It's time to move beyond conventional approaches, to centring authentic and trauma-informed leadership while exploring person-centred practices that honour lived experience and create sustainable change in communities and workplaces.
schedule
Plenty of space with all sessions recorded so if you need to tap in and out you won't miss out on any of the brilliance shared!
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Hottest session? Make sure to join us for our panel Q&A to close the day
9 am
Rachelle Allen (MC)
+ Renée Robson
Conference open
Acknowledgement
Grounding
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9.30 am
Melissa (Mel) Andrada + Preena Chand
Healing Towards Joy: The Art of Voice
CEO and Founder,
Fairground
+
Researcher / Artist
10.20 am
Ainslie Robinson & Kristy Kelly
Flipping the Script: Practical Inclusion for Autistic & Neurodivergent People
Aspect
11.05 am
break
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11.20 am
Renée Robson
Educator + Trauma-Informed Yoga Facilitator
Safety as a felt sense: inclusive leadership in 2025
12.10 pm
Uli Cartwright
Advocate + Entrepreneur
Pushing for Big Change as an Advocate
12.40 pm
break
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1.20 pm
Joseph Gardner
Setting the Stage for Authentic Expression
Producer, Documentary Filmmaker
2.10 pm
Caz Pringle-Bowden
ADHD in Women, Late Diagnosis, Hormones + Burnout - and the hidden cost of doing it all
Counsellor, Educator, Yoga Facilitator
2.55 pm
break
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3.10 pm
Prof. Michael Davern + Dr Ju Nah (Juna) Tan
Autistic Leadership
University of Melbourne
3.40 pm
Dr Matt Harrison
Learning from Lived Experience: The University of Melbourne Neurodiversity Project
University of Melbourne
4 pm
Multiple Speakers
Open Q&A
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Facilitated by Rachelle Allen
sessions
Authentic, lived-experience-led exploration of the big topics in authentic leadership & change-making. Honest conversations from people doing the good work who have something to share with others doing the same.
Healing Towards Joy: The Art of Voice
Melissa Andrada + Preena Chand
How can you access the fullness of your voice in public?
In this interactive workshop, we hope you’ll walk away with trauma-informed creative practices rooted in the latest research in somatic psychology and music therapy on how to connect with the joy of voice and public speaking.
Mel will share hard-earned and heartfelt wisdom on speaking on stage as a survivor of Big T trauma and once painfully shy kid who went to become a CEO of a global collective. Preena joins us as a part of her research work alongside Mel, and in her commitment to collective healing and empowerment through personal development, art, and mental health.
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Connect with Mel:
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Connect with Preena:
Setting the Stage for Authentic Expression
Joseph Gardner
This session reframes leadership through the lens of a film director, offering a guide to making your team/the people you support feel seen and heard. Moving beyond theory, we will turn the focus to our own voices. This session is an invitation to explore the vocal habits we've adopted and ask whether they help or hinder our authentic expression.
Leadership isn’t about headlines – it’s the nuance in not writing every line of dialogue, but in creating the story structure where others can find their own authentic voice.
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Safety as a Felt Sense: Inclusive Leadership in 2025
Renée Robson
Understanding safety from a trauma-informed perspective shifts where we focus our efforts to create the conditions for people to experience greater safety in teams, workplaces, and practice settings.
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Speaking from lived experience and practice as a trauma-informed yoga facilitator and educator, Renée explores how trauma and chronic stress affect the body-brain connection, and what evidence from trauma-informed leadership reveals about what creating safety actually looks like in 2025.
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Psychological safety extends far beyond health and safety checklists. It's the foundational requirement for connection, creativity, and according to Google's research, high-performing teams. Yet most approaches miss the embodied reality of how safety is actually experienced.
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This session examines what happens when we move beyond theoretical frameworks to understand safety as something felt in the body, not just understood in the mind.
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You can connect with Renée:
Pushing for BIG Change as an Advocate
Uli Cartwright
Real change requires more than good intentions. It takes strategy, persistence, and the ability to look after yourself while fighting for what matters.
Uli Cartwright, creator of Life is a Battlefield, shares his journey from young person in care to advocate for law reform.
Drawing from his work on guardianship changes and the documentary that helped drive them, Uli explores what it actually takes to create change in complex systems.
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This session covers the realities of advocacy: how change happens, what keeps advocates going through tough times, and how to manage the demands of using your lived experience to push for reform.
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You can connect with Uli:
Flipping the Script: Practical Inclusion for Autistic & Neurodivergent Talent
Ainslie Robinson & Kristy Kelly
It’s time to rethink how we include Autistic and neurodivergent people at work - not by making small adjustments, but by flipping the script entirely. This session is all about practical ways to create a level playing field, so Autistic people have real access to meaningful employment opportunities.
We’ll explore how to move beyond awareness and accommodation, towards approaches that recognise strengths, remove barriers, and build inclusion into everyday workplace practices. You’ll hear real examples and walk away with actionable ideas to create change.
Connect with the Aspect team:
When Hyperfocus + Burnout Dance: ADHD in Women, Late Diagnosis + the Hidden Cost of Doing More
Caz Pringle-Bowden
Many women with ADHD are only diagnosed in their late 30s, 40s, or 50s — often at the same time they are navigating perimenopause or menopause. These hormonal shifts amplify executive function challenges, emotional regulation, and energy crashes. Often combined with decades of internalised yet damaging self-beliefs, perfectionism, and overcommitment, women leaders often find themselves in exhausting cycles of hyperfocus and peak performance followed by deep burnout.
This talk explores how late diagnosis, hormonal changes, and trauma patterns intersect — and how trauma-informed, neuro-affirming strategies can support women to pace themselves, lead authentically, and protect their well-being.
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You can connect with Caz:
Learning from Lived Experience: The University of Melbourne Neurodiversity Project
Dr Matthew Harrison
This session presents findings from the University of Melbourne Neurodiversity Project's staff needs analysis survey. Dr Matthew Harrison will share results from this lived experience-led project and discuss lessons learned about neurodiversity in organisational settings.
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The project aims to help the University of Melbourne become a global leader in neurodiversity-inclusive research and practice. Dr Harrison will outline the project's approach to gathering information from staff and students, and discuss what other organisations can learn from their methodology and findings.
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The session will cover insights from the project's work, including their needs analysis surveys, advisory group establishment, and collaboration with other institutions.
Autistic Leadership
Dr Michael Davern & Dr Ju Na Tan
This session explores findings from ongoing research in the development of neurodiverse leaders by Dr Juna Tan and Professor Michael Davern.
Combining both academic and professional expertise in leadership, the research team bring extensive experience working with neurodiverse leaders (Dr. Tan), and live experience as a neurodiverse leader (Professor Davern)
Together, they will explore what this research reveals about leadership and how we can better develop and support neurodiverse individuals in leadership roles.
speakers
No sales, no "my way or the highway" - our speakers are donating their time for this fundraiser to help support people doing the good work in accessing high quality, trauma-informed professional development opportunities
CEO & CoFounder, Fairground
Melissa Andrada
Melissa Andrada (Mel - they/she) is the CEO & Cofounder of Fairground, a mental health & wellness collective helping creative leaders speak and lead with joy and confidence. A survivor of Big T trauma, Mel centers the transformative power of joy, somatics and musicality.
With 20+ years of experience—from co-running a youth activist nonprofit in Seattle to serving as COO of a VC-backed startup in London, Mel has inspired leaders at Google, The New York Times, and Out in Tech through heart-opening interactive keynotes and workshops.
Mel is also a yoga and sound healing teacher and is completing a master’s in Clinical Psychology and Expressive Arts Therapy at the California Institute of Integral Studies.
Researcher + Artist
Preena Chand
Preena is dedicated to collective healing and empowerment through personal development, art, and mental health. Currently pursuing her Master’s in Clinical Psychology and Expressive Arts Therapy, she weaves performing arts, somatic practices, and creative facilitation to support teens and adults navigating trauma, mental-health challenges, and complex family dynamics. A proud advocate for cultural, sexual, and emotional education, Preena is both a survivor and a steadfast ally for those carrying the weight of sexual and generational trauma.
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Her work reaches beyond the therapy room, where she designs cultural and immersive experiences alongside expressive-arts workshops that honor resilience, connection, and joy. Guided by the belief that creativity is a birthright, Preena invites others to explore their own voices and stories, reclaiming the power of self-expression.
Director / Producer
Joseph Gardner
Joseph Gardner (he/his) is a kiwi director and producer based in Melbourne, Australia, dedicated to crafting impactful documentaries that bring marginalized voices to the forefront. His approach is informed by a Master's degree in Music, with a major in opera from the University of Auckland.
After relocating to Australia in 2006, Joseph built a diverse career, gaining experience in broadcast at ABC News 24 and TVSN, before moving into advertorial content for major networks. He currently works full-time as a field producer for Visual Domain.
Joseph's work in storytelling includes his debut documentary, "Victorian Queens," which premiered at the Melbourne Queer Film Festival and was acquired by ABC and Apple TV.
He is currently directing the feature documentary 'Aysha,' a film that aims to challenge perceptions and start conversations by uniting diverse voices.
Counsellor, Educator & Yoga Teacher
Caz Pringle-Bowden
Caz Pringle-Bowden (she/hers) is a counsellor, educator, and RYT 500-hour yoga teacher specialising in in trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, and invisible illness aware practice. With a background spanning high-pressure industries, NFP program development and mental health, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience as a late-diagnosed neurodivergent woman.
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Caz has worked across diverse settings - from teaching yoga and boxing in juvenile detention centres and developing equine-assisted therapy programs for rural at-risk families, to founding and running a national event management company, to supporting folks through disaster relief in flood-affected communities. She now runs training for both organisations and movement professionals on trauma-informed, neuro-affirming, and invisible illness inclusive practice, and serves as an executive board director for Frontline Yoga, Australia’s first national yoga program for first responders, emergency services, and veterans.
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Light-hearted, compassionate, and deeply human, Caz brings insight, humour, and hope to conversations on trauma, leadership, inclusivity, and wellbeing.
Trauma-Informed Lived Experience Educator & Yoga Facilitator
Renée Robson
Renée (she/hers) is a trauma-informed yoga facilitator and educator based on the Bellarine Peninsula, where she lives with her family. She works at the intersection of yoga practice and organisational development, helping organisations integrate trauma-informed approaches into their leadership and systems through education and strategic design.
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A certified yoga teacher, having specialised in trauma-sensitive yoga practice (TCTSY-F Level 2 certification) and traumatic stress studies, Renée facilitates trauma-sensitive yoga herself, and trains yoga and movement professionals in trauma-informed practices at both Zero Point Yoga and Australian Yoga Academy.
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Renée is a committed advocate for complex trauma survivors and mental health. Through her speaking and writing, she promotes the integration of trauma-informed practices, authentic leadership and thoughtful systems design to foster healthier workplaces and communities.
Disability Rights Advocate
Uli Cartwright
Uli (he/his) is a disability rights advocate, filmmaker, and social entrepreneur who works on systemic reform. Drawing from his lived experience of guardianship, state care, and disability services, Uli uses personal adversity as a foundation for change, challenging systems and advancing human rights at community and national levels.
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As an advocate, Uli has spoken in parliamentary debates and worked on campaigns for legislative change. He amplifies voices that are often silenced by restrictive laws. He works with organisations to build psychological safety and help teams create cultures where people can thrive and belong.
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Whether coaching executives, consulting or addressing national audiences, he supports people with tools to turn principles into practice and build workplaces where dignity and inclusion are standard.
Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia)
Ainslie Robinson & Kristy Kelly
Ainslie Robinson (she/her)
Working in Partnership Senior Manager
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Ainslie Robinson has a background in Education and has been working with Aspect for the past nine years. She initially joined Aspect as a researcher focused on autism-specific educational practices and has since taken on roles that support Autistic leadership and inclusion. More recently, her work has focused on fostering Autistic partnership and co-production at all levels within Aspect, with a particular focus on supporting Aspect in becoming an Autism Friendly employer. She is Autistic herself and the parent to two Autistic children, and believes the best outcomes for the Autistic and autism communities come from partnership and working together.
Kristy Kelly (she/her)
Autism Friendly Employment Manager
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Kristy Kelly brings over 20 years of corporate experience in people and culture, including seven years leading organisation-wide inclusion and belonging strategies. Driven by a deep personal commitment to creating a more inclusive world - and as the parent of an autistic child - Kristy joined Aspect in early 2025 to lead the development of its Autism Friendly Employment service. She is passionate about building organisations where Autistic (and neurodivergent) people can thrive. Kristy believes that inclusive employment practices benefit everyone and is excited to support companies on this journey.
University of Melbourne
Dr Michael Davern + Dr Ju Nah (Juna) Tan
Dr Michael Davern
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Professor Michael Davern, FCPA, holds the Chair of Accounting and Business Information Systems at The University of Melbourne. A sought-after voice on business and technology, Michael brings three decades of experience leading award-winning, industry-engaged research and educational initiatives both in Australia and internationally. A neurodiverse boundary spanner, he combines expertise in business, IT, and cognitive science with board-level experience across for-purpose and private sectors to drive meaningful change in organisations and society.
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Dr Ju Nah (Juna) Tan
Co-Lecturer and Tutor Department of Accounting,
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Ju Nah (Juna) Tan is an educator, researcher, and storyteller passionate about amplifying diverse voices in discussions on leadership, social responsibility, and sustainability. She has a PhD from Monash University focused on understanding the perspective of everyday people in developing countries on companies and consumers’ social responsibilities. She also researches the leadership styles and leadership development of people with Autism, and ways of supporting a diverse range of students in higher education settings. Juna brings over 15 years of experience working with diverse teams across the globe on complex, time-sensitive projects in business, education, and community groups.
University of Melbourne
Dr Matthew Harrison
Dr. Matthew Harrison is an experienced teacher, researcher and digital creator with a passion for utilising technology to support social capacity building, belonging and inclusion in education. He has taught in Australia, South Korea and the United Kingdom at primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
Matthew is currently a member of the University of Melbourne Faculty of Education Learning Intervention team, a project lead at the University of Melbourne Neurodiversity Project and co-founder of Next Level Collaboration, the first autistic-led social enterprise to spin out of the University of Melbourne. He was awarded the Dyason Fellowship in 2020, and the GEM Scott Teaching Fellowship and the International Society for Technology in Education 'Making IT Happen' award in 2023.
MC
Rachelle Allen
Rachelle is an experienced facilitator, strengths based leader and organisational development professional with over 25 years working across health, disability, child safety, and community sectors.
Rachelle brings a deep commitment to inclusive practice and has spent their career building capability in organisations that support capability development within communities.
With expertise spanning mental health and human rights, she understands the critical importance of trauma-informed approaches in creating safe and responsive services. A skilled public speaker known for their warm facilitation style, Rachelle is passionate about bringing people together to learn, share, and drive meaningful change.