Speaker Biographies

Monday, 30 May

Welcome to Country

Agnes Shea, Elder of the Ngunnawal people

Agnes Shea is a highly respected elder of the Ngunnawal people of the Australian

Capital Territory (ACT) and its region. She is a foundation member of the United

Ngunnawal Elders’ Council and a member of the ACT Heritage Council. Throughout

her life Agnes has worked towards building a better understanding of Aboriginal

culture among other Australians and is known for her traditional Ngunnawal

‘Welcome to Country’ ceremonies in the ACT.

In 2001, Agnes received the Centenary Medal for her contribution to reconciliation

and the community. Agnes OAM was the first person to receive the Chief Minister’s

Award in 2003 and was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2004 for her service

to the Ngunnawal people and the wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

community of the ACT.

Welcome and Opening

Joan McKenna Kerr, President of National Disability Services

Joan McKenna Kerr is Chief Executive Officer of the Autism Association of Western

Australia and has spent the last 25 years working in the field of disability at a State

and national level. She is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin from where she gained

a Moderatorship in Sociology. She is also a member of the Australian Institute of

Company Directors.

Ms. McKenna Kerr is Chair and National President of NDS and Deputy Chair of NDS

WA. She is a current member of the NDIS Independent Advisory Council; and a

Director and Vice-President of the Australian Advisory Board on Autism Spectrum

Disorders. Ms. McKenna Kerr has also recently been appointed to serve on the West

Australian South West Native Title Settlement Pre-Qualification Committee.

What’s next for disability employment?

The Hon. Jane Prentice MP, Assistant Minister for Disability

Services

The Hon Jane Prentice MP, Assistant Minister for Disability Services.

Jane Prentice was elected to the House of Representatives for the Federal Seat of

Ryan as the Liberal National Party Candidate on 21 August 2010. She was

appointed Assistant Minister for Disability Services in February 2016.Prior to her

election to Federal Parliament, Jane served for 10 years as Councillor for the

Brisbane City Council ward of Walter Taylor. In Council, Jane was a member of Civic

Cabinet, with the portfolio of Public and Active Transport and Economic

Development Committee.

Disability Excellence Award

The Hon. Jane Prentice MP, Assistant Minister for Disability

Services

The Hon Jane Prentice MP, Assistant Minister for Disability Services.

Jane Prentice was elected to the House of Representatives for the Federal Seat of

Ryan as the Liberal National Party Candidate on 21 August 2010. She was

appointed Assistant Minister for Disability Services in February 2016.Prior to her

election to Federal Parliament, Jane served for 10 years as Councillor for the

Brisbane City Council ward of Walter Taylor. In Council, Jane was a member of Civic

Cabinet, with the portfolio of Public and Active Transport and Economic

Development Committee.

Developing a desire to work

Darren Coppin, Esher House

Darren specialises in the analysis of behavioural change in the unemployed and the

impact of resilience upon job outcomes.

Darren oversees operations in Australia and Europe implementing academically-

validated behavioural and psychological interventions drawing on direct input from

some of the most esteemed experts in their field.

Darren will speak on how to develop a desire to work among people with barriers to

employment.

Let’s join the dots – can we see the picture?

Ken Baker, Chief Executive, National Disability Services

Ken Baker is the Chief Executive of National Disability Services (NDS), the peak

association for non-government disability service organisations. In that role, he

provides information, representation and policy advice.

Ken has worked in social policy and public affairs for 30 years. Based in Canberra,

he is currently a member of the NDIS Independent Advisory Council and other

committees advising on disability policy.

With a membership of around 1100 non-government organisations, NDS promotes

and improves services which support people with disability to participate in all

domains of life, including employment.

PANEL: How can we drive employment opportunities for people with

disability?

Ken Baker, NDS

Maryanne Diamond, NDIA

Maryanne is the General Manager Media, Communications and Engagement at the

National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). She is the chair of the International

Disability Alliance (IDA) and the Immediate Past President of the World Blind Union

(WBU).

Maryanne has held a range of roles in Australia and at the global level for more than

25 years. She was the inaugural CEO of the Australian Federation of Disability

Organisations and most recently was the General Manager Advocacy and

Engagement at Vision Australia until November 2015.

Maryanne’s most significant achievement was leading the WBU delegation during

the negotiations and diplomatic conference with The World Intellectual Property

Organisation (WIPO) that led to the adoption of the Marrakesh treaty to Facilitate

Access to Information for persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired or otherwise Print

Disabled in June 2013.

In June 2015 Maryanne was awarded an Officer in the Order of Australia.

Sean Fitzgerald, C3 Solutions

In mid-2007 Sean started working for Hartley Lifecare, a local accommodation and

support service, to start up and manage their Accenture sponsored Assistive

Technology program. This allowed him to continue his passion in matching

technology to a disabled person’s needs and capabilities. He started focusing his

energies on a "Technology to Work" program aiming at using technology, training

and employer/employee disability awareness to help people get meaningful work.

Sean left Hartley's assistive technology program in late 2009 and now runs his own

technology, training and awareness business for people with a disability, C3

Solutions.

It is Sean's advocacy and technology work that brought him closer to the wider

disability community and acutely aware of individual and families need for a peer to

give them a voice with politicians, government and in the media. Eventually this led

Sean to be a campaigner with the "Every Australian Counts" campaign for a National

Disability Insurance Scheme. His involvement with the campaign has seen him

joining other campaigners at Parliament house lobbying our politicians for a fully

funded NDIS. Sean considers the NDIS a vital initiative for Australia's future as it will

help people and their families be engaging and productive members of society as a

whole.

Marlene Krasovitsky, Australian Human Rights Commission

Marlene Krasovitsky is currently the Director of Willing to Work, the National Inquiry

into Employment Discrimination Against Older Australians and Australians with

Disability with the Australian Human Rights Commission. This Inquiry is being led by

The Hon. Susan Ryan AO, Age and Disability Discrimination Commissioner.

The Inquiry has held over 120 consultations in metropolitan, regional and remote

locations to speak with older people and people with disability about their

experiences of employment discrimination and their ideas for change. In addition,

over 340 written submissions have been received by the Inquiry.

Marlene has worked in Commonwealth and State Government in a range of policy and

operational roles as well as a number of major public inquires including the Review of

the Treatment of Women in the Australian Defence Force and the Special Commission

of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW.

Marlene is currently undertaking PhD studies with the School of Government,

University of Sydney. Marlene holds an Executive Masters of Public Administration

(ANZSOG), a Masters of Business Administration (University of Technology, Sydney)

and is a registered psychologist.

OE – Innovation

Right support, right job, works everywhere

Olivia Sorre, MJP Employment Services

Olivia has a long history working within the Disability and Employment Services

sector across all levels of service delivery.

Manager MJP Employment Services she leads a team of highly dedicated people

working with local communities and businesses to make a difference in daily lives of

people with intellectual disabilities accessing the service. She has a strong record in

Leadership, Change Management, Business Development and Building Team

Capacity.

She is a member of Disability Employment Australia, Edwardstown Region Business

Association and Community Centres SA.

Olivia holds a Diploma in Management and a Bachelor in Behavioural Science.

Opportunities for innovation: bringing the policy drivers together

Chris Gration, CoAct

Chris is the General Manager Growth at CoAct, a network of not for profits that

believe in the power of sustainable, fulfilling work to transform lives and

communities. He’s interested in how we put people and their communities at the

centre of our effort as markets are unleashed across human and disability services.

Before CoAct, Chris led the National Respite Association working with small services

on transition in the NDIS, community aged care, mental health and carer support. He

has a background in social policy and government; financial services and strategy;

and the not for profit sector.

Peer work in action

Damien Becker, Ability Links North West Alliance

Damien Becker has worked in community development for twenty years, specialising

in developing innovative community-led projects and supporting leadership and voice

within marginalised communities. He is passionate about people living with disability

taking leadership roles in the design and implementation of policies and programs

that affect them directly. Damien has a Masters in Community Development and

lived experience of disability, having been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth and

last year receiving a double-lung transplant. He currently works with Ability Links

NSW for Northern Rivers Social Development Council, lead agency of the North

West Alliance.

Prue McCarthy, Ability Links North West Alliance

Prue McCarthy has cerebal palsy from birth, and is an active campaigner for social

inclusion. From an early age she has been a pioneer in accessing the mainstream

education system, and in 1987 won the Orange Junior Citizen of the Year. Prue is

currently working with Ability Links NSW for CareWest, a partner in the North West

Alliance, and is also active on a range of board committees such as Central

Tablelands Housing. As part of her Peer Linker role Prue coordinates a Disability

Awareness Program called ‘Different on the Outside but Same on the Inside’ which

has delivered strong results to a range of primary schools across the Central West of

NSW. Prue loves to travel, and will shortly add China to her extensive list which

includes Europe, UK and South East Asia.

Valerie Thompson, Ability Links North West Alliance

Valerie Thompson is the Program Manager of North West Alliance Ability Links and

coordinates the implementation and delivery of the service across the Northern and

Western regions of NSW. Valerie has a diverse background in strategic planning

and policy development across state and local government as well as the non-

government sector.

OE – Business Challenges

The impact of star ratings on service provision

Ann Nevile, ANU

Dr Ann Nevile is an experienced Australian social policy researcher who has spent

many years evaluating the impact of funding and performance management

frameworks on third sector service delivery agencies and their clients, most recently

in the area of disability employment where she has been Lead Chief Investigator and

sole Chief Investigator in two Australian Research Council Linkage projects.

Today Dr Nevile will be presenting results from the second of these research

projects.

Partnerships deliver results

Justin Brown, Castle Personnel

Justin Brown is the General Manager of Castle Personnel Services.

Having commenced with Castle in 2015, Justin is responsible for the overall

operations and achievements of the business, both DES and NDIS operations.

Always looking for new ideas and innovation in the way a business operates; he is

focused on Castle developing new models of service and the achievement of great

outcomes for the participants.

Justin describes his key responsibility as leveraging the past successes of Castle to

ensure the organisation is capable of succeeding through the significant environment

of change that exists today.

Business initiatives in the current DES environment

Bill Gamack, Epic Assist

As the CEO of EPIC Assist (EPIC), I am responsible for developing EPIC’s business

globally. I have worked in the recruitment industry since 2006. My career has taken

me from working at a major Chartered Accountancy firm in both Australia and

England, to senior management positions in a range of industries, including seven

years in the Middle East.

I joined EPIC because I’m passionate about helping people obtain meaningful work

and aspiring to their greatest potential. As a disability employment organisation,

EPIC was particularly relevant since in my family I have a lived experience of

disability.

At EPIC we provide a personalised service to assist people with disability or

disadvantage to achieve success. We stay with them on their journey until we are

no longer needed. We place people into meaningful jobs, deliver education and

training and provide services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme

(NDIS).

SE – Innovation

New approaches to supporting people with disability in employment

Lisa Browne, Kalianna Enterprises

Lisa Browne is the Business Services Manager for Kalianna Enterprises ADE. From

the beginning Lisa knew that she wanted the ADE to be a vibrant, challenging, and

forward thinking environment. First up was to allow ADE staff to step up, staff to run

it and staff to own it. Allowing ADE staff to fully participate has resulted in increased

profit, less absenteeism, increased opportunities and a greater level of positive talk.

The flow on effects to the entire business has been outstanding and marks for a

positive future.

Lisa holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Leisure & Health), Graduate Certificate

(Leisure & Health) and a Masters in Gerontology from Charles Sturt University.

Transitioning from supported employment to a social enterprise

Cathy Miller, Minda

In May 2010 Cathy accepted the role of Chief Executive Officer, Minda Incorporated,

a non-government organisation and a leader within the disability sector. Services to

over 1,700 people with intellectual disability include residential, commercial

enterprises, aged care, day options and respite care. A turnover of over $85 million,

1,400 staff and over $110 million in assets. Minda has entered the retirement living

sector with a $265 million development. At the end of eight years there will be 288

beachside retirement apartments at Brighton.

Cathy Miller was Chief Executive Officer, Southern Adelaide Health Service (SAHS)

from July 2007 – May 2009. SAHS had a catchment population in excess of

330,000 people, employs more than 7,000 staff and has a budget of in excess of

$700 million. Services include Flinders Medical Centre, Noarlunga Health Service,

Drug and Alcohol Services SA, Repatriation General Hospital, Southern Mental

Health and Southern Population and Primary Health Care.

New ways to solve old problems: innovation through social enterprise

Fiona Beermier, Intework

Fiona Beermier is the Chief Executive Officer for Intework, one of Western

Australia’s leading Disability Organisations. Intework provides opportunities for

people to participate in employment, education, social and cultural activities both

within Intework and the community.

Prior to her appointment at Intework, Fiona spent seven years as the Chief

Operating Officer at Youth Care where she was instrumental in leading the

organisation through a period of cultural and structural change.

With over 30 years’ experience in health, community and social services she is

passionate about leaving a positive legacy in the not-for-profit sector.

Fiona is a member of the WA NDS state committee and advocates strongly for

employment opportunities for people with disability.

SE – Business Challenges

On the road to sustainability – Wallara Logistic’s journey

Warren Kemp, Axial Enterprises

Warren Kemp is an experienced business development professional who has been

working with ADE’s to transition their businesses for over 10 years.

He works on the principle that ADE sustainability and enhanced employment

opportunity provision have to be driven by commercial principles. He tasks himself

and ADE management with answering the question ‘Where do I want this

organization to be in five years and how can we get there?

He is currently working with a number of ADE’s in Melbourne to plan, implement and

consolidate business strategies that establish the foundations for sustained business

growth.

Garry Baker, Wallara Logistics

Garry Baker is a highly experienced business executive who has extensive

commercial business management experience spanning over 35 years.

Garry has worked in commercial enterprise in Senior Management and CEO roles

across a diverse range of businesses, including Direct Marketing, Logistics,

Manufacturing and Oil & Gas industries. Garry has both the experience and capacity

to analyse and develop new opportunities, implement processes to drive business

growth, and obtain buy-in from all levels from the Boardroom to the shop floor.

Recruited to Wallara Industries in the capacity as General Manager almost 6 years

ago, Garry has driven change management of the entire operation and grown the

business by in excess of 400% in that time.

Ongoing employment & business development

Steve Beard, The Accounting Professionals

Steve started his career as a Chartered Accountant providing business services

advice to a broad range of small business clients. He then moved into his own

successful commercial printing business, a business that was awarded the Illawarra

Business of the Year in 2002.

Steve sold his printing business to The Flagstaff Group in 2004 and went on to

become the Group’s CEO for six years. Steve was also the CEO of Greenacres

Disability Services and over the last three years has been consulting to a broad

range of disability services in his role as a Disability Sector Consultant at the

Accounting Professionals.

The interaction between employment and community participation

Liz Neville, NDS

Liz has 20 years’ experience working in the human services sector including in

service delivery, regulatory compliance, policy implementation and advisory roles.

Prior to joining National Disability Services as a National Manager of Sector

Development, Liz worked as a Senior Manager at KPMG where she undertook

program evaluations, organisation reviews and business performance improvement

activities across the health and community services. In her current role, Liz is leading

a program of work around provider readiness for the NDIS including promoting

models of support that allow people with disability to experience more active

participation in their community.

Tony Fitzgerald, Outlook

Tony has extensive and varied management experience in the non-government

sector. His background includes overseeing the development of community

accommodation options in the 1980’s for people with disability as part of the

Victorian State Government deinstitutionalisation program. Prior to this Tony

managed a state wide community development initiative for the Brotherhood of Saint

Laurence establishing cooperatives for people on low incomes as an alternative to

dependence on traditional charity handouts.

Tony’s interest and belief in the role that Social Enterprises could play as a powerful

social justice tool was sparked as a result of his work with the Brotherhood.

Productivity Bootcamp

Paul Breen, Productivity Bootcamp

Paul Breen has been in the construction industry for over 20 years and after selling

his company in 2013, Paul decided to pursue his vision of building a training

company that taps into the younger generation. This style of training not only meets

the learning needs of young people, but is directly linked to the needs of industry. In

February 2015 he launched Productivity Bootcamp followed by the launch of

Productivity Force in May that same year. Many young people with diagnosed

disabilties have entered Paul's program and successfully gained employment upon

completion. Paul believes that if you tap in to young people in the right way - they

could be the best generation to hit the workforce

Tuesday 31st May

Welcome

Rohan Braddy, NDS Board Member

Rohan is the CEO of Mambourin Enterprises Ltd, an innovative and highly regarded

company empowering people to live great lives. Rohan has been on the NDS Board

since 2010 and also assists with sector development through a number of

representative roles.

What’s next for disability employment?

The Hon. Jenny Macklin MP, Shadow Minister for Disability Reform

Jenny Macklin is the Member for Jagajaga and Shadow Minister for Families and

Payments and Disability Reform.

Jenny was elected to Federal Parliament in 1996 as the Member for Jagajaga.

Upon the election of the Rudd Labor Government in 2007, Jenny was appointed the

Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

In this role Jenny oversaw the historic apologies to the Stolen Generations and the

Forgotten Generation. Jenny was also responsible for the most significant reforms to

Australia's pension system in its 100 year history. These reforms delivered pension

increases, a new pension supplement, a pension Work Bonus and a new indexation

system.

In 2011 Jenny added Disability Reform to her portfolio reflecting Jenny's strong

personal commitment to reforming the disability services sector in Australia. In this

role Jenny oversaw the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme

(NDIS) in 2013.

Bridging the Gap

James Murphy, KereKere

James Murphy is an entrepreneurial social worker that brings together his

passions for giving, community and innovation. James is the founder of

KereKere, a coffee shop that seeks to foster a spirit of generosity within our

community. KereKere started out as a coffee cart at The University of

Melbourne in 2007. By 2010, it had evolved into a purpose built kiosk, in

2012 KereKere South opened at Boyd Community Hub and in 2014,

KereKere Green opened in the Fitzroy Gardens Visitors Centre.

James holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Social Work from The

University of Melbourne. He has worked at Child Protection and in Family

Service along with Business Development positions with Jesuit Social

Services and Social Firms Australia. James is currently working on the

development of Oswald + Co, a specialist consulting service helping

organisations do good business.

Career creation – the Micro Enterprise Project

Jayne Barrett, Community Living Project

Jayne has been a strong advocate for families who have a son or daughter with

disability. As a parent Jayne was involved in initiating many community based

services in the southern areas of Adelaide during the 1980's. Amanda, the eldest of

Jayne’s three daughters lived with severe and multiple disabilities until she was 27

years of age, she died in December 2000. Jayne continues to have a deep personal

commitment to work at inspiring people to think that a better life is possible for

people with disabilities. This passion has given her opportunities to travel and work

with families locally, interstate, and overseas, in Ireland, New Zealand and Canada.

The Community Living Project Inc.(CLP) - an agency that facilitates highly

individualised community living opportunities for people with disabilities - has been

Jayne’s employer since 1984. The work of CLP is to work collaboratively with

families to find the best ways to serve and individually support people with disabilities

to be included in their own homes and community life. In her current role Jayne has

worked on designing and trialling a new project, CLP’s Micro Enterprise Project

which assists people to have their own small business as an alternative to attend day

programmes.

Open Employment

1.1 Redesigning DES

Peter Broadhead, Department of Social Services

Peter Broadhead is the manager of the Disability Employment Services (DES)

Branch in the Department of Social Services. This follows consolidation of the

previous DES Programmes and DES Policy and Performance branches in mid-

February this year. The branch also has responsibility for building on the work of the

Disability Employment Taskforce, to provide advice to government on options for

DES beyond the expiry of the current arrangements in March 2018, and any related

initiatives to address increased employment opportunities for people with disability in

the open labour market.

Peter has only recently arrived in this role, having commenced as the manager of the

DES Policy and Performance Branch in late August last year. He has worked in

departments of health and social policy in 2 states and the Commonwealth for about

30 years, and at senior executive levels for the last 25.

2.1 Panel: How to better engage employers

Gail Johnson, Department of Defence

I began my working life as a teacher and completed post graduate work to become a

teacher of the students with Hearing Loss. In 2007, I joined Defence to work in the

Office of the Chief of Army, managing the Parliamentary Business Section.

In 2010, I was asked to develop the Army Alcohol Management Strategy and in

2012, was seconded to the Australian Drug Foundation to develop the Defence

Alcohol Management Strategy. This was completed in late 2013, at which time I

came back to Defence and joined Defence People Group Diversity Directorate to

work in the area of disability

Jenny Lambert, ACCI

Jenny has been serving the business community for 32 years as a senior manager

within industry associations, including 16 years as a CEO of associations largely in

the services sector.

Commencing with the Australian Hotels Association as their Industrial & Research

Officer in 1984, Jenny then served as Project Manager at Tourism’s Industry

Training Advisory Board in the early 1990s, working on projects relating to workplace

reform, workplace assessment, competency standards, training accreditation and

quality assurance.

Jenny took on her first CEO role as head of Restaurant & Catering NSW, and then

jointly held the national CEO role until 1999. Then followed six years as CEO of

Meetings & Events Australia, overseeing amongst other activities, a structured

professional development and accreditation system. In 2005, she became CEO of

Nursery & Garden Industry Australia and in 2007, CEO of the National Tourism

Alliance, which is the peak body for tourism associations nationally. She

commenced with the Australian Chamber in May 2011 and is responsible for policy

development and advocacy in vocational training, higher education, schools,

employment and migration.

Supported Employment

1.2 Shaping the Evolution of ADEs

James Kemp, Department of Social Services

James Kemp has almost 20 years’ experience working in the Social Policy field and

is currently Acting Branch Manager, Disability and Employment Sector Reform

Branch in the Department of Social Services. James’ substantive position is as

Director NDIS Transition, in which his focus is on ensuring a smooth transition for the

17 Commonwealth programmes which have funding transitioning to the NDIS. Prior

to commencing work on NDIS Transition in February this year, James was the

Director of the Payment Scheme and Supported Employment Policy, which involved

the development of the Business Services Wage Assessment Tool (BSWAT)

Payment Scheme as well as considering broader supported employment policy

issues. Prior to joining the Disability, Employment and Carers Group in 2013 James

worked on Departmental Grant Management issues and Commonwealth Housing

Programmes.

2.2 Launch of ADE Campaign Social Impact Tool

Ken Baker, NDS

Ken Baker is the Chief Executive of National Disability Services (NDS), the peak

association for non-government disability service organisations. In that role, he

provides information, representation and policy advice.

Ken has worked in social policy and public affairs for 30 years. Based in Canberra,

he is currently a member of the NDIS Independent Advisory Council and other

committees advising on disability policy.

With a membership of around 1100 non-government organisations, NDS promotes

and improves services which support people with disability to participate in all

domains of life, including employment.

Daniel Kyriacou, NDS

Daniel Kyriacou is General Manager Communications with National Disability

Services. Prior to taking up this role in mid-2012, Daniel was the National Operations

Manager of the Every Australian Counts campaign for an NDIS. A keen campaigner,

Daniel has held senior coordination roles in the Trade Union movement and served

as the National President of the National Union of Students in 2003. Daniel has the

role of building both political and community support for the introduction of an NDIS.

At NDS Daniel is responsible for the development and implementation of integrated

communication initiatives, both internal and external, to support the strategic and

corporate objectives of NDS, increase engagement with key stakeholders and drive

advocacy.

Open Employment

3.1 Identifying opportunities for DES providers under the NDIS

Peter De Natris, NDIA

Peter currently works at the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) as a

strategic advisor on early childhood and early education and employment. Prior to

this he had 12 years with Ageing, Disability and Home Care, in NSW as a Regional

Director in Southern NSW and the Executive Director, Community Access.

In his role as Executive Director, Community Access he lead the implementation of a

broad range of programs and strategies to increase employment for people with

disability in NSW. This included the redesign of and reinvestment in community

focused supports in the disability sector in NSW with a strong emphasis on

employment outcomes.

In his current role with the NDIA he is focusing on key areas of Scheme Design

which recognise the shift from the current program based systems to an Insurance

scheme based on markets that need to be developed and supported so that best

practice can be enabled and continuous improvement encouraged.

Peter has had various roles with TAFE in Victoria and NSW and then with the

Victorian and Commonwealth public services working in Employment, Adult

Education and the Human Services areas.

Leah Twaits, Karingal

Leah Twaits has worked in various roles and contracts in Employment Services for

the past 13 years, assisting people of all abilities to find employment.

This experience has included over 8 years assisting people with a disability into the

workforce.

Leah is currently working with a Geelong based organisation, Karingal ,as an

Employment Pathway Coordinator assisting NDIA participants that have identified

goals of obtaining employment and are ineligible for service within the DES Program.

Leah works collaboratively with local providers to help prepare the participant for

work and achieve independence in a mainstream environment.

She is passionate about assisting people achieve their goals.

4.1 Closing the gap between the supply and demand sides of disability

employment

Dr Katherine Moore, QUT Business School

Dr Katherine Moore is a Research Associate at the QUT Business School. Alongside

members of the Work/Industry Futures Research Program, her research focuses on

the employability of vulnerable groups, with a specific focus on youth and people

with disability. Her PhD research adopted qualitative methods and an embedded

case study analysis of a large Australian retailer to investigate the employability of

people with disability from an organisational perspective. Prior to an academic

career, Dr Moore worked for 12 years as an employment consultant in the disability

employment field, primarily assisting people with moderate to high support

requirements.

5.1 How early intervention can increase skill and human capital in the

workforce

Professor Jeff Borland, University of Melbourne

Jeff Borland is Truby Williams Professor of Economics at the University of

Melbourne. His main research interests are analysis of the operation of labour

markets in Australia, program and policy evaluation and design, Australian economic

history, and sports economics. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in

Australia, and in 2010 was the Visiting Professor of Australian Studies at Harvard

University. Jeff publishes a monthly ‘Snapshot’ on the Australian labour market at:

https://sites.google.com/site/borlandjum/labour-market-snapshots

Supported Employment

3.2 Meeting the challenges of ADE transition to an NDIS environment

Brett Lacey, House with No Steps

Brett Lacey is the Executive General Manager Businesses for House With No Steps.

Brett has been part of the House with No Steps team for 12 years, and is fortunate

enough to be based at Summerland House Farm on the north coast of NSW. Other

business portfolio’s include Packaging, Facility Services and in the NDIS

environment a number of Newcastle based businesses. These include a Laundry,

Manufacturing, Recycling and MediRedi. More than 500 people with a disability are

employed in the businesses, across NSW, the ACT and QLD

Miranda Garnett, Koomarri

Koomarri CEO, Miranda Garnett, joined Koomarri in April 2008 after an extensive

career in both the private and not for profit sectors. With a firm grounding in

business and finance balancing experience and commitment to social welfare

reform, Miranda's expertise and passion is pivotal in leading Koomarri’s future as a

specialist disability service provider, employer of people with disability and shifting to

a sustainable ethical business model. As the national disability sector embarks on its

transition into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the greatest social

welfare reform in Australia's history, Miranda is with confidence, committed to

leading Koomarri into the 21st century with a firm view to growing the organisation's

capacity to support more people with disability to be empowered and supported to

achieve their life goals, ambitions and independence within a community that

promotes choice, equality and respect.

A chartered accountant with qualifications in Accounting from the University of

Canberra, Miranda has worked internationally and across Australia in roles which

have brought her to value diversity and to the benefits which can be gained from a

professional approach.

Kevin Todeschini, Colony 47

Kevin Todeschini became involved in the ADE sector in 2008, as the Manager of

Colony 47’s ADE enterprise known at Start Fresh Services. Prior to this Kevin was

an Operations Manager of a major Tasmanian food manufacture, SQF

practitioner plus he has a Diploma of Management. Not having experience in the

disability sector Kevin found himself on a journey of unique challenges while

ensuring the business remained stable in a competitive market. During this time he

has adapted the business model to which he is in the process of doing again as the

NDIS is rolled out across Tasmania.

Kevin lives south of Hobart with his family.

4.2 Wage setting in supported employment – the living wage

Chris Christodoulou, Greenacres

Chris was a Director of Greenacres Disability Services from February 2012 but

resigned from this position following his appointment as CEO in September 2013.

Prior to this, Chris was Assistant Secretary of Unions NSW a peak body organisation

that advocates for the rights of working people in Australia. He has served on

numerous Boards and Committees over many years and is absolutely committed to

good governance. Chris was involved in the creation of the first ever award to

provide wages and conditions for people with disabilities in supported employment

enterprises in the early 1990’s.

Kerrie Langford, NDS

Kerrie has over 30 years’ experience working in the not-for profit sector in direct

service, policy development and senior management. Prior to joining National

Disability Services in 2013, she was the CEO of a leading Disability Employment

Service for over 10 years. Kerrie’s career encompasses a broad range of specialist

disability service experience including: nursing, accommodation support and

management, community services, volunteer management and disability

employment. In her current role with NDS, Kerrie has oversight of the disability

employment services including Disability Employment Services, Australian Disability

Enterprises, Social Enterprises, transition to work programs and their interface with

the NDIS.

5.2 Supported employment pricing and funding under the NDIS – where

to from here?

Paul Musso, NDS

Paul Musso is the Policy Advisor for Disability Enterprises with National Disability

Services (NDS). He is an Economist who has worked with Disability Enterprises in

various capacities for over sixteen years. He worked at DSS for over a decade prior

to joining NDS. He is a passionate advocate for the Disability Enterprises sector and

through his work with NDS seeks to influence Government policy for the benefit of

Disability Enterprises and their supported employees, staff and management.

Transition to work

1.3 NDIS School leaver employment supports – a pathway to

employment

Joanna Battersby, NDIA

Joanna began her career in the UK coordinating ergonomic workplace assessments

for people with a disability returning to the workforce. She then returned to Australia

and worked in local government as a community development worker, ageing and

disability, working closely with the Deaf community to increase access to mainstream

activities including the first screening of open captioned movies in Western Sydney.

Joanna then moved into open employment, directly supporting people with a

disability to find and maintain work.

Joanna has over 11 years’ experience in the NSW Government in operations and

policy roles. Working for the NSW Department of Family & Community Services she

was responsible for implementing employment programs, individualised funding

models, self-managed supports and NDIS readiness projects.

Joanna holds a Bachelor of Arts (Anthropology) and Masters in Public

Administration. In 2014 she was awarded a travelling research prize to the UK to

examine the role for governments in enabling or building communities to deliver

social change for people with disabilities.

Joanna joined the NDIA in September 2015 to lead employment initiatives for

Scheme participants.

Jillian Paull, NDIA

Jillian trained as a social worker many years ago & then worked for the SA

government for a number of years. Primarily in the welfare related fields of child

protection, domestic violence, homelessness, out of home care and intercountry

adoption.

Amongst a number of other things, she was the delegate for the SA government in

negotiating new arrangements between India and Thailand for intercountry adoption.

After leaving the SA Government she moved to the community sector where she

headed up the SA branch of a national not for profit organisation.

Whilst there Jillian established a University level course for people at risk of

homelessness as well as leading a project to acquire a number of Early Learning

Centres following the demise of the ABC Child care chain.

Some four years later Jillian accepted a role with the ACT Government leading

reform in their community services area.

She joined the National Disability Insurance Agency in 2014 and established the

ACT Trial site before moving to their Geelong National Office in 2015 where she

headed up the Media and Comm’s team. She delivered the NDIA’s first

international conference last year…with a focus on how technology can change the

lives of people with a disability.

Jillian now heads up the Scheme Practices Branch with a focus on strategies and

processes required to deliver the National Disability Insurance Scheme across

Australia.

2.3 Longer term outcomes of Ticket to Work

Andrew Hawkins, ARTD

Andrew Hawkins is a Director at ARTD consultants where he has been for the last

nine years. He works as an evaluator and mentor for social policy professionals to

deliver credible and useful evidence for decision making. He has a background in

psychology, a deep interest in the philosophy of science and the highest regard for

the people who do the real work on the frontline.

Michelle Wakeford, Ticket to Work

Michelle Wakeford is the National Ticket to Work Manager at National Disability

Services (NDS). Michelle has extensive experience in developing, implementing and

researching innovative practices. Michelle has been a passionate advocate for

opportunities and support for young people transitioning from school to employment.

She has a particular focus on increasing expectations and opportunities of young

people with disability through career and workforce development and inclusive and

meaningful employment participation.

3.3 Marriott Employment Services’ Ambassadors program

Jennifer Lumsden, Ambassador Co-ordinator

Jennifer Lumsden is an experienced project facilitator currently using story

development with young people with intellectual disability to build insight and

confidence to pursue work, at Marriott Support Services. Having worked in corporate

innovation and research utilisation Jennifer has a strong interest in social innovation

and in particular finding ways to engage service users in project development, and

stories is one strategy to effective engagement.

Hannah Skipper, Ambassador

Having a disability did not stop Hannah from completing her VCE over two years.

Hannah has learnt to manage anxiety by identifying triggers and ways to bring calm

in the midst of chaos including a wonderful talent for drawing. Hannah started

studying animation this year and works at Woolworths Deli.

Nomaan Ahmed, Ambassador

Nomaan is a hospitality worker at Crown Casino and an aspiring actor. Through his

involvement in Ticket to Work he commenced a school-based traineeship and

gained valuable experience that supported him to successfully transition into post-

school employment. Nomaan has big plans for his career.

Hannah and Nomaan are part of Marriott Employment Services’ Ambassadors

Program.