Global Conference 2024 (online) : Disability inclusion in a changing world

Our Global Conference, kindly sponsored by HSBC, took place online on Thursday 21 November 2024 between 10 am – 4 pm GMT.

Read the Global Conference session highlights on our blog.

Watch the Global Conference introduction with our CEO, Diane Lightfoot.

Watch the Global Conference 2024 session recordings (Members and Partners only).

About the conference

The world is ever changing, but recent months have seen changes in legislation and regulation in many countries, and perhaps also in opinions about diversity and inclusion with elections and changes in government. What does this mean for disability inclusion in business globally?

Join us for our Global Conference to hear how businesses are adapting to new legislation such as the European Accessibility Act and the increasing Environment, Governance and Social (ESG) reporting requirements. These have led to an increased interest in global data monitoring as businesses try to ascertain how many disabled people they employ worldwide, and how they can best meet the needs of their many disabled customers.

Capturing information about how many disabled people a business employs can be challenging when attitudes to disability and legislation vary from country to country. We will hear from the frontline as the pharmaceutical company Novartis share their experiences of working in Eastern and Western Europe, India, China and Japan. BDF’s own Director of Research & Policy, Angela Matthews will also share her insights from research with global businesses and considers the challenging question of whether capturing data on disability and diversity drives inclusion and improves the lives of disabled people.

We will also hear how businesses are preparing for the introduction of the European Accessibility Act and what is known and what is still unknown about how and where this legislation will apply. Our panellists will share what they do know and are doing in their own organisations but also provide best practice advice for the many unknowns. Although this legislation has European in the title, there is no doubt that it will cause ripples through supply chains worldwide.

Sessions

Sponsor’s address

• Carolanne Minashi, Global Head of Inclusion, HSBC (UK).

Keynote address: Being the change you want to see

• LaMondré Pough, CEO, Billion Strong and visionary and esteemed expert in the field of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (US).

Hear LaMondré talk about the pressing issues of today from AI to the changing attitudes to “wokeness” and the impact on disability and be inspired to be the change you want to see in this changing world.

Disability Inclusion at Novartis – navigating cultural and regulatory differences

Hear from the global pharmaceutical giant on what it has done drive disability inclusion in very different parts of the world and the lessons learnt.

• Stephie Elms, Head of Disability, Equity and Neuroinclusion, Novartis (Switzerland).
• Frederique Loeuillet-Ritzler, Software Product Line Operations Manager, Novartis (France/Switzerland).
• Satya Shree, Global Transparency Lead in Legal and Assurance, Novartis (India).
• Anja Uršič, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Novartis (Slovenia).

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) – the knowns and the unknowns and what businesses need to do

The legislation is imminent but how much do businesses know about where and how it will apply and what should they do about the unknowns?

• Neil Milliken, Vice President & Global Head of Accessibility & Digital Inclusion, Atos (UK).
• Christopher Patnoe, Head of EMEA Accessibility and Disability Inclusion, Google (UK).
• Sabine Lobnig, Director Communications at Mobile & Wireless Forum (Austria).
• Abi James, Senior Digital Accessibility Consultant, CPWA, Barclays (UK).

Building confidence through disability networks and employee resource groups (ERGs)

What does real leadership look like and how can staff disability networks help build the confidence of disabled employees to become leaders?

• Brendan Roach, Managing Director, PurpleSpace (UK).
• Amber Singsayachack, Customer Service Manager, SLB (US).
• Renee Anastasi, Vice President, Fixed Income, Currency, & Commodities,  IT Digital Business Services, HSBC Technology & Services (US).

How can we use ESG to drive disability inclusion?

Where does disability fit into Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting and how can business make it more than just a tick box exercise?

• Jürgen Menze, Disability Inclusion Specialist, International Labour Organization (Switzerland).
• Rubeena Singh, Senior Research Consultant, International Labour Organization (Canada).

Disability around the world

Be the first to see our new Disability Around the World country-by-country resource on disability language, legislation and regulation.

• Victoria Harker, Project Manager, Business Disability Forum (UK).
• Jacob Spargo-Mabbs, Content Manager, Business Disability Forum (UK).

How inclusive is disability inclusion across the globe?

• Angela Matthews, Director of Policy and Research, Business Disability Forum (UK).

Hosts

• Diane Lightfoot, CEO, Business Disability Forum (UK).
• Bela Gor, Director of Legal and Content, Business Disability Forum (UK).
• Sarah Eason, Head of Memberships, Business Disability Forum (UK).
• Daniel Cadey, Senior Business Disability Partner, Business Disability Forum (UK).

If you have any questions regarding adjustments or about the conference generally, please email our events team.

If you require this content in a different format, contact enquiries@businessdisabilityforum.org.uk.