It’s time to talk about Neurodiversity

Date: Thursday 8th September 2022
Time: 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM
Location: BNY Mellon, One Piccadilly Gardens, , M1 1RN
Categories:
Member Event

For a lot of people, neurodiversity is a topic they may have heard of, but do not discuss. HEART (an employee resource group at BNY Mellon), who focus on raising the awareness and inclusion of diverse abilities have partnered with pro-manchester and the Disability, Mental Health & Neurodiversity division of their EDI committee to host an event about neurodiversity

Come along and hear some of the first-hand lived experiences of people who are neurodivergent, including their experiences in the workplace and some of the challenges they face.  How can employers  best support them and enable them to reach their full potential? We will also offer practical advice to employers on subtle and often cost-free ways to make your workspace more neurodivergent friendly.

 

About the Speakers:

Jamie Pratt Lead Analyst - BNY Mellon

Jamie is a Lead Analyst in the Global Asset Safety Oversight Team in Manchester.  He joined the organisation in 2009 working in various roles within Client Activation before joining the Client Asset Control Team in 2018 and moving to his current role in the Global Asset Safety group following the group’s re-structure.

Jamie was born in New Zealand and first travelled to the UK in 2004 where he met his future wife and decided to settle.  Before joining BNY Mellon he worked in various sales and temporary roles.  He is currently one of the EMEA Co-Chairs for IMPACT, BNYM’s Business Resource Group focussed on cultural and ethnic diversity.

Since he was a young child Jamie has lived with Asperger’s Syndrome.  Recently Jamie has been eager to share his experiences as he believes this will help raise awareness and help to continue the ongoing eradication of the stigma that can be attached to those who aren’t neuro-typical.

 

Heather Lacey Marketing Executive & Chair of the Disability, Mental Health and Neuro Diversity Group - Eversheds Sutherland LLP - Eversheds Sutherland LLP

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 online 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 cerebral palsy, cPTSD, OCD 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, and is co-director of Inclusive Minds Collective CIC, working to ensure authentic inclusion in the publishing industry. 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. During her time at Eversheds Sutherland, Heather has promoted and contributed to the firm’s D&I strategy, acting as co-lead for Manchester’s Wellbeing and Ability network. Heather has featured on the Northern Power Women Future List, been recognised as one of the most influential disabled people on the Shaw Trust Power List multiple times, 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.

Lorna Culpin Assistant Director - EY Neuro-Diverse Centre of Excellence

Lorna Culpin is the Co-Chair of the newly launched EY Social Mobility Network. She comes from a career in DE&I most recently working in EY’s neuro-diverse centre if excellence. Having previously spent 7 years with Teach First, a Social Mobility focused charity she is passionate about Social Mobility and supporting those within the work place from all backgrounds.

As a joint venture between EY and the EY Foundation the Network aims to provide a belonging and wellbeing space to those who identify from a lower Socio-Economic background at EY and for allies to learn. In doing so EY have taken an important step forward for their DE&I agenda and well being agenda. Already we are seeing a number of important topics being addressed including accent bias, cost of living and career progression.

Sarah Brooks-Pearce Disability & Neurodiversity Network Lead - AutoTrader

Sarah creates brilliant career journeys for future talent at one of the most admired digital businesses in the UK.

 Working with various education partners community organisations and charities she inspires students, graduates and returners to explore the incredible possibilities of STEM subjects and digital careers.

 Her passion for raising awareness and breaking down barriers around Disability and Neurodiversity as well as Social Mobility, has seen her take the role of Disability and Neurodiversity Network Lead and a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Network. She has been integral in Auto Trader becoming the world’s first Autism Friendly Employer by the National Autistic Society, a Disability Confident Leader and a Value 500 Company. During this time she also received her own diagnosis (ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and OCD); her personal lived experience drives her determination to educate, improve, build the confidence of and celebrate the brilliance that colleagues that have a neurodifference or disability can bring to an organisation.

 With a wealth of experience in Tech Resourcing and Talent roles in different industries and as a parent, Sarah is passionate about increasing the number of people entering the digital industry and ensuring that everybody has the insight and opportunities. She the Chair of the Greater Mancheester Neurodiversity and Learning Disability Employer Network, Member of Neurodiversity in Business, STEM Ambassador, Enterprise Advisor, Chartered Member of the CIPD and supporter of Digital Apprenticeships.

Interested In The Event?

If you’re interested in attending, you can book online here.

For any further enquires about this event, contact [email protected]

With thanks to our Partners: