AI and Tech for team performance through accessibility

Heather Lacey is a multi-award winning disabled activist, D&I writer and speaker. As a young woman embarking upon life at university, Heather became heavily involved in disability advocacy online and began to share her lived experience of disability as a way to spread awareness of the barriers faced by disabled people in the UK. Her writing – though candid and oftentimes hard-hitting – illuminates yet celebrates the disabled experience and her lived experience of cerebral palsy, fibromyalgia and neurodiversity and the myriad of symptoms she lives with day-to-day.

Heather has worked with a plethora of organisations and charities including Scope, BBC, HuffPost, Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative and AccessAble.

Heather is actively involved in promoting disability rights in the workplace and chairs pro-manchester’s EDI sub-committee for Disability, Mental Health and Neuro Diversity.  Heather has featured on the Northern Power Women Future List, been recognised as one of the most influential disabled people in the UK on the Shaw Trust Disability Power List, listed as one of University of Hull and Team GB’s ‘Extraordinary People’, and has been named on the Manchester Evening News’s The Rising Star list: The finest young female lawyers and barristers in Greater Manchester.

Toby Mildon is a Diversity & Inclusion Architect and founder of Mildon, a consultancy and advisory business. Toby works with businesses to devise diversity and inclusion strategies, re-engineer processes and systems to minimise the impact of bias and build a culture of inclusion. Toby is the author of the Amazon bestselling books Inclusive Growth and Building Inclusivity. Prior to setting
up his business, Toby worked as an in-house diversity and inclusion manager at the BBC and Deloitte.

Catherine Millan is a trailblazing advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), transforming education and business landscapes with her bold and innovative approach. As the Founder and Company Director of Be What You See Consultancy Ltd, she has spent her career breaking barriers, challenging discrimination, and empowering individuals to become champions of inclusion.

With a global footprint in designing and leading groundbreaking discrimination prevention programmes, Catherine has worked tirelessly to elevate the voices of marginalised communities. Her work goes beyond advocacy—she is a true changemaker, driving systemic shifts that create lasting impact.

Her passion for empowering young people and adults has led to the creation of award-winning initiatives that challenge bias, dismantle barriers, and foster true inclusion. From revolutionising curricula with diverse children’s books to launching industry-leading EDI training, Catherine is relentless in her mission to create spaces where everyone belongs and thrives.
A visionary leader, speaker, and educator, Catherine knows no limits when it comes to fighting for equal rights. Her work is a catalyst for real change, inspiring individuals and organisations to take meaningful action towards a more just and inclusive world.

Chris leads the Design Business Unit at Nexer Digital, a specialist agency passionate about accessibility and inclusive design. With over 20 years of experience in user research, service design, and digital strategy, they help organisations create products and services that work for everyone. Chris’s recent work explores how AI can help remove barriers that prevent people from accessing the products and services they need while supporting teams to create more inclusive and equitable digital experiences. They have collaborated with organisations including NHS England, the BBC, Nest, and Mind, and regularly speak at national and international events on the intersection of design, accessibility, and emerging technology.

Kirsty is a teacher of more than 20 years who moved into SEND provision in 2022 with the hope of providing a purposeful and engaging environment for students with neurodiversity and disabilities who can, very often, be let down by mainstream provision. Passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion Kirsty has been a UK delegate to the UN Conference on the Status of Women for the last two years. Kirsty is also founder of ‘Renewed Narrative’ a fledgling women’s group which seeks to empower women through community, asking the questions that get to the heart of patriarchal overreach and providing space for women to gather and share their wisdom and experience.

In her current role, the focus is developing digital skills in ND interns, removing barriers to work and promoting good mental health. This involves creating partnerships with employers across Manchester who share the values of DISC and are keen to change the employment landscape for students with SEND. As an ND individual herself and raising sons with ND, the work is important personally and professionally.