Festival of Workplace Inclusion 2023

Dr. Gus Schmedlen serves as Chief Revenue Officer at Texthelp, the global leader in assistive technology.  Texthelp's mission is to help everyone understand and be understood, creating more inclusive workplaces and institutions. Within Texthelp Gus is an executive sponsor of the companys’ Gender ERG and contributes to the overall DE&I strategy of the company. 

Prior to Texthelp, Gus served as President of Merlyn Mind, a venture-backed artificial intelligence startup focused on improving workflows through human-machine interactivity.  Prior to that, Dr. Schmedlen served as Vice President and Head of Worldwide Education at HP where he oversaw a period of rapid expansion, leading to the creation of a multi-billion-dollar global education technology business. 

Dr. Schmedlen currently serves on the Board of Governors of JA Worldwide, the Leadership Council of the Brookings Institution Center for Universal Education, the advisory board of the Education Alliance, and the Board of Directors of the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts. He previously served in leadership and consulting positions at a range of non-profit efforts, including the World Economic Forum’s New Vision for Education project, the UN Education Data Roundtable, and the Public School Forum of North Carolina. Gus was awarded an Eisenhower Fellowship by former US Secretary of State, Gen. Colin Powell, to study human capital development systems in the European Union, focused on the democratizing force of pervasive mobile technology. He earned a BA in Classics from Colgate University, an MBA from Duke University, and an EdD from the University of Pennsylvania.

Lisa is Head of Marketing at Texthelp, a global technology company striving to ensure everyone can understand and be understood.

With more than 15 years experience in marketing and communications, Lisa is passionate about devising impactful campaigns which drive diversity and inclusion and bring about positive change.

Born in London, UK, Katie King is a published Author, Keynote Speaker and Consultant on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and business transformation.

Voted the ‘Leading AI Strategist’ (August 2023) and ‘Top 10 influencer in AI’ (May 2023), Katie has over 30 years of consulting experience and has advised many of the world's leading brands and business leaders.

Katie has delivered two TEDx talks and is a regular speaker worldwide on AI in HR and how tech can revolutionise workplace inclusion.

Her second book was published by Kogan Page in January 2022: AI Strategy for Sales and Marketing: Connecting marketing, sales and customer experience. 

Her first book, Using Artificial Intelligence in Marketing: How to Harness AI and Maintain the Competitive Edge, was translated into Russian, Chinese, Vietnamese & other languages. It was also listed as a reference source in the 'Brand Strategy' section of the World Economic Forum's Empowering AI Leadership AI toolkit for corporate boards.

In 2020, she launched a school AI programme in London, the Leaders of Tomorrow, to close the skills gap in education and show young people, especially girls, how STEM and AI will reshape their future careers. It is now in its third year and has been expanded in 2023 to include US and South African schools.

Katie is a member of the UK Government All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) task force for the adoption of AI.  She is also an Editorial Board Member for the AI and Ethics Journal (Springer Nature – global publisher).

As the Corporate Global Head of Accessibility at Merck and MSD, Dr. Stephen Framil has threaded the values of equal access throughout his formative and professional career – from building greenhouses for the Navaho Nation in New Mexico and brick and mortar schools in the Dominican Republic, to creating a Philadelphia inner city tuition-free music conservatory for at-risk neighborhood youth, to performing arts organizations in Pennsylvania and North Carolina that make great music accessible to all through admission free concerts.  Steve has brought his multi-faceted diverse experience and sense of mission-calling-purpose to mobilize digital accessibility across Merck and MSD – unifying thought leadership with business objectives with technical expertise to make the digital landscape accessible to all.

Steve’s professional background brings over 25 years of executive leadership in business strategy and innovation, policy and governance, procedure and operations, and portfolio management expertise – leading global cross organizational enterprise, consultant, and start-up teams in the Health & Life Sciences, Finance Services, Non-Profit, information technology, user experience, and marketing.

Steve began his career at Merck and MSD in 2019 as a contractor in Patient Innovation & Engagement – tasked with blue printing and creating what is today’s Enterprise Digital Governance currently in Human Health Digital Data & Analytics.  As an Associate Director in 2021 with Enterprise Digital Governance, Steve championed companywide the cause of digital accessibility from the thought leadership of the Disability Inclusion Strategy Council within Global Diversity & Inclusion.  In 2023 as Director and Corporate Global Head of Accessibility, Steve centralized the Company digital accessibility initiatives under the Office of Corporate Accessibility within the IT Chief Technology Office.  Additionally in 2023, Steve was selected for the Diverse Leadership Program, and is co-chair of the Disability Inclusion Strategy Council.

Bhushan is a Partner within Strategy&, PwC’s US strategy consulting business focused on Business and Organization Transformation.  He is an experienced global leader, pragmatic strategist and practitioner with a demonstrable track record of working with global organizations and leading multi-disciplinary teams to design and implement business, organization and workforce strategies that enable sustainable business, customer, financial, workforce and regulatory outcomes.  

He has worked with senior executives across industries and geographies to deliver on growth strategy, sustainable cost reduction, digital transformation and regulatory compliance.  Within PwC, he has co-led the Global People and Organization practice, led the US Financial Services People & Organization practice and Global workforce strategy capability.  Prior to joining PwC, Bhushan held go-to-market and practice leadership roles at other management consulting firms

Bhushan is an award winning thought leader, speaker, podcaster and influencer on "future of work”, globalization, leadership and Trust, Jobs/Labor Economics and ESG.  He has been recently recognized on the “2023 Power List of top 200 biggest voices in Leadership” and has been recognized on the "most inclusive HR Influencer" list and a “HRO superstar”.  He features in top tier written and broadcast global media and is an active member of councils for World Economic Forum and G20/T20.  He has authored a number of research papers, policy briefs and articles for stakeholders across government, business, education and civil society.  He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor for NYU Stern School of Business, where he teaches the strategy consulting course to MBA students.  

As CTO, Ryan is responsible for leading and directing Texthelp’s team of engineers to deliver assistive technology and accessibility products that are used by tens of millions of people every day around the world. With a customer base that spans government organizations, educational institutions and corporates alike, he ensures that Texthelp’s products are safe, secure and easy to use. 

Texthelp believes in a world where difference, disability or language are no longer barriers. It is focused on helping all people learn, understand and communicate through the use of digital inclusion and accessibility tools. 

Having started his career as a software developer, Ryan is passionate about all aspects of technology and the innovations that can be created with it. He carries this enthusiasm across Texthelp’s suite of products and hopes to help even more people around the globe to understand and be understood.

Believing it’s important to have purpose and give back, Ryan regards himself as incredibly fortunate to work in a sector that has such a positive impact on society, while using technologies that are so compelling to work with. 

Chris Farrington has 15 years of experience in IT staffing and services, joining Randstad Digital in 2008. Chris is passionate about helping organizations build equity for the disabled community through business resource groups, staffing programs, and leading accessibility programs. He is currently leading Randstad North America's Abilities in Motion business resource group and is a co-chair for the global business resource group, Alliance for Disabilities & Allies. Chris, his wife Mia, and 2 boys reside in Austin, TX; they enjoy exploring the world, cooking, golf, hockey, and music.

 

Christine has over 18 years of experience of working in communications. Originally trained as a journalist, her background is diverse, encompassing patient advocacy, product launches, content creation, disease awareness, thought leadership and media relations. An accomplished writer and editor, Christine works with a range of clients across content and thought leadership initiatives.   

As a D&I leader, Christine currently leads FleishmanHillard’s Global Disability Employee Resource Group and Hidden Disabilities Steering Group. She is also Co-Chair of Omnicom’s Open DisAbility Employee Resource Group.

Christine previously worked as a journalist on a variety of titles and has been a regular contributor to the Huffington Post. A native of Ireland, she holds a BA in Journalism and an MSc in Science Communication

Jason is the Chief Product Officer at Texthelp, an industry leader in literacy and math support software. As CPO, Jason is responsible for the strategy and general direction of all Texthelp products. His focus is on helping to make smart, easy to use products that help diverse learners of all ages succeed. He leads a team of global product managers that help to accomplish this goal and has been in various product related roles at Texthelp over the last 10+ years. 

Prior to Texthelp, Jason served as an Assistive and Instructional Technology Consultant for nearly a decade. There he worked with a variety of diverse students requiring assistive technology support and specialized in helping schools build capacity with their assistive technology services. 

Jason is a graduate of the Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program (ATACP) from California State University at Northridge, holds an MBA, and is a Google Certified Trainer.  He has taught at the University level, spoke internationally on assistive and educational technology topics, and served as an independent consultant prior to his position at Texthelp. 

Amanda is the founder and CEO of Do-IT Solutions, an internationally recognised tech-for- good company that provides neurodiversity screening and web-based support tools for children and adults in education and employment. 

Amanda Is a medical doctor and an emeritus professor at the University of South Wales and an honorary professor at Cardiff University. She has clinical and research experience and founded and ran a transdisciplinary clinical and research team for 20 years relating to neurodiversity. She is a qualified GP and has a Ph.D. relating to emerging adulthood and neurodiversity. She has initiated and run a wide variety of training programmes including a Masters’ programme.

Amanda has lived experience of neurodiversity firsthand, as she sees herself as neurodivergent as well as being a parent of neurodivergent children, and grandchildren. Amanda’s passion to make changes in society and increase the chances of showcasing talents for neurodivergent children and adults especially in work settings remains as strong as it was 30 years ago.

Jill Houghton is President & Chief Executive Officer of Disability:IN, the leading global nonprofit organization for advancing business disability inclusion and equality.

Jill has more than 25 years of diverse leadership experience driving disability inclusion was ignited by challenges she experienced having a learning disability. She leads a team of talented and diverse individuals, including people with disabilities, who are working to build an inclusive global economy that enables people with disabilities to participate fully and meaningfully.

Diane Lightfoot is CEO of Business Disability Forum, a not-for-profit membership organisation that supports businesses to recruit and retain disabled employees and to serve disabled customers. Business Disability Forum’s 550+ members now employ over 20% of the UK workforce.

Diane is also Co-Chair of the Disability Charities Consortium and vice chair of the Disability Confident Business Leaders’ Group in the UK. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and is also part of the Steering Group for the Global Business Disability Network, hosted by the ILO in Geneva.

Martin founded Texthelp in 1996 to help people with communication difficulties. What started as a company focused on people with profound speech and dexterity disabilities, has become a world-leading assistive technology company creating smart, inclusive software that helps people read, write and express their thoughts more accurately & fluently – across all stages of life. His goal is to make sure that by 2030, this technology will have advanced the literacy and understanding of one billion people. 

Martin has spent his work life developing technology for people with disabilities. In the past, he has served on the Assistive Technology Industry Association Board as well as the NIMAS board for the USA Office of Special Education Programs. In 2017, he received the Presidential Award in recognition of lifetime contribution to dyslexia and literacy from the International Dyslexia Association. Martin was also recognised as best international entrepreneur and was named overall winner of EY Entrepreneur of the Year (Ireland) in 2022. He is currently serving in an advisory capacity on the Universal Design for Learning council, and the Brookings Centre for Universal Education. 

At Texthelp, Paul is VP Customer Acquisitions and one of our Accessibility and Inclusion Specialists. Working across a number of key sectors including Government, Public Sector, Health, Third sector, Housing and Private Sector SME's, Paul and his team provide assistive software solutions that help support organisations in their diversity, inclusion and accessibility journey.

Prior to joining Texthelp in 2017, Paul spent 20 years with a leading Irish bank where he held positions including Area Manager and Head of Direct Sales & Service. More recently has also worked with the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Having spent a number of years as Volunteer Director and Chair of Stepping Stones NI and with close personal experience of learning disability, Paul has developed a keen interest in accessibility, diversity and inclusion and is passionate about promoting workplace equality and creating opportunity for all. 

Outside of work, Paul is a dedicated husband, devoted father of three, musician and most recently a qualified pilot!

Carole Mendonca is Deloitte’s National Accessibility Leader and co-authored Deloitte Canada’s AccessAbility Action Plan. In her role, Carole is responsible for overseeing the Accessibility team, AccessAbility Employee Resource Group and the execution of Deloitte’s Accessibility strategy and action plan. She co-founded Deloitte’s Accessibility client service offerings in Canada to assist provincial and federal organizations with the development of their accessibility strategy, action plans and consultations with people with disabilities and neurodivergent people.

Carole has over a decade of experience working in the private and nonprofit sector specializing in management consulting, program development, community investment, risk management, compliance and stakeholder engagement. Carole has a Bachelors of Honors in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Carleton University, a graduate diploma in Inclusion and Leadership and holds an active designation in Accessibility from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP).

Paired with a business mindset and a strong passion for accessibility, disability inclusion and neurodiversity, she is committed to furthering positive change and creating a stronger future for all.

I’m Rita Isaac; I joined the CIPD 2022 as an L&D coordinator, and shortly after, I took on the co-lead of our Disability and Neurodiversity ERG (employee resources group).

I am neurodivergent myself and, having been only diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 34 and realising I didn’t know enough about it, I set out to join the ERG and help drive the work to educate myself and others in topics related to disability and neurodiversity.

Being dyslexic and having ADHD, I find the Read&Write technology very helpful and was thrilled to support its implementation organisation-wide to contribute to the inclusive work culture at CIPD, as people don’t need to ask for it to access it, it is available to everyone from day 1.

I’m also Portuguese, a visual artist, a problem-solver, and have a quirky sense of humour. I’ve been told my laughter is my best and worst trait, as I laugh wholeheartedly and often loud.

Dan Harris is the founder and CEO of the Neurodiversity in Business charity. NIB has been set up to transform the employment prospects of the 15 to 20% of the population who are neurodivergent.

As a neurodivergent leader and advocate, Dan is passionate about raising awareness and understanding of the strengths and challenges of neurodiversity, and empowering neurodivergent individuals to thrive in their careers.

Founded in 2022, over 600 global corporate members and community partners have joined NiB’s mission in the past 18 months. The charity remains powered by a team of 100 volunteers committed to raising awareness across multiple sectors, industries and countries. The time for #neuroinclusion is now.

Danielle Biddick leads Dell Technologies’ recruitment strategy for hiring individuals with disabilities on the North America Diversity Talent Acquisition team. In her role, she’s responsible for managing the Neurodiversity@Dell program, and driving partnerships and initiatives that foster a more inclusive workforce for neurodivergent and disabled individuals. In addition to her role in Talent Acquisition, Danielle also serves as the Global Engagement Lead for Dell’s True Ability Employee Resource Group (ERG).

Pierre is the Neurodiversity Talent Program Director of Ubisoft. As a father of neurodiverse children and a professional with 25 years’ experience in the video game industry, Pierre has seen firsthand the powerful connection between neurodiversity and creativity. In 2021, he created an Employee Resource Group focused on neurodiversity that brings together more than 450 employees from 20 different countries to provide peer support and raise awareness.

In his current role in Ubisoft’s Global Talent Team, Pierre oversees the Ubisoft Neurodiversity Talent Program, which aims to empower current and future neurodiverse employees and give them the support they need to realize their full potential at work.

Cathy joined Texthelp in 2022 as the company’s first ever Chief People Officer. After 25+ years' experience in Human Resources, Cathy's move to Texthelp was inspired by the company's strong purpose and values. Cathy's vision for Texthelp is one with a best-in-class global employee experience where everyone is supported to fulfil their potential. Her focus is on building a globally inclusive community that recognises and celebrates diversity, and fosters a high-performing culture. 

Based in Northern Ireland, Cathy splits her time across Texthelp offices in the US, London, Belfast, the Nordics, and Australia. In her free time, Cathy enjoys time with her husband Seamus, and 16-year old twins, Marcus and Daisy. She also enjoys cooking, reading and travelling.

Hamza Yassin is a Sudanese-born Scottish wildlife cameraman, presenter and author who moved to the UK when he was young. His impressive qualifications include a Masters Degree in Biological Imaging and Photography and a Bachelors Degree in Zoology with Conservation.

Best known for presenting under the guise of Ranger Hamza on CBeebies live action show, Let’s Go for a Walk. Hamza is also cameraman and presenter on BBC’s Countryfile, ITV’s This Morning, Channel 4’s documentary, ‘Scotland, My life in the Wild’.

More recently, Hamza presented ‘Scotland: Escape into the Wilderness’, a four-part series where he introduced Scotland’s wilderness to four celebrities. In 2022, he appeared as a contestant on the twentieth series of Strictly Come Dancing and went on to win the show, winning the hearts of the nation!  

Caroline Casey is the businesswoman and activist behind The Valuable 500, the world’s largest CEO collective and business move for disability inclusion.

Casey launched the movement at the World Economic Forum’s Davos Summit in 2019 and since then has signed up 500 multinational organisations with a combined revenue of over $8 trillion, employing 20 million people worldwide to radically transform the business system. The membership includes 36 of the FTSE 100 companies, 46 of the Fortune 500 and 28 of the Nikkei.

Recently appointed President of the IAPB, Caroline also sits on several diversity and inclusion boards to include L’Oréal and Sky and is a much sought-after speaker.

Caroline has received an honorary doctorate as well as multiple awards and accolades for her work as a disability activist.

Hiren Shukla has been pioneering neuro-inclusion at EY since 2016. Back then, he pitched the idea of a neurodiversity program to help drive innovation at EY. Today, EY has over 400 full-time neurodivergent employees.

Through their Neuro-Diverse Centers of Excellence, EY sources, trains and supports neurodivergent professionals in 8 countries. This helps them to create a workplace that can successfully recruit and retain neurodivergent talent. By making sure neurodivergent employees can thrive, they're also benefiting from unique talents that generate key process improvements for their business and for their clients.