Future Events
29 June 11.00-12.00
OR as a profession, in both academia and practice, is believed to contain a large proportion of neurodiverse individuals. Many female OR professionals are on individual journeys often triggered via their children's diagnosis; and whatever our personal situation, many of us work in neurodiverse teams. Following on from WORAN's February 2026 session with Nancy Doyle, a specialist in neurodiversity and disability inclusion at work, we're delighted to have assembled a group of OR professionals to discuss their lived experience.
Our participants:
Suchi Collingwood: Suchi is a Senior Analytical Lead at NHS England and a dyslexic thinker, diagnosed later in her career. Other neurodivergent experiences also resonate strongly with her. She draws on her lived experience of navigating work and leadership in neurotypical systems. She is passionate about building inclusive, psychologically safe environments where different thinking and communicating styles and self-advocacy are valued.
Kathy Kotiadis: Kathy Kotiadis, Professor of Operational Research at Kent Business School, has spent many years supporting her dyslexic son in navigating educational challenges and accessing appropriate support. Through this experience, and having herself been informally identified as dyslexic, she has become an advocate for greater understanding of neurodiversity within academic and professional environments. By openly sharing her own experiences, she has informally supported female colleagues facing the emotional and practical challenges of raising neurodivergent children, while also encouraging them to recognise the opportunities and strengths that can emerge from diagnosis and self-understanding. She also reflects on how dyslexia has influenced her own academic thinking and methodological preferences, particularly her interest in problem structuring methods and simulation modelling within Operational Research.
Frances O'Brien: Frances is a Reader (Teaching focused) at Warwick Business School. She is mum to two neurodivergent adult children and supports neurodivergent students in her roles at work. She draws on her lived experience of navigating family life pre, during and post diagnosis and how it has impacted her working life and wellbeing, and also on her role as a wellbeing lead on her department’s EDI committee.
Christina Phillips: Christina is a Senior Lecturer in Business Analytics at Liverpool Business School, A Charity Non-executive Director/Trustee at The Operational Research Society and an erstwhile artist/sculptor working in ceramic and glass mosaic. She is dyspraxic/dyslexic with her main issues stemming from the dyspraxia: once called ‘clumsy child syndrome’ the condition effects co-ordination and thinking order with some aspects manifesting similarly to ADHD. Chris has been a disability co-ordinator at LBS helping students navigate higher education and inspiring the next generation of quirky ND scholars and business managers. She is open about her learning difference and how this affects her work and play and providing a potential role model and sounding board for colleagues and students who need to understand neuro divergence and how it can affect us. Chris also has a dyspraxic son whom she has helped navigate school and now university.
Please note that this session will not be recorded. If this topic interests you, do please take the time to look at the recording of our February event, Women in OR & Analytics Network - Neurodiversity in OR
WORAN Breakfast
8 -9am - 9th September
University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
The OR Society's women's network, WORAN, warmly invites you to join us for a get-together over breakfast. Come to meet like-minded new faces or old friends, to make the most of the sharing, learning and enjoyment offered by every good conference, and every good network. Whether you are just starting out in your career or an experienced old hand, whether you are a morning person or have only just dragged yourself out of bed, whether you would love to talk or just want to listen, the connection, conversation and community will be a great way to start the day
ORS Annual Conference OR68: From Data to Decisions
8–10 September 2026
University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
For those engaged with the Women in OR Network, OR68 offers a space to connect, share experience, and highlight the contribution of women across operational research. The conference brings together practitioners and researchers to support visible role models, thoughtful discussion, and professional development, alongside high-quality OR in practice and research.
Book Here