10 November 2025 | Sydney Town Hall

This is the first Disability Tech Summit that Remarkable has hosted in Australia and it started with the Leaders Forum on Monday, 10 November, at Sydney Town Hall. Travelling from 10 countries across the world and cities around Australia, over 100 people participated in the roundtable discussions.  

Leaders from technology, policy, academia, investment and the disability community came together for the half-day  roundtable discussions, tackling some of the biggest challenges and opportunities in Disability Tech.

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Inside the Leaders Forum

We started with lunch and a chance to meet each other before moving into topic-based roundtables led by our Topic Champions. Over the course of two breakout sessions, groups explored the challenges, shared real-world experience and uncovered opportunities for  action.

Breaks between sessions encouraged people to continue connecting, and the day finished with a shared insights session followed by a Welcome Mixer hosted by  ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology, hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

The format created a generous, energising space where leaders could work alongside one another and lay the foundations to help re-wire the future of Disability Tech.

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‍What We Explored

The six roundtable topics , each brought together leaders with  experience, expertise and perspectives. We aimed to have representation from the key stakeholder groups at each table including industry, government, academia, investment and startup innovators. Importantly, every roundtable had people with lived experience either leading the discussion or playing an integral part. 

The six roundtable topics and their challenge statement are below with some photos from the day.

1. Accessible Mapping:  How might we better coordinate accessible mapping data to connect useful information for people with disability?

‍Topic Champion: Matt Pierri, Sociability 

‍While multiple organisations are working on solving the challenge of making navigating the world more accessible for people with disability, there remains a fragmented approach.

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2. Accessible Travel & Transport: How might we use technology to make travel and transport truly support independence and connection for people with disability?

Topic Champions: Oliver Morton-Evans and Liza Maclean, Remarkable

Travel and transport systems still present barriers — from inconsistent standards to poor coordination across modes. Tech solutions exist but remain fragmented, leaving gaps in creating fully accessible journeys.

The roundtable discussions were led by our very own Remarkable team members, Oliver Morton-Evans and Liza Maclean. Oliver shared his recent flight experience that turned into a horror story.

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3. AI for Workplace Adaptations: How might we design and deploy AI systems that anticipate and respond to individual workplace adjustment needs — so every person with disability can thrive?

Topic Champion: Amy Whalley, Australian Disability Network

Current workplace accommodations often rely on individuals self-advocating. AI could support proactive inclusion but requires thoughtful design to balance accessibility, autonomy, and privacy.

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4. Unlocking Coordination, Capital and Commitment – From Evidence to Access: How might we scale assistive technology solutions effectively in the Pacific region?

Topic Champion: Karen Reyes, ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology, hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

Assistive technology (AT) has the power to transform education, employment, and inclusion across the Pacific and beyond. The challenge is not a lack of solutions but a lack of coordination across health, education, and employment systems. The evidence, policies, and investment cases exist—yet implementation lags. Expanding access to AT is both a driver of economic resilience and a human rights imperative.

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5. Disability Tech Investment: How can we significantly increase investment in early-stage, globally scalable disability tech solutions?

Topic Champion: Zara Fulton, Remarkable and Hugh Driver, Trailmark Consulting.

Despite the $18 trillion spending power of people with disability, disability tech remains underfunded and seen as niche. Unlike ageing and health tech, it’s yet to be viewed as a scalable market. Greater investor alignment, shared diligence, and success stories are needed to shift perceptions and mobilise capital.

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6. Australia’s Assistive Tech Innovation Ecosystem: How might we collectively build a nationally coordinated, investment-ready ecosystem for research and development in assistive and rehabilitation technology so Australian inclusive innovation leads globally?

Topic Champion: Dr Lloyd Walker, Tech4Life

Australia has world-class assistive and rehabilitation technology research utilising diverse research and knowledge teams that embed people with lived experience of disability, but lacks coordinated pathways to commercialisation. Stronger industry links, investment, and ecosystem and market development are needed to scale globally.

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Leaders Forum Highlights Gallery

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at the Leaders Forum. Together, these conversations will help reimagine how technology is designed, developed, and integrated into society to create a more inclusive future.

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Our summit sponsors

Thank you to our generous sponsors who made the Disability Tech Summit 2025 possible.

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