndrome, and others.
Neurodiversity provides access to a new set of skills and perspectives and often comes with very distinct talents, ranging from creative thinking to process structuring. It has the unique potential to be one of the most powerful contributors to overall workplace diversity.
Neurodivergent employees can enhance overall workplace performance by:
• Introducing unique skills
• Questioning existing processes and structures, and hence improve efficiency and risk management
• Increasing innovation, productivity, creativity.
In addition, an increased focus on neurodiversity enriches the wider company culture, helps break up existing assumptions and beliefs within teams, and improves communication throughout the firm. These aspects are to the benefit of all employees, and can therefore make an important contribution to a firm’s business performance and growth potential.
Source: neurodiversitynow.com
Break-out Rooms
To facilitate a more nuanced and intimate discussion style, the event will have 3 break-out rooms, moderated by a Diversity UK representative. The break-out rooms will last for 20 minutes and will follow a brief introduction by each participant, then in-depth discussion as indicated below. On re-convening to the main Zoom room, each moderator will give a brief summary of break-out room discussions before the whole group continues the discussion.
Break-out Room 1: Neurodiversity Superpowers
Break-out Room 2: Barriers & Challenges
Break-out Room 3: Inclusive Design
Diversity UK is keen to explore what you know and think about neurodiversity, so grab a drink and join in.
Click on this link to register: https://bit.ly/3JGmC3n
Biographies (Speakers)
Holly Addison
Senior Client Partner in Technology - Korn Ferry
Holly Addison is a passionate supporter of inclusion and diversity and is the Co-Founder of Plan B – an award-winning leadership mentoring initiative established in 2017, with the aim of creating more diverse boards. She is a Director and Trustee of the PM Trust charity, an active member of the Business Leaders Group for Disability Confident and Chair of their Communications sub-group.
Holly has 25 years’ experience in executive search and consulting, most recently as a Senior Partner and Co-Chair of the I, D&E Steering Committee at Korn Ferry, advising clients from global corporations to start-ups, on how to attract, source and retain exceptional and diverse talent for leadership teams and boards.
Holly previously ran her own consulting firm and in her earlier career spent five years with the Walt Disney organisation in the USA, London and Paris. Holly was educated in the UK, Switzerland and the USA, holds a degree in Modern Languages and a Level 5 Certificate in Coaching & Mentoring from Leeds University.
Liz Moscrop
Founder & CEO - GearUp.TV
Liz Moscrop is the Founder & CEO of GearUp.TV to create aviation social media content centred around video for the aviation industry. As a veteran aviation reporter, she is also co-author of 'The 100 Greatest Women in Aviation' book and was awarded the 2018 Sapphire Pegasus Award for aviation journalism. From 2017-2020 Liz was the UK Chapter Leader of Women in Aviation International, focusing on working with all the other female aviation groups in the UK and spearheaded the "See Her Be Her" event at the Farnborough International Airshow 2018, where 14 diverse industry leaders spoke to local schoolchildren, inspiring them to consider aviation as a career.
Last year she launched 'SPARK", a series of 'uncomfortable' constructive conversations around different diversity topics, aimed at broadening the employment demographic of the aviation sector. She also sits on the European Business Aviation Association's STARS committee, creating aspirational diversity standards for the business aviation sector and fully embraces her ADHD as a life gift and asset.
Anne-Marie Taylor
Associate Client Partner - Korn Ferry
Anne-Marie Taylor has over 20 years experience working with Boards and senior teams advising on diversity and organisational capability. She joined Korn Ferry in 2019 as an Associate Client Partner based in the London office and brings considerable corporate experience from London Stock Exchange Group plc where she was Group Talent Manager and introduced talent management, succession planning, diversity and inclusion and Rolls-Royce plc where she was Group Head of Diversity and Inclusion. She was invited to become a Trustee of equality charity Diversity UK in 2019.
Anne-Marie has worked closely with a number of sporting national governing bodies for 15 years and has assessed and coached a large number of medal winning Olympic, Paralympic and professional coaches. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Occupational Psychology from City University. She is accredited to use numerous psychometric assessments and is a member of the British Psychological Society.
Wallace Wang
Global Diversity and Inclusion Partner - A.P. Moller - Maersk
Wallace Wang is Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Partner at A.P. Moller - Maersk, committed to developing cultures that ensure equitable opportunities for all people. Wallace spearheaded efforts with senior business leaders via an outcome driven approach and was recognized by 2021 Global Diversity List as Top 20 Diversity Professional in Industry.
As a ICF certified Executive Coach, a practitioner of Neuroscience Leadership, he has spent much of his career leading inclusion through Talent Management as well as Organisational Development across international cultures. Prior to Maersk, he worked for Wells Fargo, HSBC, Ernst & Young, ICBC and Heineken in Hong Kong, Australia and China focusing on inclusion, talent, coaching, and belonging strategies.
Click on this link to register: https://bit.ly/3JGmC3n