Building Neurodivergent Friendly Work with FocusBear

Creating neurodivergent-friendly work requires more than awareness. It requires intentional design that recognises how people think, function and respond to work demands.

When work feels overwhelming, it is often not a capability issue, it is executive functioning overload.

Executive functioning challenges are among the most misunderstood and most impactful risk factors affecting neurodivergent workers, particularly people with ADHD. When workplace systems rely heavily on memory, self-regulation, time awareness and task initiation without appropriate support, the result is not improved performance. It is cognitive overload, increased psychosocial risk, burnout and preventable harm.

Delivered during Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2026, this webinar brings together lived experience, ADHD/EF coaching expertise and work design principles to explore how organisations can better support executive functioning at work.

Rather than focusing on motivation or discipline, this session reframes performance through a work design lens, demonstrating how systems, not individuals, are often the source of risk.

Designing Neurodivergent Friendly Work – What You Will Learn

• What executive dysfunction looks like in real workplace settings
• Why traditional productivity approaches can increase stress, shame and disengagement
• How executive functioning relates to psychosocial risk and WHS obligations
• Practical strategies to reduce cognitive load and improve follow-through
• How tools such as Focus Bear can support initiation, prioritisation and recovery

Speakers

Jeremy Nagel

Creator of Focus Bear, sharing insights from lived experience and neurodivergent-led design.

Monica Hassall

Founder of Connect ADHD and one of Australia’s first ADHD coaches, bringing extensive coaching expertise.

Catherine Lee

Founder of the Neurodiverse Safe Work Initiative and WHS consultant, providing a systems-based and duty of care perspective.

Who This Webinar Is For

This session is designed for:

• Employers and senior leaders
• WHS and HR professionals
• Managers seeking practical, evidence-informed guidance
• Neurodivergent workers and advocates
• Anyone interested in reducing psychosocial risk through better work design

Why this Matters

Executive functioning support is not a “nice to have.” It is central to safe work.

When organisations understand how people think and function, they can design systems that support performance without relying on constant coping. This reduces risk, improves consistency and creates more sustainable ways of working.

In my opinion, this is one of the most significant gaps currently present in how organisations approach psychosocial risk and WHS system design.

This webinar provides practical, evidence-informed insights to help you move from awareness to action and build work environments that are both safe and enabling.

Access

Register via the link to receive access to the webinar recording.