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TechShare Pro 2023
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Watch all the highlights from TechShare Pro 2023
TechShare Pro 2023 took place on 14 and 15 November 2023, with HSBC as headline sponsor and host. Tech giants Google, Microsoft, Intuit, and Sony were leading sponsors, with contributions from partners from all sectors and from around the world.
Over 2,000 attendees online and in person enjoyed keynotes, fireside chats, panels and workshops on a huge range of subjects. Highlights included the global response to the European Accessibility Act, skills development, WCAG2.2, representation of disability, making the business case and, of course, AI.
Recordings of all the key sessions are available below.
TechShare Pro 2023 Archive - Day 1
Welcome to TechShare Pro 2023
- Ian Stuart, CEO HSBC UK
- Viscount Younger of Leckie
The Future of Accessibility
"Accessibility is important, not only for banking and everyday tasks, but to help you enjoy your life again"
Could you beat BlindWarriorSven at a game of Street Fighter? Sven joins us on stage at TechShare Pro 2023 to share how accessibility features of technology has enabled him to enjoy his hobbies, such as gaming.
- Mali Fernando, HSBC
- Mark Walker, AbilityNet
- Robin Christopherson, AbilityNet
- Special Guest - BlindWarriorSven
Business Benefits of Disability Inclusion
Watch the recording of TechShare Pro 2023's opening session
How will the European Accessibility Act change the global accessibility landscape?
The European Accessibility Act will set new standards for digital devices and interfaces used by consumers across the European Union and have a direct impact on every business that wants to trade in the EU after 2025.
The Act itself is in its detailed final stages, and will then be adopted at a national level across the EU. This panel will look at how the EAA could change the global landscape for digital accessibility.
- Jessica Rafuse, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Policy, Microsoft
- Stephanie Cadieux, Chief Accessibility Officer, Canada
- Malin Rygg, Head of Digital Authority, Norway
- Susanna Laurin, IAAP Representative to the EU
- Ted Drake, Global Accessibility and Inclusive Design Leader, Intuit
Media Representation of Disability
The negative and problematic way that disability is perceived by the general public has a profound effect on the work of digital accessibility advocates. This panel will discuss how media of all kinds represents disability and what role we can play in promoting positive messages through video, advertising, images, and social media.
- Dom Hyams, Head of Strategy, Purple Goat
- Lara Davis, Head of Communications & Marketing, Business Disability Forum
- Nicole Steven, Creative Diversity & Inclusion Manager, Channel 4
- Dr Shani Dandha, Inclusion & Accessibility Strategist and Consultant, Presenter, and Actor
- Sumaira Latif, Company Acceesibility Leader, Procter & Gamble
- Lisa Stoney, Head of Planning, Adam and Eve
Watch the recording of Media Representation of Disability
Accessible Gaming
Gaming is often at the bleeding edge of digital experiences. Our panel will consider the changes taking place across the industry as accessibility continues to drive innovation in hardware and games design.
- Dom Shaw, UKIE
- James Butcher, Xbox UK & Ireland
- Jo Haslam, Snap Finger Click
- Brian Parsons, Sony Playstation
- Ed Waterhouse Biggins, Rebellion
- Sam Schaffel, Insomniac Games
Watch the recording of Accessible Gaming
Accessibility Journey at PlayStation: PS5, Access Controller & Marvel's Spider-Man 2
Watch the recording of Accessibility Journey at PlayStation
Document Accessibility: PDF or HTML?
Watch the recording of Document Accessibility: PDF or HTML?
How to make your communication more inclusive
- Rina Wharton, AbilityNet
- Lucy Woodcock, AbilityNet
- Dr Melanie Thorley, The University of Greenwich
Watch the recording of How to make your communication more inclusive
IAAP EU Drop-in Session - Networking
Your questions answered about the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) membership, professional certification, EU legislation or standardisation on accessibility!
Watch the recording of IAAP EU Drop-in Session
Inclusive Communications - Networking
- Jack Baker, AbilityNet
- Paul Speller, AbilityNet
Watch the recording of Inclusive Communications - Networking
Teaching Homer Simpson about Accessibility
We all have different learning needs at different times. Do you design your learning materials for Mr Spock, assuming that logic and facts will pave the way to new understanding? Or do you treat your learners like Homer Simpson and decorate your learning pathway with low hanging fruits and instant rewards? This session looks at the behavioural science of how we learn, including corporate learning resources and disability awareness for school children.
- Elaine Gallagher, Best At Digital
- Jonathan Marriot, Rick Hansen Foundation, Canada
- Zoe Portlock, Accessibility Lead, Hargreaves Lansdown (HL)
- Mark Walker, Head of Marketing and Communications, AbilityNet
Watch the recording of Teaching Homer Simpson about Accessibility
Empowering the C-Suite: Overcoming Fears and Embracing Disability Inclusion
Too many people are scared of discussing disability, whether with colleagues or the people they line manage. What can the accessibility community do to help address people's fears of disability, such as onboarding resources, elearning materials, mentoring, and one-to-one ‘ask me anything’ sessions with disabled people.
- Carolanne Minashi, Global Head of Inclusion at HSBC
- Katy Talikowska, CEO, Valuable 500
- Pauline Green, Head of Product Compliance & Programs at Intuit
- Mark Walker, Head of Marketing and Communications, AbilityNet
Watch the recording of Empowering the C-Suite
Accessibility in Enterprise
Microsoft has created a new model for connecting with key decision-makers. Horizons is a roadmap for helping organisations create innovative solutions for its customers, with accessibility and inclusion at its core.
Hear from senior leaders at Microsoft and its clients about how Horizons can help to connect with decision-makers in all parts of the organisation.
- Nicole Dezen, Chief Partner Officer, Microsoft
- Ruth Topham, Finance Partner, Grant Thornton
- Jonathan Castleman, Global Head of Brand and Brand Partnership, HSBC
- Mel Edwards, Global President, VML
- Hector Minto, Lead Accessibility Evangelist, Technology for Fundamental Rights, Microsoft
- David Howorth, Head of Colleague Experience, BP
- John Levell, KPMG
Watch the recording of Accessibility in Enterprise
Making the Business Case
Microsoft's Accessibility in Enterprise session provides a new model for building connections between accessibility, disability inclusion and senior leaders from all parts of the organisation. This panel will consider what the lessons are for the accessibility community.
- Hector Minto, Lead Accessibility Evangelist, Technology for Fundamental Rights, Microsoft
- Mali Fernando, Group Head of Digital Experience and Accessibility, HSBC
- Kate Nash, CEO, PurpleSpace
- Robin Spinks, RNIB
- Amy Low, Service Delivery Director, AbilityNet
Watch the recording of Making the Business Case
TechShare Pro 2023 Archive - Day 2
Welcome back
Day 2 of TechShare Pro opened with Mark Walker, AbilityNet, and Mali Fernando, HSBC, discussing what happened on Day 1, and going through what to expect for Day 2.
- Mali Fernando, Group Head of Digital Experience and Accessibility, HSBC
- Mark Walker, Head of Marketing and Communications, AbilityNet
Microsoft and Accessibility
Jessica Rafuse explains what's new in the world of accessibility at Microsoft and how culture change is so important in building inclusive solutions.
Watch the recording of the opening session and Microsoft and Accessibility session
Driving Accessibility and Inclusive Design Through Experience Labs at Sony
Joseph Clark-Jones, Accessibility: Promotion & Advocacy at Sony discussed how Sony is using Experience Labs to drive accessibility and inclusive design.
- Joseph Clark-Jones, Accessibility: Promotion & Advocacy, Sony
- Mark Walker, Head of Marketing and Communications, AbilityNet
Watch the recording of Driving Accessibility and Inclusive Design Through Experience Labs at Sony
Global Accessibility Trends
The panel discussed the findings of AbilityNet's 2023 Attitudes to Digital Accessibility Survey.
- Annie Mannion, Digital Communications Manager, AbilityNet
- Robin Christopherson, Head of Digital Inclusion, AbilityNet
- Chris Holloway, Digital Accessibility Manager, PwC UK
Watch the recording of Global Accessibility Trends
Brands and Disability Inclusion
AbilityNet's Mark Walker chats with Jonathan Castleman, Global Head of Brand and Brand Partnership at HSBC and Mel Edwards, the Global President of VML to discuss why organisations should focus on disability inclusion and how it can help brand image and overall customer experience.
- Jonathan Castleman, Global Head of Brand and Brand Partnership, HSBC
- Mel Edwards, Global President, VML
Watch the recording of Brands and Disability Inclusion
AI and Ableism
How well do AI tools such as ChatGPT represent disability? How much do they perpetuate negative stereotypes and representation in the information they produce? And what be done to prevent this bias from coming through in the solutions being built with these tools?
- Ioana Tanase, Inclusive AI & Accessibility Project Manager, Microsoft
- Perry Nightingale, SVP, Creative AI, WPP
- Catriona Campbell, UK&I Client Technology and Innovation Officer, EY
- Robin Christopherson, Head of Digital Inclusion, AbilityNet
Watch the recording of AI and Ableism
How AI can make Education more Inclusive
The rapid adoption of ChatGPT and other AI tools has left many universities, colleges, and schools have been left scrambling to adapt their learning programmes and policies.
But behind the scare stories many academics are using the power of AI to provide inclusive learning experiences for their students. This session will provide some examples of AI-driven solutions, and also consider the challenges of more widespread adoption of best practices in the face of rapid change.
- Kate Pearce, Digital Solutions Manager, Gower College Swansea
- Liam Millinship, Gower College Swansea
- Leanne Howe, Gower College Swansea
Watch the recording of How AI can make Education more Inclusive
AI and a New Era for Disability Services
Be My Eyes is a ground-breaking app that harnessed the power of mobile phones to transform the lives of disabled people around the world. It is now adopting AI to provide a whole new set of tools that will provide an even greater sense of independence for people who are blind or have low vision.
- Hans-Jorgen Wiberg, CEO, Be My Eyes
- Robin Christopherson, Head of Digital Inclusion, AbilityNet
- Michelle Ward, Policy & Tooling Lead, Sony
Watch the recording of AI and a New Era for Disability Services
Lunch and Learn (online only sessions)
- Lunch and Learn 1: Safe Listening Technology, Sony
- Mike Somerset, Sony
Watch the recording of Safe Listenting Technology by Sony
- Lunch and Learn 2: Discoverability - how do people find the AT features relevant to them?
Myles Pilling
Watch the recording of Discoverability - how do people find the AT features relevant to them?
- Lunch and Learn 3: Humanising WCAG 2.2
Claire Poste
Ashley Peacock
Watch the recording of Humanising WCAG 2.2
- AI and Inclusion - Networking
Alice Taylor
Dylan Barrell
Watch the recording of AI and Inclusion
Metrics, Storytelling and Influence
How can accessibility leaders use storytelling to influence strategy in their organisation? What role does data play in building the case for investment? What data should we collect and what should we report?
- Matthew Luken, Deque
- Doug Koppenhofer, Vice President, Accessibility Center of Excellence, Crawford Technologies
- Amy Low, Service Delivery Director, AbilityNet
- Gert-Jan Vercauteren, Lead Accessibility Engineer, SkyScanner
- Jeff Wissel, Chief Accessibility Officer, DisabilityIN
Watch the recording of Metrics, Storytelling and Influence
Google Accessibility Discovery Centre - What Next?
Google's Accessibility Discovery Centre opened on International Day of Persons with Disability in December 2022. SInce then it's had over 1600 visitors from all kinds of organisations from around the world. Learn more about why it exists, why it works and how it is creating a blueprint for the next set of centres.
Watch the recording of Google Accessibility Discovery Centre - What next?
Understanding the Procurement Process
Not every digital experience is designed and delivered in-house - third-party apps and resources are often purchased to deliver services used by employees and customers.
Procurement processes have multiple stakeholders and numerous requirements and often highlight conflicts between competing and highly diverse pressures, such as security, compatibility with existing systems or budget.
This session will help accessibility professionals understand procurement processes better, and identify the best way to achieve accessible outcomes they seek.
- Arati Rao, Senior Digital Governance Manager, HSBC
- Rory Lawson, Account Director, Kineo
- Ben Ineson, Category Lead, HSBC
- Hanna Helgesdotter, Supply Chain Sustainability Manager
- Kirsty Hames, Senior Front End Developer, Kineo
Watch the recording of Understanding the Procurement Process
Apple and Accessibility
Apple has always been committed to accessibility and has developed a wide range of tools that have become mainstream features. This session will explore the way that Apple embeds inclusive design in its processes, and look at some of the emerging technologies that will bring new capabilities for its users.
- Sarah Herrlinger, Senior Director, Global Accessibility Policy & Initiatives, Apple
- Robin Christopherson, Head of Digital Inclusion, AbilityNet
Watch the recording of Apple and Accessibility
Closing Panel: Accessibility Leaders Panel
Our panel of thought leaders will reflect on the themes explored at TechShare Pro 2023 and consider what the future holds for accessibility.
- Mali Fernando, Group Head of Digital Experience and Accessibility, HSBC
- Mark Walker, Head of Marketing and Communications, AbilityNet
- Kate Nash, CEO, Purple Space
- Susanna Laurin, IAAP Representative to the EU
- Jessica Rafuse, Accessibility Leader, Microsoft
- Irene Mbari-Kirika, Technoprose Global and InAble