NADSN 10th Anniversary Conference & Celebration
Friday 6th December 2024 | University of Greenwich
In person & Online (via Microsoft Teams)
The National Association of Disabled Staff Networks (NADSN) and STAART are proud to present this one-day national conference, hosted by Dr Melanie Thorley and the STAART Ambassadors & Graduates at the University of Greenwich.
This will be a celebration of NADSN’s 10th Anniversary and our first conference since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Conference will be held hybrid, in-person and online.
The Conference is free to attend and open to all members and allies of NADSN and the University of Greenwich’s STAART and Disabled Staff Community.
Registration is required for both in-person and online attendance. Please click the “register” button on the right to register.
- Date: Friday 6th December 2024.
- Timing (Greenwich Mean Time):
- Arrival from 09:30.
- Main Conference 10:00 – 16:15.
- Reception until 18:00.
- In-person venue: Queen Anne Building, Greenwich Campus, University of Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College, Park Row, London, SE10 9LS, UK.
- Online: Microsoft Teams.
- Programme: please scroll down this page.
The Conference will be held in Queen Anne Building on the Greenwich Campus.
All Conference sessions will be held in Room QA063.
Room QA077 (Heritage Gallery) will be available as a quiet room throughout the Conference.
University of Greenwich STAART Ambassadors and Graduates will be available to assist attendees.
Refreshments and lunch will be provided.
There is no parking on-site except for Blue Badge holders. Please contact Melanie Thorley if you wish to book a Blue Badge space (please see the Contact tab).
Please use websites like trivago or Wheel the World to book hotel accommodation if you’re staying overnight for the Conference.
Online attendance at the Conference will be via Microsoft Teams.
The Microsoft Teams link will be sent out to those who have registered for online attendance.
We will be using automated captioning via Microsoft Teams.
We will be sharing the presentations and any additional information on 1st December 2024.
All of the presenters will be invited to provide a synopsis of their sessions to be included in Chapter 2 of the University of Greenwich Histories of Disability Anthology. Chapter 1 of the anthology can be found here:
Histories of Disability: The Good and the Great, the Bad and the Ugly.doc (Microsoft Word)
We will have media consent forms for those who would like to be in the Conference photos and videos, which will be shared via NADSN, STAART and the University of Greenwich.
If you have any specific queries or requirements related to the Conference please email Melanie Thorley. Please put “NADSN Conference” in the subject line and add the high importance red flag. 
I am really pleased that we are hosting the NASDN conference at the University of Greenwich and that STAART are organising this. It is important that we recognise as a university community the importance of conferences such as this one that enable disabled staff to meet, celebrate and provide support and recognition to each other but also collectively challenge the sector to improve further and to highlight where we need to change. I am proud of the work that Melanie does to achieve this at Greenwich.
I am delighted that the University of Greenwich is hosting the NASDN conference. I had heard about both NASDN and STAART before joining the University and as such, it is a great privilege to be part of this year’s event. I am proud of the University’s commitment to Education Without Boundaries and the work done by STAART and the Staff Disability Community to make Greenwich a great place to study and work.
I am both honoured and delighted for STAART to be hosting this very important conference and celebration event. As an executive officer for NADSN and the University of Greenwich Disabled Staff Community (DSC), I am aware of the importance and the benefits of staff networks. NASDN and STAART provide a physically and psychological safe space where disabled staff can be their authentic selves without judgement nor prejudice.
Programme
09:30-10:00 ARRIVAL & REFRESHMENTS
10:00-10:10 Hello, Housekeeping & Wellbeing
Speaker:
Dr Melanie Thorley, STAART Manager, University of Greenwich.
10:10-10:30 NADSN Conference 2024 Welcome & Opening
Speakers:
Dr Hamied Haroon, Chair of NADSN.
Alan Dudley, Chair of the Disabled Staff Community, University of Greenwich.
10:30-11:00 Is there Equity in EDI in HE and the Public Sector?
Speaker:
Banji Adewumi MBE, Director of EDI, University of Greenwich.
11:00-11:15 MORNING BREAK & REFRESHMENTS
11:15-11:45 The RIDE Higher Framework
Speaker:
Dr Melanie Best, Chair of RIDE HIGHER.
Mel will give an overview of the developing “Realising Inclusion of Disabled Employees in Higher Education” (RIDE HIGHER) Framework and lead some discussion.
11:45-12:15 NADSN Sub-Groups Showcase
Speakers:
Dr Stuart Gore & Dr Sam Hitchmough, Co-Chairs of the Blind & Visually Impaired Staff & PGRs in Academia Network.
Dr Meredith Wilkinson, Chair of the Disabled Women in Academia Network.
Andrew Crosbie, Chair of the Neurodivergence Focus Group.
Prof Yota Dimitriadi & Dr Jennifer Leigh, Co-Leads of the STEMM Action Group.
12:15-13:30 LUNCH
12:30-13:15 Creative Workshop & STAART ART Prize Competition
Facilitators:
In-person:
Dr Jennifer Leigh, University of Kent.
Dr Melanie Thorley, University of Greenwich.
Online:
Andrew Crosbie, Scottish Qualifications Authority.
We will have materials available for the in-person workshop.
13:30-14:00 Disability Matters & Wellcome Anti-Ableist Research Culture projects
Speaker:
Prof Dan Goodley, iHuman, University of Sheffield.
14:00-14:30 Ableism across Time-zones: NADSN going Global!
Speakers:
Prof Nancy Hansen, University of Manitoba, Canada.
Dr France Rose Hartline, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway.
Prof Gayle Brewer, University of Liverpool, UK.
14:30-15:00 Greenwich Leading from the Helm
Speaker:
Prof Jane Harrington, CEO & Vice Chancellor, University of Greenwich.
15:00-15:15 AFTERNOON BREAK & REFRESHMENTS
15:00-15:15 Documentary Screening
Presenter:
Dr Jennifer Leigh, University of Kent.
Jen will present a screening of a short documentary on “Marginalisation in Science: Disability and Inclusion“
15:15-16:00 NADSN Awards Presentations
The first ever NADSN Awards presented by
Dr Hamied Haroon, Jacquie Nicholson & Stuart Moore, Chair & Vice Chairs of NADSN
with Banji Adewumi MBE
16:00-16:15 Reflections, Votes of Thanks and Conference Close
Speakers:
Jacquie Nicholson & Stuart Moore, Vice Chairs of NADSN.
Dr Hamied Haroon, Chair of NADSN.
16:15-18:00 CONFERENCE RECEPTION
Hosted by NADSN and STAART.
16:15-18:00 STAART ART Prize Competition (continued)
Facilitator:
Dr Melanie Thorley, University of Greenwich.