DCA's outstanding diversity leadership team includes:
- Nareen Young, CEO
- Jane O'Leary, Research Director
- Catherine Petterson, Communications Director
- Katriina Tahka, Member Services Director
- Susan Sieber, Consultant
- Yvette Edwards, Executive Assistant to the CEO
- Amber Roberts, Research Assistant
- Sue Flockart, Events Coordinator
Nareen Young, Chief Executive Officer
Nareen Young has a strong history of leadership in employment diversity and is widely credited with identifying many new concepts in the area of workplace and business diversity thought and practice in Australia.
Since her appointment as Chief Executive Officer of DCA in 2007, it has become a vibrant and progressive organisation involved in significant activity and collaborative partnerships across the business and diversity spectrums to provide Australian's businesses and workplaces with a flourishing independent, not-for-profit diversity peak body. Nareen and the team she leads have transformed DCA in all possible terms - governance, infrastructure, financial and communications - to place it as Australia's business and workplace diversity authority.
Nareen is one of Australia's employment diversity thought leaders and experts, having worked in diversity employment exclusively for over a decade. Prior to her appointment at DCA, for seven years she was Director of the NSW Working Women's Centre, funded by state and federal governments as the prestigious peak body for women's employment in NSW. Her time at the Centre was characterised by her leadership in developing and implementing sustained activities so that the Centre was accessible to all women in NSW and could play a significant role in mainstream employment matters. Nareen was nominated for an Australian Human Rights Award and Medal for her work during this time.
Prior to this appointment, Nareen was a trade union official and served on the executives of both the Australian Council of Trade Unions and Unions NSW in affirmative action positions representing women's employment interests. On both of these occasions she was elected to these representative positions by her peers.
Nareen has presented and published widely on employment diversity matters both in Australia and internationally, made appearances in most of the employment and human rights tribunals relevant to employment matters, made appearances before government and independent inquiries and is a Judge for most of the employment diversity awards operating in Australia.
Nareen was appointed Chair of the Australian Government's National Work-Life Balance Awards Judging and Accreditation Panel by (then) Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard in 2008. Nareen is a Board member of the Institute for Cultural Diversity and a Community Advisory Group member for the AFL's Greater Western Sydney Team.
Nareen has qualifications in education, her original career choice, and employment law and lives in Sydney with her partner, two children and a veritable menagerie.
Jane O'Leary, Research Director
Jane O'Leary has been with DCA since 2001, working closely with members to assist them foster organisational cultures which are inclusive of all personal differences. In 2008 she took on the role of Research Director to oversee DCA’s mission to generate leading diversity research, thinking and practice in the Australian context. As Research Director Jane works in partnership with leading diversity thinkers and practitioners in business and academia to conceive of, design and implement innovative research projects, which influence progress and the broader public debate in diversity management and equity. She also works with DCA members to conduct diversity audits, develop and review diversity strategies and initiatives and conduct value-add diversity-related educational initiatives.
In 2010, Jane submitted her PhD, which investigated how Australian managers can most effectively manage workforce diversity. She was awarded a federal government scholarship to undertake this research at the University of Queensland Business School. The findings have been well received both here in Australia and overseas, with the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management presenting her with an award at its 2010 conference. Jane also has a Masters of Education degree undertaken through the Queensland University of Technology. Her study focused on the area of women in leadership, and she was awarded an Academic Prize for Outstanding Achievement. She has published papers on women and careers, women and leadership, qualitative research techniques, and learning and development. Her particular areas of specialisation include managerial diversity capability, diversity strategy development, implementation and evaluation, women in the workplace, and learning and development.
Prior to joining DCA, Jane worked in the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) consulting to employers on issues relating to diversity and inclusion. She held the senior policy position in EOWA, with responsibility for developing the policy framework for interpreting and administering the amended Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Act 1986 and overseeing the development of accompanying educational guidelines for employers. On the basis of her work in this role she was awarded a Medal for Significant Contribution to the Australian Public Service in 2001.
Catherine Petterson, Communications Director
As Communications Director, Catherine Petterson’s role is to plan and manage DCA’s communications activities to provide a persuasive rationale for DCA membership to employers, and to increase member involvement in furthering best practice in diversity.
In this role, Catherine’s key responsibilities include writing and/or editing DCA’s regular publications on diversity such as Diversity Matters and Diversity Matters update as well as its Annual Report and all other member communications. She is responsible for DCA’s website and emarketing capability, including the recent overhaul of both, coupled with the introduction of a new customer relations management system, all of which are designed to create more effective ways of engaging and communicating with members. She is also is responsible for planning and managing DCA events, including its Diversity Leadership Briefings. Her current focus is on building DCA’s capacity for issues management and media relations, as well as developing the next phase of its digital strategy.
Catherine joined the organisation in 2004, initially to revamp its communications and organise its 20th Anniversary celebrations. This evolved into orchestrating DCA’s name change (from the Council for Equal Opportunity in Employment Ltd) and implementing a new corporate image in 2005. The new look and name was very well received with 92% of members surveyed approving of the new logo and image.
Catherine has a strong background in corporate communications and her expertise spans communicating to a broad range of audiences from business though to consumers, employees, investors, shareholders and the media. Prior to DCA, Catherine worked at public relations firm Hinton & Associates where she provided strategic financial and corporate communications advice to listed companies. She also had a long stint at ANZ Bank in a variety of senior communications roles including in corporate affairs, internal communications, investor relations and major project communications. During her time at ANZ, Catherine was awarded a Silver Serif Award from the Society of Business Communicators for publication of ANZ’s internal magazine ‘Scope’.
Catherine has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Arts degree in Communications from Monash University.
Katriina Tahka, Member Services Director
Katriina Tahka leads the alignment and implementation of membership strategies and programs across Australia for DCA and its members.
She works as a trusted advisor to DCA and its members, providing strategic thinking and thought leadership to organisations interested in improving their workplace culture and business performance by promoting diversity and inclusion.
Katriina has more than 15 years’ experience in workplace relations. She has practiced as an employment lawyer in top tier national law firms in Australia, working with predominantly employer clients, advising clients on a broad range of employment law issues and representing them in employment related litigation.
Anti-discrimination law and working with people to create better workplaces for everyone have always been a particular passion for Katriina. Ten years ago she got the opportunity to move in-house to a large Australian blue chip organisation providing employment and diversity advice and consultancy across the business and at all levels of management. Katriina has led the national talent management and diversity teams, led the design and development of the leadership framework and worked with senior leadership teams on strategic workforce planning. Katriina has also been responsible for HR operations internationally working across India, China, Singapore, United Kingdom, United States and Australia.
She is known for working closely with clients and providing pragmatic, commercially focused advice that balances business interests and the broader workplace relations considerations.
Katriina has presented widely on workplace relations, talent management and diversity matters in Australia and is a past President & Chair of the former National Diversity Think Tank.
Katriina has a Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Law degree from the Australian National University. She lives in Sydney, Australia with her partner and their three lovely children.
Susan Sieber, Consultant
Susan Sieber recently joined DCA as a Consultant. Having worked for NAB for over 20 years, Susan was responsible for managing the first ever Pay Equity Audit between a large corporate (NAB) and a union (the Finance Sector Union - FSU). The audit was ground breaking in that NAB’s Enterprise Agreement 2006-2009 contained a clause which committed both NAB and the FSU to undertake a pay equity audit.
During her time in NAB, Susan was responsible for the diversity strategy for the Australian Region. In this role she implemented the first ever diversity survey for NAB, set up employee networking forums (e.g. Working Parents Network) and was a party to the development of a very successful in-house flexibility toolkit. Susan prepared regular communications on diversity and inclusion news, Employer of Choice for Women citation applications and EEO applications – many of which resulted in waivers from reporting for NAB.
In her role as Diversity Manager, Susan was also responsible for developing suitable metrics to track NAB’s progress on diversity and inclusion measures and the implementation of the first ever School Based Training program for Indigenous youth. Susan was also instrumental in gaining support within NAB to sponsor the DCA’s ground breaking research into barriers for Indigenous Australians in the workplace. She has also won awards within NAB for her commitment to the employment of people with a disability.
Prior to her time in diversity, Susan spent a number of years in NAB’s Industrial/Employee Relations providing HR teams, employees and the business with support on people management and advice on Award terms and conditions. She has worked as a Contact and Investigation Officer for discrimination and harassment claims and was part of the leadership team responsible for a number of consultants advising the business on employment/termination decisions.
Susan holds a Bachelor of Economics from La Trobe University.
Yvette Edwards, Executive Assistant to the CEO
Yvette Edwards joined DCA in 2009 as Executive Assistant to the CEO, Nareen Young. She provides high level administrative support to the CEO but also plays a crucial role in office administration including managing DCA memberships, invoicing, handling proposals for consulting work and providing assistance with event management.
Yvette started her career with the Department of Attorney Generals (Local Courts) as a court officer but then moved into EA roles including working for the Camperdown Children’s Hospital Child Safety Centre, Hoyts Cinemas and most recently Ray White Real Estate.
Yvette has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in philosophy and psychology from The University of Sydney.
Amber Roberts, Research Assistant
Since joining DCA in May 2011, Amber has co-ordinated and managed all DCA events and networks, taken responsibility for ensuring DCA’s website contains the latest research and resources for members, and provided research and administrative support on a range of DCA projects.
Amber’s particular diversity expertise resides in Indigenous social justice and native title. Her significant experience in this area was gained while working for the Department of Justice and Attorney-General and the National Native Title Tribunal.
In her role with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, Amber researched and transcribed Magistrates Court Judgments and coordinated all Magistrates Court Circuits to the Torres Strait and Cape York.
She was an instrumental member of the Cairns Murri Court stakeholder team working alongside the Cairns Regional Coordinating Magistrate, Chief Police Prosecutor, Youth Justice, Community Corrections, Elders and Community Justice Group members to set up and implement the Cairns Murri Court in 2007.
Amber assisted the National Native Title Tribunal President with his publications, conference speeches and submissions on proposed changes to Commonwealth Government legislation, including to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Senate Committee in relation to the Native Title Amendment Bill 2009 and other related amendments to the Native Title Act 1993.
Amber has assisted to finalise complex agreements and timetables between native title parties’ towards consent determination of native title, future act agreement or alternative settlement by strategically managing agreement-making milestones, claim overview plans and complex mediation strategies.
In her roles Amber has liaised with the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Office and his Department, Commonwealth Ministers and their Advisors, Judges and Officers of the Federal Court of Australia, Land Councils, Native Title Applicant groups, Traditional Owners, State and Commonwealth Native Title Negotiators and all relevant stakeholders relating to Native Title.
Amber has recently completed a Specialist Certificate in Social Policy (Inclusion) at the University of Melbourne.
