Dr Suzanne Stone is an experienced academic developer currently working as Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Lead at the University of Limerick. This role involves driving the University strategic aim to ensure accessibility to the university learning experience for all students by embedding and enacting UDL in programme design and delivery. Before joining UL, Suzanne worked as an academic developer and learning technologist, accruing considerable experience in higher education. Specific areas of expertise include scholarship of teaching and learning; digital learning; embedding digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment; digital accessibility and universal design for learning. Research experience also includes digital well-being; social media in education; student partnership; GenAI in education; large cohort teaching and learning; and digital assessment.

Aideen Hunter is a Senior Lecturer at Ulster University and a sector- leading specialist in inclusive practice and neurodiversity within Further Education. With over two decades of experience in teacher education, she has driven major regional initiatives to enhance professional development for FE practitioners, including pioneering new provision in neuroinclusive practice and reasonable adjustments. 

Aideen currently leads several large-scale Department for the Economy- funded projects supporting neurodiversity- inclusive pedagogy across the FET sector in Northern Ireland. Her work focuses on translating research into practical, accessible professional learning that empowers educators and support staff to creat equitable, universally designed learning environments. 

Sanne Balendonck is a project researcher at Hasselt University, affiliated with the School of Educational Studies end the Faculty of Architecture and Arts. Her research focuses on inclusive education, with a particular interest in spatial awareness and educational architecture.
 

Laura Bowler is a theatre director and educator with extensive experience in directing, teaching, and mentoring. She lectures in Theatre and Film Practice at Dundalk Institute of Technology, where she has developed modules such as Women in Theatre and Devising Practices, and regularly directs student productions.
In addition to her academic work, Laura mentors Chalk on the Wall Theatre Company, a young collective in residence at An Táin Arts Centre. Her mentorship involves guiding the company in all aspects of professional theatre-making, from rehearsals to production management, and providing directorial support to emerging artists.
Through her work, Laura focuses on the intersection of creativity, education, and social engagement in contemporary theatre practice.
 

Elizabeth Hitches is an advocate for accessible and inclusive practice, holding workshops with universities, government departments, and communities of practice internationally. Her research is currently exploring academic stress in higher education, and how this can be reduced in inclusive and accessible ways through a UDL lens. Her research interests lie in inclusive education at a national and international level, as well as equity, achievement, and wellbeing for students with disability and/or accessibility requirements (Explore Elizabeth's research here). Elizabeth is a co-host of the ADCET ILOTA Things podcast exploring accessibility and universal design for learning (ULD) in the age of AI. She is a PhD candidate at the Institute for Social Science Research, University of Queensland, Australia. She is also a sessional academic teaching inclusive education across various universities, and a teacher of research methods at the University of Queensland. Elizabeth is a staff member of ADCET, a national faculty member of CAST, and an associate fellow of the higher education academy.

Susan Horgan is a Learning Technologist in the MTU Kerry campus with a diverse background across the design industry spanning almost 20 years. She brings a practice-led, learner-centred approach to educational content and systems. Throughout her career, Susan has led large-scale projects, supported start-ups, and worked across multidisciplinary teams, combining strategic oversight with hands-on design practices. She has also spent time lecturing, bridging industry and education. Her work focuses on improving inclusiveness, while actively addressing gaps and confusion across these areas to support clearer, more inclusive digital learning experiences.

UCD Access and Lifelong Learning.

Pathways to the Professions Coordinator.

Kathie has worked in Further and Higher Education since 2012. She worked as an instructional designer on the development of the HEA National Forum AHEAD UCD Digital Badge in Universal Design Beyond the Classroom and is currently working on the Pathways to the Professions project.

Kathie’s areas of interest include Universal Design for Learning and fostering inclusion through accessible design.

Daniel manages the various Partnership Programmes with UCD faculty, staff and students to implement Universal Design across the institution to enhance the student experience. Daniel’s work focuses on a collaborative approach to Universal Design capacity building inside and outside the classroom. Daniel oversees national and local rollouts of the Digital Badges in Universal Design.

Lisa oversees the Disability Support Service and the University for All initiative working with academic and professional colleagues across the University to implement UCD’s whole-institution approach to student inclusion. Lisa has particular expertise in capacity building in the areas of Universal Design and Universal Design for Learning.