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Why Inclusion Matters – A Conversation with Project Nemo Co-Founder, Kris Foster

Celebrating National Inclusion Week with Project Nemo

Introduction

National Inclusion Week is a moment to pause, reflect, and take action on how we can create workplaces – and industries – where everyone feels valued, recognised, and supported to be their best.

At Project Nemo, our mission is to close the gap in disability inclusion across financial services and fintech, ensuring disabled people are included as both customers and colleagues. Too often, disability has been missing from conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion, leaving millions excluded.

To mark National Inclusion Week 2025, we sat down with Kris Foster, co-founder of Project Nemo, disability advocate, and passionate voice for change, to hear his perspective on why disability inclusion matters – and what we can all do to drive progress.

Q1: Kris, what does National Inclusion Week mean to you personally?

For me, National Inclusion Week is about being seen and being heard. It’s one of those rare moments when people pause to notice experiences that are usually invisible – disability, neurodiversity, and the everyday challenges of existing in environments not designed for you.

I know what it feels like to walk into an office and immediately put on a mask, hiding every part of yourself that might make life harder or that people might not understand. The constant effort, the tension, the mental exhaustion –  it’s draining.

And I also know the relief of finally being somewhere I can just be myself. That difference – between hiding and belonging – is night and day. When people feel they belong, they can thrive, and so can the organisations around them.

Q2: Why is disability inclusion in the workplace so important?

Because talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. Millions of disabled people want to contribute, innovate, and make an impact – but are blocked by systems, processes and environments that were never designed with them in mind. The barrier isn’t the disability itself.

Being autistic, even simple things can feel overwhelming: the hum of an office, crowded commutes, fluorescent lights that feel too bright. That’s why small adjustments can completely transform the experience. For me, starting work at 7:30am and finishing around 2:30pm allows me to avoid the majority of the commute and manage sensory overload. It sounds small, but it changes everything. Being able to show up fully, without exhaustion, is inclusion in action.

I like to bring a little humour to it. I’ve joked with Jo, my co-founder, saying, “You’re not the only one with a Personal Assistant.” It’s a way of flipping what some might see as a limitation –  the fact I need the support – into a strength. For me, having the right support has always allowed me to bring my best to the table.

Inclusion is about creating the conditions where people can succeed.

Q3: What barriers do disabled people still face when it comes to work?

Many barriers are invisible. They live in assumptions, in judgements, in decisions made for us rather than with us. People talk about us, but rarely with us.

I’ve experienced this first-hand. I was once told I couldn’t travel for work – without anyone asking what I actually needed. The truth is, I can travel; I just need small adjustments like flexible hours or avoiding peak commute times.

These assumptions linger. You replay them, wondering if anyone will ever see what you can do rather than what they assume you cannot.

The good news is most adjustments aren’t costly or complicated. Quiet spaces, accessible software, clear communication – even simply asking, “What would help you do your best work?” can open doors that assumptions slam shut.

When organisations get it right, everyone benefits – parents, carers, colleagues, customers – they all thrive. Inclusion strengthens the entire workplace and organisation.

Q4: How does Project Nemo fit into this picture?

Project Nemo was born because gaps in inclusion were impossible to ignore. Disability was barely discussed in financial services or fintech –  not in products, not in workplaces. Joanne Dewar and I co-founded Nemo to change that.

We wanted to raise awareness and educate the industry that was inadvertently leaving people like me behind –  both in terms of products and services and employment opportunities.

When we launched, only around 1% of fintechs were registered as disability confident, and just 3% of websites were fully accessible. That had to change.

We’ve worked with partners across the industry to drive inclusion, including:

This last project proved something we’ve always known: products and systems are stronger when the people they impact are involved from the very beginning.

On a personal level, inclusion transformed my life. Jo saw potential in me when others might only have seen my disability. She created a role for me that didn’t exist, which didn’t just give me a job –  it set the course for Project Nemo and changed my life.

My role at Project Nemo is about using lived experience to guide research, influence product design, and help organisations turn inclusion from an idea into reality.

Inclusion doesn’t just open a door –  it creates pathways, opportunities, and hope. It also drives innovation that benefits everyone. With 24% of the UK population classed as having a disability, companies can’t afford to ignore this – it’s about knowing your customers and your employees.

Q5: What is one message you would like to share with organisations this National Inclusion Week?

Start now. Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Inclusion isn’t glossy strategies or big campaigns – it’s small, consistent actions.

  • Talk to disabled people.
  • Listen and create safe spaces for colleagues to share.
  • Review your hiring processes and products. Are they truly accessible and inclusive?
  • If not, take steps to change that.

Every action sends a powerful message: “You matter. You belong. Your contribution is valued.”

Resources exist to help – from Project Nemo’s films, podcasts, and guides, to Eden Chase Associates’ Unlocking Disability Confident course which you can join right now. But the key is to take the first step.

Inclusion is human. It’s empathy. It’s understanding. When someone like me walks into a workplace fully seen, fully supported, and fully themselves, everyone wins – including the business.

Closing Thoughts

As Kris reminds us, inclusion isn’t just about policies or programmes –  it’s about creating a culture where everyone feels they truly belong.

This National Inclusion Week, let’s commit to taking action, however small, to remove barriers and build workplaces that are inclusive by design.

Inclusion isn’t just good ethics  – it’s good business.
Organisations that embrace accessibility gain new customers, unlock talent, and foster innovation.

Together, we can create a future where accessibility is the norm, not the exception. Now is the time.

Join the Conversation

Learn more about Project Nemo’s mission to drive disability inclusion in financial services and fintech at projectnemo.co.uk. Follow us on LinkedIn for tools, resources, and real-world stories that inspire change.

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