Mind the Gap: Embracing Neurodiversity [In-person]
Explore how neurodiversity fuels tech innovation and inclusion with insights from experts and companies.
Member $0.00
Member-Concessional $0.00
Non-Member $10.00
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About this event
"Neurodiversity is not a disability to be fixed, but a variation of human experience to be understood and embraced."
Neurodivergent individuals contribute unique perspectives and skills, fostering creativity and innovation in technology development. This event will focus on embracing neurodiversity to expand the talent pool and enhance the development of inclusive, user-friendly tech products.
The panel consists of neurodiverse individuals who share their experience working in ICT and companies that do a good job of accommodating neurodiverse employees.
Topics to be covered:
- Workplace Accommodations
- Inclusive Hiring Practices
- Communication Strategies
- and Creating an Inclusive Work Environment.
Event Schedule:
5:30pm – Gate open
6pm – Event starts
6pm – 7pm Event
7pm - 7.30pm Networking
7.30pm – event ends
The event is organised by ACS Victoria Diversity and Inclusion Committee. See you at the HUB!
Speakers
Sugandha (Sig) Chapman is a Senior Manager of Client Delivery at Inkling Group with nearly two decades of experience across Big 4 consulting, non-profit, startup, and tech industries. A passionate advocate and expert in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), she combines psychological science with commercial insight to drive long-term cultural change.
Sig has partnered with major companies like Coca-Cola, Woolworths, Adobe, Aurecon, and CBA, leading initiatives that foster diverse and inclusive cultures. At Inkling Group, she leads the D&I practice, using her consulting expertise, learning design, and executive coaching skills to support organisations to leverage diversity for innovation and competitive advantage.
Her work is deeply informed by her personal journey as a woman of colour and her late diagnosis of ADHD, challenging leaders to see diversity and inclusion as critical to business success. Sig is a trusted advisor and strategist, embedding DEIB into core company strategies.
Sig is also a sought-after keynote speaker on inclusion, leadership, neurodiversity, and professional wellbeing, and mentors future female leaders through initiatives like Future Women and in STEM. Her authentic, results-driven approach makes her a powerful voice for leaders committed to meaningful change.
Outside of work, Sig enjoys salt & vinegar chips, K-dramas, and has too many unread books on her nightstand.
Johanna is a dynamic leader with over 15 years of experience in the IT industry, specialising in empowering digital transformation across diverse sectors. As an Account Manager at Cisco, she is committed to fostering innovation and sustainability in Victoria's catholic education, utilities, and public sectors. Her rich background, spanning a Master of Science in Network Systems, an Electronic Engineering degree, and experience in both the Australian public sector and Colombian health sector, equips her with unique insights and a deep understanding of the importance of trusted advisory in strategy execution.
A proud Latina, neurodivergent individual, and mother, Johanna champions inclusivity and diversity in all its forms. She is passionate about creating environments where everyone feels a sense of belonging and is dedicated to lifelong learning, authenticity, and sharing knowledge. Her story is one of resilience, creativity, and unwavering commitment to making a positive impac
Raza Nowrozy is a visionary leader in cybersecurity and the driving force behind Untapped’s Genius Armoury platform, which nurtures and elevates neurodivergent talent within the industry. As the Head of Cybersecurity and Untapped Talent, Raza excels in simplifying complex cybersecurity concepts, making them accessible and actionable for diverse audiences.
With a deep expertise in risk frameworks, cloud security, and incident management, he offers strategic insights that empower organisations to strengthen their security posture. Raza’s passion for inclusivity and neurodiversity fuels his mission to make cybersecurity education engaging and accessible to all, particularly those often overlooked in the tech industry.
Dr Ruwangi Fernando is an accomplished IT expert and AI specialist with a strong academic, industry and consulting background. Dr Fernando completed her PhD at Victoria University in collaboration with Data61, CSIRO and the Department of Transport in Victoria. She chairs the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Australian Computer Society Victoria and is a member of The Department of Home Affairs Multicultural Women’s Reference Group.
Dr Fernando has a strong history of advocating for gender equity in STEM especially addressing the intersectional challenges faced by Women of Colour (WOC) in STEM. She was recognised for her efforts and awarded a STEM Women Changemaker by the Australian Academy of Science, Melbourne Asian Game Changer 2022 award by Asia Society and Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll in 2023. Dr Fernando founded STEM Sisters, a pioneer organisation that empowers STEM women of colour. She spearheads six award-winning programs to break down systemic barriers and promote equal access to opportunities in STEM for WOC. Under her leadership, STEM Sisters won many awards, including the Techdiversity Business (2023) and Media (2023) Awards, the Victorian International Education Excellence Award 2022,,the Multicultural Excellence Award 2022 and the WISE grant from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.
She is also the founder of iSTEM Co., a research, consulting and talent-sourcing company that enables employment for women in STEM, including WOC and CALD. iSTEM Co. was nominated as a finalist for the Women in Digital awards and has recently launched DEIR, a recruitment-tech platform that eliminates recruitment bias for women in STEM. DEIR has also received recognition in STEM and won the Lift Women Social Impact Award
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