Christina Martin is a Youthreach Resource Person with WWETB and a graduate of the BA in Teaching in Adult and Further Education (SETU, 2025). She teaches across QQI Levels 3–5 and is particularly interested in modernising assessment through a Universal Design lens. As a neurodiverse educator, she advocates for clarity, flexibility, and equity in assessment design to improve learner engagement and success.

Dr. Jack Saad is a Lecturer in Automation and Robotics at Atlantic Technological University (ATU), teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Automation and Digital Manufacturing. His background combines hands-on industrial robotics and simulation tools, with previous industry experience as an R&D Engineer at CGControls and research collaboration with CSIRO (Australia) on 3D laser scanning for autonomous systems. Beyond technical teaching, Jack is actively engaged in innovative and inclusive learning initiatives. He leads ATU’s participation in the global “Invent for the Planet” (IFTP) design sprint and is the founder of Aristo Academy, a STEAM initiative promoting robotics and creative engineering education for young learners in Egypt. His work connects engineering, innovation, and inclusive education practice.

Maureen Haran, Lecturer, PhD(c), SFHEA, manages the UDL Centre of Excellence at Atlantic Technological University (ATU). Maureen has over 23 years of experience in inclusive education in the Irish and American public education systems. She is the programme chair and lecturer on the Post Graduate Certificate/MA in UDL. Currently, Maureen is in the final stages of a PhD study in Education at Queens University Belfast. A national UDL leader, Maureen works with educational development teams to design and implement inclusive education practices at regional and national levels. Maureen was the Project Lead on the National ALTITUDE Charter development project.

Trudi Barnett is an independent Education and Quality Assurance specialist working across tertiary education. A QQI Report Writer and External Authenticator, she supports providers to design, validate, and strengthen programmes through accessible, learner-centred approaches informed by Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Her work brings together quality assurance, creative pedagogy, and participatory methods, including LEGO® Serious Play® and her developing Things Lab approach; using objects, metaphor, and making to help educators rethink teaching, learning, and assessment brick by brick. Trudi is currently completing an MA in UDL with Sligo ATU, an M.Ed with Maynooth University, writes for the international LEGO® Serious Play® Magazine and collaborates with ETBs, providers, and national stakeholders to translate policy into meaningful practice that supports participation, belonging, and authentic learning experiences.

Niamh Griffin is a third-year Children’s Studies student at the University of Galway with a strong commitment to accessibility and inclusion. For two years she served as the Accessibility Officer for the University of Galway’s Neurodivergent Society. In this role, Niamh represented neurodivergent voices on the University’s Physical Accessibility Forum.

Passionate about fostering inclusive environments, Niamh has actively championed numerous initiatives to enhance accessibility in the University, including the Calm Zone project. She was heavily involved in the collaborative process of planning and implementing the project. 

Niamh is a dedicated advocate for inclusive design and practice that is accessible to all students within the university.

Ms Miriam Collins is a third-year law and human rights student in the University of Galway. Her focus on human rights in her education combined with her lived experience as a disabled student in university has motivated her involvement in disability rights advocacy in the University of Galway and her interest in promoting universal design to overcome barriers to accessing higher education.

Miriam was involved with the university’s Neurodivergent Society from February 2024 to January 2025, first as an ordinary committee member and subsequently as the auditor of the society. She has represented the voice of neurodivergent students on the University’s Accessibility Forum advocating for greater sensory accessibility on campus and was heavily involved in the design and implementation of the Calm Zone during high stress periods and was a co-applicant for the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion fund to run the Calm Zone for the winter reading week and exam period. She is passionate about student staff collaboration and the incorporation of lived experience in service design and policy to improve accessibility for all students.

Izzy Tiernan is the former Vice President for Welfare and Equality in University of Galway Students Union 2023/24 and has had a keen interest in accessibility since they were diagnosed as neurodivergent five years ago. They helped create, design and execute University of Galway's new Calm Zone, and have worked as an advocate on behalf of students with disabilities, as well as themself. They are excited and thrilled to share their perspective on being neurodivergent in the workplace, college and in an activist role, as well as learning from experts in the field of accessibility. For Izzy, intersectionality, lived experience and empathy are the most important qualities to bring to any discussion around disability.  

Róisín works in the Access Centre at the University of Galway, coordinating outreach and widening participation initiatives for primary school students that aim to make higher education more inclusive and accessible. She is passionate about creating opportunities for underrepresented groups and fostering empathy through experiential learning