Head of External Engagement
Australian Psychological Association
Paula Rowntree is an international speaker, consultant and educator known for advancing inclusive and psychologically safe event design. As Head of External Engagement at the Australian Psychological Society, Paula leads global partnerships, major events, and industry collaboration across the business‑events sector.
She led the development of the APS neurodivergent event guidelines, now used worldwide to support more accessible and welcoming event experiences.
Through her consultancy, The Business Events Network, Paula works with associations, destinations, venues and suppliers to strengthen event strategy, attendee experience and long‑term audience growth. With more than 20 year’s of experience across global associations, destinations, and congresses, Paula bridges research and practical application to help organizations design more inclusive and engaging events.
Date

Explore how neuroinclusive guidelines were applied in the delivery of a large-scale member symposium, moving from theory into real-world practice. Gain behind-the-scenes insight into how program design, physical spaces, communications and the on-site experience were adapted to support diverse cognitive needs—while still meeting commercial objectives and stakeholder expectations. Learn what worked, what didn’t, and how inclusive design can be embedded into core event strategy to create better experiences for everyone.
Learning outcomes:
Understand what neuroinclusive design looks like in a real event environment
Identify practical, implementable changes across the event lifecycle
Balance inclusivity with operational, budget and stakeholder considerations

Move beyond checklists and discover how thoughtful design choices around sensory load, communication, structure and choice can create more inclusive, effective events. Grounded in psychology and real-world delivery, focus on what works for both neurodivergent and neurotypical attendees.
Learning outcomes:
Understand how neurodiversity appears in event environments—beyond labels and assumptions
Identify design choices that unintentionally create barriers, even when well intended
Apply practical, scalable strategies to improve experiences for all attendees
This session is approved for the following certifications.
* ICCA Skills Domain CICS/CICE: 0.75
* CMP/CEU Approved: Domain H: Event Design, 0.5 credits
* CSEP Approved