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Building Neuro-Inclusive workplaces

2. Creating Neuro-Inclusive Workplaces: Practical Lessons from the Frontline
Aron Mercer, Chief Growth Officer, Xceptional Academy

Xceptional Academy is a market leader supporting organisations across Australia to build safe, inclusive, and productive workplaces where neurodivergent employees can thrive. In this session, Aron Mercer (he/him) shares insights from working with thousands of HR professionals, people leaders, and executives across government, corporate, and disability sectors.

Over the past two years, there is a marked shift in how organisations approach neuro-inclusion. More employers are recognising they already have neurodivergent staff—often in greater numbers than expected—and are actively seeking ways to create safer, more supportive work environments.

This talk highlights practical, easy-to-implement changes that leading organisations are making across the employee lifecycle—from attraction and recruitment to onboarding and retention. These practical changes not only support neurodivergent employees, but also lead to stronger team engagement, performance, and wellbeing for everyone. With a focus on real-world examples, attendees will walk away with clear steps they can take to embed neuro-inclusion into their own workplaces.

Presenters

2025 Australian of the Year Awards

Geoff Smith

Chief Executive Officer, Australian Spatial Analytics

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.

AronMercer

Aron Mercer

Chief Growth Officer, Xceptional Academy

Aron Mercer (he/him) is a PhD candidate at Griffith University, social entrepreneur, and expert in neurodiversity in the workplace. He is the author of Untapped Talent: A Practical Guide for Hiring and Retaining Neurodivergent Staff (2024).

With over 25 years of experience across corporate leadership, non-profits, and social enterprise, Aron brings both strategic insight and lived experience. Diagnosed with ADHD at 12 and living with hearing loss from a childhood accident, he understands the systemic and intersecting barriers people with disabilities face in employment and is determined to dismantle them.

Aron was part of the founding team of Xceptional, now Xceptional Academy, a leader in inclusive recruitment. He helped grow the organisation from concept to national impact, leading across product, business development, marketing, and talent. This unique work has been recognised by the Google.org Impact Challenge ($1M award), Westpac, Optus, and TechDiversity.

His current PhD research, Investigation into the Experience of Neurodivergent Employees: Disclosure in the Workplace and Mental Wellbeing, explores how disclosure decisions are shaped by the employee lifecycle, an individual’s neurodivergent identity and workplace culture. Aron’s upcoming second book, The Cost of Concealment: Why Some Employees Hide Their Identity, and Why That’s Bad for Organisations, builds on this research.

Aron holds degrees from Macquarie University and Swinburne, with executive education from Stanford and The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He is also Mentor in Residence at the Social Impact Hub, Global Advisor for Billion Strong, and Adjunct Industry Fellow at Griffith University.