Inclusion (Disability) Advisory Panel

Alexander holds degrees in librarianship, teaching and literature. He works in the employment and communications teams at the NSW Council for Intellectual Disability.

Alexander has given evidence at the Royal Commission into Violence and Exploitation of People with a Disability, and addressed politicians about accessibility and reform including the NDIS and Trustee and Guardianship. He has carried out work about how to help present vaccines in special education, contributed to a University of NSW research book about disability policy and spoken around NSW and interstate.

He was the first winner in the NSW category of the VALID Dulcie Stone writing contest in 2024.

As lead policy advisor with Vision Australia, Bruce focuses on the development of the organisation’s public policy positions on issues that affect people who are blind or have low vision.

He’s also involved with developing responses to government consultations and reviews. He works with government, industry and the broader disability sector on topics such as access to information, access to the built environment, digital inclusion, access to the arts and access to telecommunications.

Bruce has led or contributed to Vision Australia’s research into the barriers that people who are blind or have low vision experience in social and community participation in areas such as tertiary education and public transport, and the impact of new and emerging technologies such as silent electric vehicles and e-bikes.

Edward is the CEO of the Physical Disability Council of NSW (PDCN) and chair of the NSW Disability Advocacy Network (NDAN). He has deep experience driving social change through championing lived experience and is dedicated to ensuring that opportunities and challenges raised by the disability community are addressed.

Ed was previously a disability consultant, founding a firm following his time at KPMG. He also has experience as a government adviser, academic and non-profit director.

Ed lives with multiple sclerosis, experiencing elements of physical, intellectual and psychosocial disability.

Emily joined the Australian Disability Network as a relationship manager and Positive Action towards Career Engagement (PACE) program manager in August 2015. During this time, Emily worked with the network’s large and complex membership on their access and inclusion projects and supported them to create positive changes. In March 2019, she joined the leadership team.

Emily currently leads the member experience team as executive manager. She’s a passionate leader who integrates coaching into her management, focused on ensuring her team is equipped to thrive and grow in their roles. Emily and her team are committed to ensuring members are active and working closely with the network to achieve their access and inclusion goals. An experienced relationship manager with the ability to cultivate relationships and work collaboratively, Emily is driven to provide a positive and engaging member experience.

Giancarlo is a respected disability, racial justice and LGBTIQA+ human rights advocate, and proudly a queer, non-binary intersectional leader of colour. They’re CEO of NSW peak body BEING – Mental Health Consumers and sitting on numerous Australian and NSW Government and social service sector boards.

An Equality at Work ambassador for the Australian Human Rights Commission, Giancarlo has been recognised by Pro Bono Australia’s #Impact25, a public voted list of Australians making the most social impact in Australia. They’ve also been recognised as one of the 40 under 40 most influential Asian-Australians.

Megan is the deputy CEO of People with Disability Australia (PWDA), bringing more than 2 decades of leadership in inclusion, cultural change and disability rights across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

A proud person with disability, Megan is a passionate advocate for intersectional equity and systemic reform. Their extensive experience includes senior roles at Yooralla, ABC and the NSW Department of Education.

Known for their strategic and human-centred approach, Megan has been recognised as a finalist for the DLI Change Maker Awards in 2022 and 2023, and as a top 8 Disability Inclusion Changemaker in 2024.

A mother of 3 young boys, including a neurodiverse child, Nicole brings personal insight and professional depth to her work in the disability sector. Currently head of disability supports at Settlement Services International (SSI) with more than a decade of leadership across local area coordination, Ability Links NSW, specialist disability accommodation, mainstream employment, community participation, supported education and independent living, she’s committed to working towards reform in the sector and our communities.

Nicole proudly leads SSI’s Pathways to Possibilities initiative and is deeply passionate about expanding mainstream employment opportunities for people with disability, ensuring pathways that are inclusive, sustainable and transformative for all.

Priscilla is the CEO of the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance, the national advocacy peak body for people with mental health challenges, including psychosocial disability.

Priscilla lives and works on Gadigal land, identifies as neurodivergent and has lived experience of mental health challenges throughout her life. Prior to leading the alliance, Priscilla was the CEO of BEING – Mental Health Consumers in NSW and founder/CEO of All Together Now, a racial justice organisation.

Priscilla is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), and has an MBA in social impact from the University of NSW (MBAx) and a Churchill Fellowship.

Rebecca is the AuDHD founder of FutureTech Australia, a neurodivergent-led social enterprise driving inclusive education and peer mentorship. A national leader in neurodiversity, she contributed to the development of Australia’s first national autism strategy, has advised on disability policy and consults widely on inclusive practice.

Rebecca is neurodiversity education officer at the Beach School, a Remarkable alumni and member of Catalyst 2030, SECNA and AICD. With lived experience of neurodivergence, mental health and hidden disability, she’s a sought-after speaker, having appeared at events such as the UN’s World Autism Day.

Rebecca is passionate about co-design, sparking curiosity and challenging norms to build a better future for everyone.

Sharon is a proud Deaf woman and passionate advocate for the Deaf and hard of hearing community.

After navigating barriers herself, she dedicated her career to driving change across employment, accessibility and inclusion. In 2018, she founded Sign Hear, a Deaf-led business supporting Deaf jobseekers and helping organisations become more inclusive through training, education and Auslan access.

Sharon is committed to closing the gap between Deaf and hearing people. She brings lived experience, passion and a strong belief in what’s possible when inclusion is done right.

Steve has more than 10 years of experience as a peer worker in the public health sector and community managed sector, currently working as peer manager for Prince of Wales Hospital in the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD).

He’s also a peer educator for the SESLHD as well as the Recovery College, casual lecturer at the University of NSW in mental health topics, mental health consultant with private organisations, and advocate and public speaker for individuals with psychosocial disability.

Yvonne is the executive director of the Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association (MDAA). She has extensive experience in the disability sector driving her commitment to fostering equity, inclusion and meaningful change.

Drawing from her lived experience, she’s dedicated to understanding complex social dynamics and addressing the challenges faced by people with disability. Her heritage enriches her perspective and reinforces her support for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. Yvonne continues to champion equitable opportunities and advocate for a society that values and celebrates diversity in all its forms.