Leading with Purpose, Powered by ADHD:
- Snez
- 2 minutes ago
- 4 min read
When you meet Maverick, founder and CEO of My Right 2 Voice, you quickly learn that his name fits. He’s a disruptor with direction — someone who refuses to accept “that’s just the way things are” in the disability and mental health sectors.
The beginning in the disability sector:
Maverick’s journey into this field began early. At just 16, he was volunteering in the disability sector — experiences that would spark a lifelong commitment to advocacy and inclusion. Those first roles providing one-on-one and community access support gave him an up-close understanding of the barriers people face, and the power of empathy, structure, and creativity in overcoming them.
In 2009, he began studying psychology, drawn to understanding the “why” behind human behaviour. By 2015, he had completed the majority of a Master’s in Clinical Neuropsychology but chose to pivot — leaving the degree to teach and apply what he’d learned in the real world. He went on to lecture and tutor psychology at La Trobe University, while working as a Behaviour Support Practitioner with the Department of Health and Human Services. These roles deepened his understanding of human behaviour and system design — lessons that would later shape his leadership philosophy.
In 2019, he founded My Right 2 Voice, an organisation built on the belief that real inclusion comes from fixing systems, not people. Throughout these experiences, Maverick has built a reputation as both a thought leader and a relentless advocate for people whose voices too often go unheard.
Maverick's Late Diagnosis:
Yet beneath the professional accolades lies a personal story that has shaped the way he works and leads. Maverick was diagnosed with ADHD at 34. “And honestly, it made so much sense — but it also made me rethink almost everything that came before it,” he reflects. Growing up, he remembers being the kid who lost everything — his bag, his shoes, even school diaries. “I wasn’t lazy or careless. I just wasn’t attending the same way other people did.”
School was a constant challenge. His grades hovered around the middle — “C’s and D’s, failing some subjects” — until a family event and a change of environment pushed him to re-engage. By Year 10, something clicked. Boarding school in Year 12 brought the structure that his brain craved — waking up at set times, making his bed, completing tasks before leaving his room. “I didn’t realise it at the time, but that external structure was exactly what my brain needed,” he says.
University brought both fascination and frustration. Psychology captivate
d him, but essay structure and formatting were persistent hurdles. “I’d rewatch lectures three to five times to make sure I understood. Even then, I had to read everything multiple times to catch details I’d missed the first time.” Over time, Maverick learned to design systems that worked with his brain instead of against it — a lesson that became the cornerstone of his leadership. “It’s not about fixing people to fit the system — it’s about fixing systems to fit people,” he explains.
This insight underpins My Right 2 Voice, where Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) principles drive everything the organisation does. For Maverick, supporting ADHD and neurodivergent professionals isn’t about reducing their differences — it’s about leveraging them. Clear expectations, autonomy, and meaningful flexibility unlock the creativity, empathy, and energy ADHD brains naturally bring. Simple adjustments — flexible schedules, task chunking, visual planning tools, and non-judgmental check-ins — transform challenges into strengths. “The work environment needs to be designed for that — not against it,” he emphasises.
Leading with Lived Experience:
Maverick’s career is a testament to that philosophy. From disability support work to academia, to leading a respected provider of holistic disability services, his path has always centred on people. Under his leadership, My Right 2 Voice has integrated PBS principles across Specialist Support Coordination, Behaviour Support, and Counselling. He’s contributed to the national PBS Practice Framework, published research through Flinders University, and continues to deliver workshops and supervision focused on person-centred practice and service quality.
Even now, he admits moments of self-questioning. “Every couple of months I catch myself thinking, do I still have ADHD? Then I misplace something or miss a meeting, and I’m quickly reminded — yep, still there.” But he frames it positively: understanding his diagnosis has helped him understand himself and others. It informs how he structures his work, leads his team, and advocates for people across the sector.
Maverick’s story is a powerful reminder for workplaces everywhere: thriving isn’t about masking differences or overcompensating — it’s about creating environments where people can authentically succeed. “Don’t assume one-size-fits-all. Listen. Adapt. Create structure where it helps, flexibility where it’s needed, and trust everywhere in between. When you get that balance right, you don’t just support neurodivergent staff — you elevate your whole team,” he says.
“I started this business to help as many people as I possibly could, to the highest standard they deserve. This industry is not for everyone — but it’s for the right people,” Maverick adds.
Read Maverick’s latest research for the disability sector with Flinders University:
ADHD Awareness Month: Carrying it Forward
Inclusion isn’t a one-month project. It’s an ongoing effort to build workplaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work. ADHD Awareness Month offers a chance to spark dialogue and carry it forward, long after the calendar turns.
If you’d like to learn more, share your perspective, or start a conversation about reasonable workplace adjustments, we invite you to join in. By speaking openly and listening generously, we can normalise what has too often been hidden.
At My Right 2 Voice, we don’t just talk about inclusion.
We do the real work and practice it.
And we invite you to do it with us. 😊
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