Presenters

We are fortunate to be welcoming a series of world-class presenters who will expand your mind with new insights, practical suggestions, and transformative discoveries.

ITAKOM presenters will reflect the neurodiversity of the world. They will address the topic of neurodiversity from personal, practitioner and academic experience.

KEYNOTE

Professor Sven Bölte
Director of the Centre of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Karolinska Institute, Sweden

Keynote: The Neurodivergent Individual in their Unique World 
Day 1, 09:00 – 09:50

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Mr Pelle Sandstrak
Public speaker and writer

Keynote: For The Sake Of Unusualness, my Life with Tourette Syndrome

Day 1, 17:20

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Professor Sue Gathercole
Chair of the REF Panel for Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, UK

Keynote: Transdiagnostic Research

Day 2, 17:30 – 18:20

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Dr Kathy Leadbitter
Research Fellow at the Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, UK

Keynote: Neurodiversity Informed Intervention

Day 2, 13:30 – 14:20

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Pierre Magistretti
Emeritus Professor, EPFL and University of Lausanne, Switzerland

Keynote: The Ever-Changing Brain

Day 1, 13:30 – 14:20

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Joh Smitg
Emeritus Professor, EPFL and University of Lausanne, Switzerland

Keynote: The Ever-Changing Brain

Day 1, 13:30 – 14:20

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BIG TALKS

Lotta Borg Skoglund
Associate professor of Psychiatry at the Department of Medical Sciences at Uppsala University with a special interest in girls/women with ADHD and autism

Big Talk: We Have Failed the Girls. Total Chaos: ADHD, Hormones, and Gender Stereotypes

Day 1, 15:00 – 15:50

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Hari Srinavsan

PhD Neuroscience student at Vanderbilt University

Big Talk: Communication & Stigma

Day 2, 10:30 – 11:20

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Lotta Löfgren
Professor in Health and Society, Field of Sexology and Sexuality Studies, Dept of Social Work, Malmo University

Big Talk: Sexuality and people with intellectual disability: Unmet needs

Day 2, 15:00 – 15:50

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Dr Loretta Giorcelli OAM 
Prof of Child Development & Special Education and Author of “Quality Schools, Inclusive Practices”, Specialist Consultant to Schools & School Systems” Sydney

Big Talk: Neurodiversity in Education

Day 2, 15:00 – 15:50

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TOPIC SESSIONS

Dr Lindsay Miven

Senior Clinical Research Fellow at the Patrick Wild Centre and Consultant Psychiatrist in the NHS Lothian Learning Disability Service.

Topic Session: Sleep in Single Gene Syndromes and Intellectual Disability

Day 1, 10:30 – 11:20

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Adam Murphy
Father and Full Time Carer

Topic Session: A Day in the Life of an Autistic Parent and Carer

Day 1, 10:30 – 11:20

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Ciara Lawrence 
Big Plan Engagement Lead at Mencap

Topic Session: What Good Quality of Life Means to Me

Day 1, 11:30 – 12:20

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Holly Wagner
Actress, writer and Epilepsy Advocate

Invited Talk: Life with epilepsy

Day 1, 16:00 – 16:50

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Dr Rachel V. Gow
Registered Nutritionist, Child Neuropsychologist, Nutritional Neuroscientist, Affiliated, King’s College London

Invited Talk: Smart Foods for ADHD and Brain Health

Day 1, 16:00 – 16:50

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Jamie Marshall
Surf Therapist, PhD Researcher, Edinburgh Napier University

Invited Talk: ‘Off to the Beach’ Surf therapy – a New Approach to Mental Health

Day 2, 10:30 – 11:20

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Dr Alyssa M Alcorn
Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Edinburgh

Topic Session: Learning and Teaching About Neurodiversity at School – Sustainably Over Time

Day 2, 10:30 – 11:20

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Holly Sutherland
Autistic Autism Researcher, University of Edinburgh

Topic Session: Whose ‘Support’ Is It, Anyway? A Critical Look at Supportive Environments

Day 2, 10:30 – 11:20

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Magnus Roosmann

Actor, Swedish Royal Dramatic Theatre

Topic Session: My Life with ADHD – On & Off the Stage

Day 2, 11:30 – 12:20

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Charlotte Garnett
Jewellery designer with a speciality in ‘Anti anxiety jewellery’

Topic Session: Handling It

Day 2, 11:30 – 12:20

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Sonny Hallett

Counsellor, Co Founder of AMASE

Topic Session: Counselling for Different Ways of Being

Day 2, 15:00 – 15:50

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Dr Felicity Sedgwick
Researcher, University of Bristol

Invited Talk: Autistic Relationships Across the Lifecycle 

Day 2, 16:00 – 16:50

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Dr Katie Cebula

Sr Lecturer in Developmental Psychology, University of Edinburgh

Topic Session: Understanding Neurodiverse Sibling Relationships: Where Next?

Day 2: 16:00 16:50

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WORKSHOP

Embracing Complexity

Embracing Complexity brings together organisations working to improve the lives of people with neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs). By thinking differently about how we campaign, fund research and offer support, we can improve lives faster, more efficiently and more effectively. At ITAKOM, the team from Embracing Complexity will lead a workshop on complexity and co-occurring diagnoses.

Georgia Harper 
Policy Manager at Autistica

Workshop: How do we Embrace Complexity in Neurodiversity Research?

Day 2, 11:30 -12:20

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NEURODIVERSITY THINKERS

Nick Walker
Professor of Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies, USA

Neurodiversity Thinkers Pt. 2

Day 1, 15:00 – 15:50

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PANEL DISCUSSION

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