Neuro NEDs at the Women & Diversity in Credit Conference
On 19 November, the Neuro NEDs team had the privilege of attending the Women and Diversity in Credit Conference – and it was one of those days that genuinely reminds you why this work matters.
For us, this wasn’t just another industry event. It was a room full of honest conversations about people, fairness, leadership, and the responsibility that financial services carries every single day. And it was powerful to see how far the conversation has moved – from awareness to action, from policy to culture.
Ross took part in two sessions across the day, contributing to discussions that went right to the heart of inclusion in financial services.
The morning centred on unconscious bias and how it quietly shapes decisions in credit, product design, affordability, and risk. What stood out most was the shared recognition that bias doesn’t always arrive loudly. Often, it hides inside “standard” models, legacy processes, and assumptions that were never built with truly diverse experiences in mind. There was real challenge in the room – but also real willingness to rethink.
In the afternoon, Ross delivered his session on neuroinclusion in leadership. This one was personal. He shared the reality of navigating leadership while carrying unseen challenges at home and at work, and the moment when silence became impossible to maintain. That turning point – choosing to open up instead of holding everything in – changed not just his own experience, but the way he leads today.
Ross presenting at the WDIC conference
The message that landed most strongly was simple but profound: people don’t need perfection from leaders, they need honesty, psychological safety, and partnership. When those are present, performance follows naturally.
What struck both Ross and James throughout the day was the energy in the room. Not the polished kind you sometimes get at conferences, but something far more real. People recognised themselves in the stories being shared. Conversations continued long after sessions ended. And again and again, the same theme surfaced – diverse teams make better decisions, build better products, and create healthier cultures.
James attended with the lens he brings to everything: operational reality, behavioural nuance, and the lived experience of navigating systems not built for neurodivergent minds. Together, the conversations reinforced why Neuro NEDs exists in the first place – to help organisations move beyond intention and into meaningful, practical change.
We left the conference encouraged, challenged, and motivated. The shift is happening. Slowly in some places, faster in others – but it is happening. And it’s being driven by people who are willing to ask harder questions, share real stories, and build cultures where every mind truly can thrive.
To everyone who spoke, shared, listened, challenged, and reflected – thank you. These conversations matter. And we’re proud to be part of them.