Youth Keynote – Emily Nicol

We’re excited to welcome Emily Nicol as the Youth Keynote speaker for Hari Kebanggaan Keanekaragaman Hayati 2025, a celebration that highlights the voices, talents, and experiences of neurodivergent people worldwide.

Emily Nicol is a passionate advocate for neurodiversity, bringing both lived experience and deep personal insight to her work. Diagnosed with Dyspraxia, Emily has developed a unique way of approaching challenges, often seeing connections and solutions that might be missed by others. Her ability to think creatively and holistically has been a strength throughout her studies and her contributions to various projects.

Emily’s journey through education wasn’t always easy. Like many neurodivergent people, she faced barriers in traditional learning environments, but she also found ways to adapt and thrive. She discovered that by advocating for the supports she needed—whether that meant structured schedules, clear communication, or quiet spaces for focused work—she could excel and bring her best self to every opportunity.

In her own words, Emily believes that “diverse ways of thinking—whether in the workplace or in an academic environment—lead to stronger, more innovative outcomes.” Her dedication to fostering inclusive spaces is evident not only in her work but also in her ongoing efforts to empower other neurodivergent individuals. She brings a thoughtful, systems-oriented perspective to everything she does, and her attention to detail has been a cornerstone of her success.

Emily’s keynote will speak to the importance of embracing every individual’s strengths while recognizing that each of us may need different forms of support to fully thrive. Her message embodies the spirit of Neurodiversity Pride Day: a celebration of differences that enrich our communities and make us stronger together.

We’re grateful to Emily Nicol for sharing her story and for being an inspiring voice for young people navigating their own neurodiversity journeys. Her openness, creativity, and resilience remind us that inclusion is about more than just policies—it’s about creating spaces where every person feels seen, supported, and valued.

On this page, we will share the link to the talk, and add the embedded version. The talk will premiere on June 16th, before this date, there is no link or embedded version yet.