Digital Transformation: Accessibility and Inclusive Design

M&T Resources’ second Digital Transformation panel breakfast event was a great success, welcoming an expert panel and 35+ movers and shakers from Brisbane’s tech scene.

With a panel of three leaders from the QLD Government Department of Transport and Main Roads, Australian Digital Health Agency and innovative home care start-up, Five Good Friends, the event focused on Accessibility and Inclusive Design. The panel breakfast was led by experienced MC and TedX speaker, Tim Anderson. Held on 27 February 2020, this was the second event in our Digital Transformation Series, which was initiated in October 2019 by M&T Resources Account Manager Johanna Bullin.

Our panel:

• Sarah Capstick, Project Director | Smart Ticketing Strategy and Customer Transition, Department of Transport and Main Roads
• David Herse, Head of Product, Five Good Friends
• Travis Hodgson, General Manager, Australian Digital Health Agency

Facilitator: Tim Anderson (MC), FinTech QLD Co-founder & Innovation Practice Lead at GLASS,

The Digital Transformation panel discussed a range of key Accessibility and Inclusive Design topics, with audience questions answered via online interactive product, Slido. Following on from the Digital Transformation panel discussion and Q&A, attendees had the opportunity to network, grab a bite and discuss over a coffee.

M&T Resources is committed to driving workplace diversity and inclusion; ‘Embrace Individuality’ is one of our core values which our team lives by every day both internally and for our clients and candidates.

It was certainly encouraging to hear our panel from the private and public sector speak so passionately about accessibility and inclusion.

The point was made that ‘inclusivity’ is not about ‘targeting people’ to be included. By contrast, ‘inclusivity’ should be something that is ‘open to all people’. This was a central theme throughout the discussion. The panel shared valuable examples revealing the inherently different approach to inclusivity that these definitions result in.

A positive and proactive approach towards accessibility can mean real problems are being solved for groups with cultural needs, permanent & temporary disabilities.

From a leadership perspective, gaining buy-in for accessibility is essential in order to achieve success in this area.

The panel explored the benefit of a story telling & co-design approach. Examples revealed that project teams were most successful when the customer, business and technology teams were represented by a real mixture of people.

With an engaged audience of 35+ specialists from across Brisbane, we were pleased to hold another successful panel discussion showcasing the exciting digital transformation projects taking place across the market.

As we continue with this series of panel events, we will explore specific aspects of Digital Transformation in more detail with leaders from forward looking organisations across Australia. I am so excited to begin planning our next event due to take place next quarter. If there are topics you think would be valuable and interesting in this space, or if you would like to speak at a future event, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

If you would like to be kept in the loop on future Digital Transformation events, please drop me an email: johanna.bullin@mtr.com.au.

Do also check out M&T Resources’ events page for any upcoming events.

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About the panel

Tim Anderson (MC), FinTech QLD Co-founder & Innovation Practice Lead at GLASS

Tim has been working in financial services and consulting for well over 15 years during which time he’s played a key role in the design and delivery of major transformational projects, developed communications strategies to support structural and cultural shifts and managed strategic risk through innovation and reinvention of business models. Tim has also cofounded FinTech Queensland, an organisation focused on fostering the Queensland fintech community, promoting Queensland FinTech start-ups and assisting corporates on their fintech journeys. Tim now combines his passion for FinTech and enthusiasm to help organisations drive a culture of innovation as the Innovation Practice Lead at GLASS.

Sarah Capstick, Project Director | Smart Ticketing Strategy and Customer Transition, Department of Transport and Main Roads

Sarah has an extensive career in the public transport sector spanning national and international markets across both public and private sector organisations leading various streams including strategy, policy, service planning and customer channels. Throughout her career, Sarah has balanced strategic intent and operational activities to deliver seamless structural, behavioural and cultural transformational change programs. Sarah is well known for her strong inclusive leadership style, and natural ability to distil complex challenges into pragmatic solutions. In her current role at the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Sarah is responsible driving the Queensland State Government’s $371 million Smart Ticketing strategy and customer transition approach, providing strategic leadership across accessibility, advocacy, policy, customer research, marketing, communications, media and stakeholder engagement teams.

David Herse, Head of Product, Five Good Friends

David is the Head of Product at the innovative home care start-up Five Good Friends. Five Good Friends’ mission is to combine technology with caring people to support older people and people with disability to live independently and safely in their own home. David loves turning ideas into reality to keep the world sustainable, beautiful and liveable for everyone. For the past 10 years, David has focused on creating online products and services for customer happiness and business success.

Travis Hodgson, General Manager, Australian Digital Health Agency

Travis has an extensive background as a transformative change leader in the health sector. His executive experience in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Commonwealth governments, across a range of state-wide and national portfolios has enabled Travis to develop a unique leadership style shaped by the opportunity to perform a number of vastly diverse roles spanning the full care continuum. At the Australian Digital Health Agency, Travis currently works alongside an incredibly bright group of individuals, driving national digital health programs that are anchored on improving health outcomes for all Australians.