Pete Wharmby

When? Tuesday 17th March 2026 at 10:15

Bestselling author of: ‘Untypical and ‘What I Want to Talk About’

After being diagnosed as autistic at the age of 34 in 2017, I have immersed myself in working to improve autistic awareness, acceptance and making the world a more suitable place for the neurodivergent community. I have spoken at a wide range of events and conferences since 2020 in the UK and in Europe and North America, both in person and remotely, sharing my insight and experience of being autistic and ADHD with businesses, governments, educational establishments and more.

I am active on LinkedIn, Instagram and on YouTube, where my channel is at over 3000 subscribers. I am a bestselling author: my first book, What I Want to Talk About, was published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers in September 2022, and my second book, Untypical, was published by HarperCollins in March 2023, with the paperback released in March 2024. I have also written a number of articles, interviews and book chapters, and appeared on BBC Radio 2. I am a former secondary English teacher and a father-of-one.

Hester Grainger

When? Tuesday 17th March 2026 at 11:30

Unmasked and Unapologetic: Women, Neurodiversity and the Power of Late Diagnosis

Join ADHD speaker, coach, and founder of Norfolk Women with ADHD, Hester Grainger, for an inspiring, interactive session exploring what it means to be a late-diagnosed neurodivergent woman. With honesty, humour, and lived experience, Hester shares her journey from masking to self-acceptance and pride, offering laughter, real talk, and practical insights into life through a neurodivergent lens. This engaging, safe space invites questions, connection, and curiosity – you’ll leave feeling seen, uplifted, and inspired.

Hester Grainger is a leading ADHD advocate, international keynote speaker, and neurodiversity consultant known for her authentic and empowering talks. Diagnosed with ADHD at 43, she combines personal insight with professional experience and storytelling. With a background in media and communications, Hester began her career at ITV, working on The Wright Stuff and Loose Women, before leading major PR campaigns for brands such as BMW and Sport Relief. She later hosted her own BBC radio show and is now a regular contributor across radio, press, and podcasts.

Alongside her autistic and ADHD husband, Kelly, she co-founded Perfectly Autistic, delivering neurodiversity training to organisations including Red Bull Racing, Sony Music, TUI, Marks & Spencer, and the NHS. In 2025, they launched Perfectly Autistic Academy and toured the UK with her acclaimed one-woman show ADHD Unmasked.

Emma Whymark

When? Wednesday 18th March 2026 at 10.15

Emma Whymark is a neurodiversity coach, therapist and co-founder of ATTUNED, a UK-based, neuroaffirming coach training programme grounded in lived experience and evidence-informed practice.

After 25 years in Norfolk schools as a SEND teacher and adviser, and later as a therapeutic foster carer, Emma has spent over a decade supporting clients of all ages through coaching, consultancy and training.

Diagnosed with ADHD and autism in adulthood, and parent to two neurodivergent children, she combines professional expertise with lived experience. Her work challenges deficit-based narratives and promotes strengths-informed, sustainable practice.

We are often told to “be ourselves.” But what if safety was never present enough to discover who that self is?

In this session, Emma reframes masking as survival rather than inauthenticity. While protective, masking can disrupt identity development, particularly in adolescence.

Drawing on developmental theory and lived experience, she challenges linear models of growth, recognising that many neurodivergent people revisit safety and belonging throughout life.

Introducing the Spiral of Becoming, Emma offers practical insights to reduce shame, support nervous system safety and make authenticity safer. Rather than encouraging radical unmasking, she focuses on creating conditions where self-trust and identity can grow at any age.

Leon Knight-Smith

When? Wednesday 18th March 2026 at 11:30

OCD and Me: Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

I am the CEO of the Norfolk and Norwich SEND Association (Nansa) and co-creator of the Visible Festival. One of my personal ambitions for the festival has been to see Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) given a dedicated platform for discussion and understanding. OCD is widely misunderstood and can manifest in many different ways. While often seen as a standalone neurodivergent diagnosis, it is important to recognise its significant presence within the wider neurodivergent community.

I have lived with OCD for as long as I can remember, receiving a formal diagnosis at the age of 12, alongside PTSD and suspected ADHD. My experience of OCD, like everyone’s, is unique. For some, it can be profoundly debilitating; for me, it has been both a challenge and a constant companion at various points in my life.

OCD is part of who I am – the good, the bad, and the difficult. By sharing my lived experience, I hope to contribute to greater understanding, and to help break down the stigma and shame associated with sharing such experiences.

Emma Harwood

When? Wednesday 18th March 2026 at 12.45

Dandelion Education Diverse minds: unlocking potential and success.

Emma worked for over 18 years in primary schools as a class  teacher, head of early years, Forest School leader, and SENDco.

Driven by a vision of a better way, Emma co-founded Dandelion. Dandelion is a pioneering nursery and alternative provision built on equity, inclusion, and holistic development. Dandelion champions emotional literacy, resilience, communication, creative and critical thinking, and executive functioning skills, creating a supportive environment where every child and staff member thrives.

Emma is proud of Dandelion’s award-winning, inclusive practice that transforms lives. The nursery has received numerous accolades, including being finalists in the NASEN SEND Awards 2025 for Early Years Provider of the Year, winning the National Early Years Teacher of the Year Award 2025, and earning multiple Nursery World awards, including Nursery of the Year (2017) and Enabling Environment of the Year (2017 & 2018). 

Emma’s passion drives her to create innovative, nurturing spaces where every child and staff member can flourish.