Beyond the Visible - Rethinking Disability in the Modern Workplace

• 6:00pm - 6:15pm Registration
• 6:15pm - 6:20pm IACT Welcome, Catherine Corbett, IACT Committee
• 6:20pm - 7:10pm Breandan Ward, disability strategist, educator, and leadership coach
• 7:15pm - 8:00pm Networking and drinks 

In today’s workplace, “disability” is often more expansive and more nuanced than we assume. How do we define it, and who gets included or excluded when we do? Does it only refer to visible conditions, or does it also encompass mental health, neurodivergence, and chronic illness - many of which remain unseen? And in a professional environment like corporate treasury, where precision, performance, and resilience are prized, how do we navigate conversations around disclosure, support, and inclusion with both sensitivity and practicality? This session invites participants to reflect on these questions, challenge assumptions, and explore how inclusive thinking can strengthen not only individual wellbeing but also team effectiveness and organisational performance.

We will explore:

• What do we really mean by “disability”, and how do evolving definitions shape today’s workplace?
• How do visible and invisible disabilities differ in experience, perception, and support needs?
• When (and how) should individuals disclose a disability—and how should organisations respond?
• What are “reasonable accommodations” in practice, and how can inclusive design benefit everyone?
• Why does this matter for business outcomes - what is the practical case for investing time and attention in this topic?

Breandan Ward is a disability strategist, educator, and leadership coach with over 25 years of experience spanning corporate, start-up, mission-driven, and academic sectors. He is an Adjunct Professor at New York University teaching disability-inclusive organisational strategy to graduate students, and also teaches at TU Dublin the entrepreneurship course for people with disabilities. Previously he spent over 15 years in investment banking in London and New York, rising to global leadership roles during a period of progressive sight loss due to an inherited retinal disease. Based in London, Breandan contributes to disability leadership and practice internationally and works with organisations across sectors to make change for disability inclusion that is more pluralist, practical and persuasive. Breandan is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and holds an Executive Masters in Public Administration from NYU and an undergraduate degree in Commerce and French from University College Dublin. He is an avid runner and loves music, travel and languages.

Registration is essential as capacity is limited. Open to all. Members are welcome to bring a guest.

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