Culture in Bloom: A Season of Transformation
The WAM programme are delighted to have held an in-person employer event focused on culture change in the Workplace.
Venue: Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment. Tom Johnson House, Haddington Road, D04K7X4.
Date: Wednesday, 4th March, 2026
Introduction
According to the 2022 census, over 1.1 million people (22%) in Ireland reported having a disability or experiencing at least one long-standing condition. While approximately 346,000 (34%) individuals reported being employed, more than 303,500 also reported having difficulty working or accessing education. Founded in 2005, the Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) Programme was established to help increase access to employment for graduates with disabilities. Simultaneously, the WAM Programme supports employers on their journey to develop more inclusive working environments. The Programme is funded by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and since its inception WAM has supported 800 placements for graduates with disabilities across various employment sectors.
WAM Employer Events
In an aim to facilitate education for employers and professionals engaged with the WAM Programme and to help foster community inclusivity, WAM host a number of employer training events throughout the year related to disability and disability related supports within the workplace. In March 2026, as a part of WAM’s initiative to facilitate employer training and development, WAM, sponsored by the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment, hosted this in-person event.
Details can be found below regarding the full agenda, with guest speaker line up and the slide deck used on the day. If you wish you learn more about previous WAM employer events you can read more on the WAM Events page. Furthermore, if you wish to learn more about the potential to partner with AHEAD and WAM in the future, you can review our WAM for Employers page.
Culture in Bloom: A Season of Transformation
WAM brought together employers and professionals to explore how workplace culture is shaped, challenged and transformed. Creating meaningful culture change in the workplace requires more than good intentions—it demands clarity, commitment and practical action.
This event, helped to broaden participants understanding of cultural change through diverse perspectives, including insights on accessible web design and real experiences shared by our culture change panel. Attendees also gained the latest updates on the WIDE (Widening of Inclusion of Disability in Employment) framework and had an opportunity to engage in an interactive breakout exercise designed to deepen collective learning.
View the full agenda, including guest speakers below
Below is the full agenda for the day, including timing for the day and speaker names.
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09:00am
Arrival & Registration
Enjoy tea, coffee and pastries on arrival
09:30am
Welcome & Opening Address
- Department Climate, Energy and Environment
- AHEAD
10.00am
HEX Digital – Embedding Digital Accessibility from Design to Delivery
A digital agency specialising in accessible design, will share practical insights into how they embed accessibility into every stage of the design process, and provide tips on what to consider in the procurement and maintenance of your organisation's digital estate.
- James Hall – Hex Digital
10:30am
Culture Change Panel
- Deirdre Moore (moderator) - AHEAD - Employment Manager
- Liz Donnelly - Bord Bia – Senior HR Manager
- Ciaran Butler – BnM – Health Safety & Welfare Officer and WAM Mentor
- Megan Kelly – Dept. of Transport - WAM Graduate
- Shauna Peyton - Dept. Climate, Energy and Environment – Staff Voice Channel
11:15am
Break – Short comfort break. Tea/Coffee available.
11:30am
WIDE Framework: Workplace Inclusion: It Takes a Village...and a Plan!
How can the WIDE framework assist in driving culture change in your organisation- Dara Ryder – CEO - AHEAD
- Catherine Murray – Research Administrative Assistant -AHEAD
- Anna Boda – Programme Manager - Employers for Change
12.00pm
Breakout Session
- Peer to Peer led discussions on learning from the day. An opportunity for attendees to reflect on their own practices in the workplace and what tips they might take back with them to implement.
12.40pm
Feedback from Group Discussion & Closing Remarks
- Oonagh Buckley - Secretary General - DCEE
1.00pm
Lunch & Networking
2.00pm
Event closes
Remember, inclusivity isn’t seasonal, it’s a culture. Let’s grow it together!
This event was kindly hosted and sponsored by the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment.
To view the full album of images - please click here
