Navigating Neurodiversity

Christine Kearney

Director of Development, Autism NI

Autism NI is Northern Ireland’s main Autism Charity. We support autistic people and their families and campaign for autism acceptance within society. As Director of Development, Christine Kearney works to improve autism acceptance, inclusion and accessibility across Northern Ireland. This includes within the health and education sector, public services and private sector. Christine manages the development and facilitation of accredited training courses and the Autism Impact Award Programme, which supports organisations to demonstrate their accessibility and inclusion.

Cara Marks

Senior Business Director at Hays | Co-Founder of Neurodiversity SPARK

Cara Marks is a seasoned professional with 14 years of experience in recruitment and workforce planning. Cara is a passionate advocate for neurodivergent individuals and works with organisations to help them understand how to support people getting into work and thriving in the workplace. Cara co-founded Neurodiversity SPARK, a vibrant community in Northern Ireland that celebrates and supports those who are neurodivergent, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed. Cara is also the winner of WIB 2025 Advancing Diversity in the Workplace award.

Paula Leathem

Head of HR at NIE Networks

As Head of HR at NIE Networks Paula has been instrumental in leading the company’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) journey over the past several years. Under her leadership, NIE Networks has established six Employee Resource Groups, each focussed on fostering a more inclusive and supportive workplace culture. One of these groups, the Empowered Abilities Group has been particularly impactful championing Neurodiversity. Through their dedication and collaboration with Autism NI, NIE Networks successfully achieved Autism NI Impact Award. This recognition reflects the organisations commitment to creating an environment where autistic and neurodivergent employees feel understood, supported, and empowered. This milestone is just one part of NIE Networks broader mission to ensure that every employee feels a sense of belonging, acceptance and wellbeing at work.