Presentations

Aron Mercer (he/him) is a social entrepreneur, author, and expert in neurodiversity in the workplace, with over 25 years of experience spanning commercial leadership, nonprofits, and social enterprises. Diagnosed with ADHD at 12, his personal journey has shaped his understanding of systemic barriers to employment and advancement for people with disabilities.

Aron holds a BA in Social Sciences from Macquarie University and a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Swinburne. In his corporate career, he excelled in commercial leadership and people management, spending a decade overseeing recruitment, onboarding, and team development in marketing and technology services.

Since 2017, Aron has led growth Xceptional, now Xceptional Academy, innovating approaches to workforce participation by dismantling traditional hiring barriers. His 2024 book, Untapped Talent: A Practical Guide for Hiring and Retaining Neurodivergent Staff, examined inclusion through the employee lifecycle.

Beyond Xceptional, Aron serves as Mentor in Residence at the Social Impact Hub, Global Advisor for Billion Strong, and Adjunct Industry Fellow at Griffith University, further contributing to neurodiversity advocacy and education. Aron is married and lives with his wife and two sons in Brisbane.

Geoff is a social entrepreneur and inclusion advocate committed to reducing unemployment and increasing tech skills for young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds. A data analyst by trade, Geoff puts into action the idea that technology can create work and wealth for disadvantaged communities. Prior to being CEO of Australian Spatial Analytics, Geoff worked as an analyst at energy and logistics multinationals and not-for-profit organisations. Geoff became passionate about autism employment and social enterprise during his tenure as an Executive of a Disability Employment organisation. He views social enterprise as the vehicle for unlocking autistic talent pools for traditional employers.

Geoff holds Bachelors Degrees in Business Management (International Business) and Arts (International Relations), and a Masters of International and Community Development. Geoff is the 2025 QLD Australian of the Year, 2024 Social Impact Leadership Australia Fellow, a 2022 Westpac Social Change Fellow, a Snow Social Entrepreneur, and an AMP Tomorrow Maker.