Our Team

Team DCA

Our Team

DCA has an experienced and dedicated team passionate about diversity and inclusion (D&I) in Australia.

Please see below for individual profiles of staff and an interactive infographic showing the diversity profile of the DCA staff. 

Join Our Team

DCA is a small team of dedicated professionals with a passion for D&I. We are a diverse and passionate bunch of people. We believe strongly in DCA’s vision and mission. This shared set of values and our continuous learning culture unite us as a team and sets the tone of our working environment.

DCA is a supportive and inclusive employer. We encourage true flexibility and aim to create a work environment where all employees are valued, and can contribute, regardless of Indigeneity, culture, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, age, family and caring responsibilities or religion.

Current Vacancies

There are no current vacancies.

Lisa Annese has been the Chief Executive Officer of Diversity Council Australia since 2 June 2014. In this role, she leads debates on D&I in the public arena.

Under her leadership, DCA delivers innovative diversity practice resources for Australian businesses and supports them in improving their inclusion capability. She has led a broad array of ground-breaking, evidence-based research, including Australia’s first national index on workplace D&I, seminal research on the economics of the gender pay gap, original work on Counting Culture and building Asian Leadership Capability, research supporting individuals being “Out at Work”, main-streaming flexible work and myth-busting workplace responses to sexual harassment and, domestic and family violence.

In 2018, Lisa was named one of the AFR’s 100 Women of Influence. In 2019 she was elected to the Board of Amnesty International Australia and in 2021 to the Board of the non-partisan organisation, Women for Election.  Lisa is a member of Chief Executive Women and is the Executive Producer of DCA’s podcast, The Art of Inclusion.

Lisa has had a long career in the D&I space across the corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors.

Some of her career highlights include:

  • Developing and launching the #IStandForRespect campaign where over 220 Australian CEOs have signed up to take a stand against gendered harassment and violence.
  • Advocating for policy action in areas including making workplaces safer via changes to the Sex Discrimination Act (1984) and Fair Work Act (2009),  on government-funded paid parental leave and accessible, affordable child-care, closing the gender pay gap, achieving Australian Marriage Equality, maintaining protections in the Race Discrimination Act (Cth 1995) and a strengthening of the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2013) and more recently advocating for greater representation of women and girls in STEM careers, reducing the incidence of sexual harassment and violence against women and for greater multi-faith inclusion without regressive religious freedom laws.
  • Presenting DCA research at international forums, including recently at the Commission for the Status of Women (virtually) in New York, a UNESCO Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, at the University of Patras, Greece and the University of Texas, US.  She has also represented DCA at the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations in both Doha (Qatar) and Kerala (India).
  • At the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (formerly EOWA), developing the first-ever census of ‘Australian Women in Leadership’, the first-ever ‘Business Achievement Awards’, the creation of the ‘Employer of Choice for Women’ citation and the development and implementation of the policy framework for the EOWA Act (1999) with Australian businesses. For her contribution at EOWA, she was awarded a Medal for Significant Contribution to the Australian Public Service.
  • Co-authoring “Chief Executives Unplugged: CEOs Get Real About Women in the Workplace”.

Lisa Annese on LinkedIn >

Nicole joined DCA in September 2019 as the Office Manager and Executive Assistant to the CEO.

She has a diploma in Events Management and Marketing Business Administration and her career has spanned numerous industries including hospitality and the corporate sector.  

Nicole has a great passion for animals and would love to adopt and rescue all those in need of a loving home. However, her household is already full with her husband, daughter, two dogs and cat.

Jacqueline (Jac) has recently come from Aboriginal Affairs NSW in the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Directorate and, prior to this role, worked at NSW Police as a senior LGBTIQA+ Policy and Projects Officer. She has spent most of her career in the public sector although has worked in NGOs such as ACON (formerly AIDS Council of NSW) and a peak body for co-operative housing. She has an Honours Degree in Psychology and a Master of Social Policy.

Jac’s role as Senior Advocacy and Government Relations Manager is to assist DCA to identify opportunities to contribute to government strategies, inquiries and programs based on evidence-based research and DCA membership experience. She will be working across all teams in DCA to utilise the breadth of knowledge and skills held by teams to ensure that governments are well informed of the latest research and practice to create more inclusive and supportive workplace environments across Australia.

Jac’s parents survived the Holocaust in Europe, arriving by ship to Australia with practically nothing (their bags were stolen at the dock) and no English language. This background, and her experience as a same-sex parenting activist, adds to her professional D&I experience, motivating her to help create a more inclusive Australia.

Research Team

Jane O’Leary provides a range of research, advisory and consulting services to assist Australian employers to drive business improvement through successful diversity management.

In 2008 she took on the role of Research Director to oversee DCA’s mission to work in partnership with members to generate groundbreaking diversity research that enables Australian organisations to fully leverage the benefits of a diverse talent pool. Since then, Jane has established DCA’s research function and worked with Australia’s leading diversity employers to design and deliver diversity research that is ahead of the curve, speaks to the Australian context, drives business improvement and, importantly, leads public debate.

Jane has a PhD, undertaken through the University of Queensland Business School. Her thesis investigated how Australian managers can most effectively manage workforce diversity. Jane also has a Master of Education degree, which focuses on the area of women in leadership.

Prior to joining DCA, Jane worked in the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) assisting employers on issues relating to D&I. 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.

Rose has been with DCA since 2017, working in the role of Research Manager. In this role, Rose works in the development, planning, and writing of research projects, as well as engaging in a number of key research activities.

Rose has a Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Management and Human Resources from the University of Newcastle. She comes from a background of academic research and teaching and has a PhD in religious diversity, inclusion, and expression in the workplace. Rose has a keen interest in all things surveys and how organisations can explore their data to support diversity and inclusion in their workplaces. 

As a Research Manager, Annika supports DCA’s Research team in the development and planning of cutting-edge D&I research projects. Her expertise lies in cultural and linguistic diversity, and as an immigrant to Australia herself she keeps a keen eye on migration and integration matters.

Annika comes to DCA from an academic background having most recently been employed as a researcher and lecturer at the University of Sydney Business School, Macquarie University, and Estonian Business School. 

Annika holds a doctoral degree in Political Science from Kiel University in Germany, where she studied labour market integration of newly arrived refugees, and a master’s degree from Uppsala University, where her thesis dealt with the question of national identity.

In her role as Research & Projects Manager, Emily supports DCA’s research projects and manages the website resources content.

Emily holds a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Queensland, and a Graduate Certificate in Workforce Diversity and Inclusion from the University of Southern Queensland. Emily has a background in human resources and in the higher education sector.

Emily has a particular interest in gender equality, and one of her favourite pastimes is dispelling myths and misconceptions about the gender pay gap at parties.

Member Relations Team

Based in Naarm (Melbourne), Fiona joined the DCA team in 2019.

As Director of Member Relations, she leads a dedicated team focused on providing support and guidance to DCA member organisations. Their mission: to ensure that every member fully leverages DCA’s extensive range of best practice resources, thereby maximising their D&I success.

The key focus of Fiona’s role is the continuous improvement of the member value proposition and steering its strategic direction, to deepen member engagement and ultimately empower and inspire DCA’s member community in raising their D&I capability and creating more inclusive workplaces.

With professional experience spanning both not-for-profit and corporate sectors across Europe and Australia, Fiona brings expertise in learning and development, recruitment, project management, and consulting.

Her extensive career path continues to be underpinned by an enduring commitment to workplace fairness and ensuring equitable access to meaningful employment for all.

She is particularly passionate about championing and leveraging the strengths and skills of neurodivergent employees in the workplace.

Stefanie has over 30 years of experience across a variety of cultures and environments within the not-for-profit sector. For the past 20 years, she has been a senior leader and has worked across a range of charities, leading teams, and developing strategies to deliver multi-million-dollar fundraising programs. 

Stefanie was CEO of Variety Australia, where she coordinated seven state boards to deliver one strategic national plan, and as the Head of Fundraising, has raised much-needed funds within charities to support First Nations People, people with disabilities and environmental causes. 

Stefanie started her career in Membership, working at the Insurance Council of Australia and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development in the UK and is passionate about delivering high-quality service to members.

Stefanie has three adult daughters and three grandchildren and lives in Sydney with her partner.

Yvette started with DCA in 2009 as Office Manager and Executive Assistant to the then CEO, Nareen Young.  She then left DCA to pursue other opportunities, returning to the DCA family in 2015 as Member Services Assistant. 

In 2018 Yvette moved into the Events Coordinator role where she managed the CEO Roundtables hosted by DCA Chair, David Morrison and DCA CEO, Lisa Annese.  She assisted DCA’s Events Manager, Sue Flockart in delivering a full calendar of cutting-edge diversity and inclusion events and was the point of contact for Sydney-based events.

Towards the end of 2019, Yvette returned to the Memberships Team where she is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the membership database and working with her colleagues to build and strengthen relationships with DCA members.

Yvette has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in philosophy and psychology from The University of Sydney.  She shares her life with her husband, two teenage daughters and her eldest ‘child’, Otto the cat.  She enjoys having to spend the majority of her non-work time at the netball courts.

Andrea Maltman Rivera is a journalist, podcast producer, writer and communications specialist. As a passionate advocate for equality of opportunity, she joined DCA in November 2017 and brings a bang to their communications and publications, ensuring they engage and attract members to all areas of diversity and inclusion.

Playing an active part in cultivating great relationships and providing valuable and timely support for our DCA members, is our Member Relations Manager, Kath (they/them).

Kath comes to us with vast experience in Customer Service, Quality Assurance, Training/Education and Community Engagement within various industries – including essential roles in the D&I space. They are passionate in embedding practices, strategies, policy improvement and celebration initiatives in the workplace and outside their dedicated D&I role. Their career has been about making an impact, building strong relationships, and advocating and driving awareness of D&I practices.

Proudly non-binary and queer, raising awareness for the LGBTQIA+ community is both a professional and personal passion of theirs. Prior to joining DCA, their advocacy efforts saw them featured as a panel speaker for events for Non-Binary People’s Day, Wear it Purple Day and a Pride in Practice conference. They also had a blog entry featured on the Wear It Purple website during IDAHOBIT.

Fuelled by their belief in the power of allies, Kath has also championed and facilitated LGBTQIA+ ally training in a past workplace. Through telling their story, their goal has always been and continues to be connecting with individuals to open minds and to start conversations for education and growth. They acknowledge the privilege these opportunities have given them, and, on every occasion, they make sure to wear their rainbow heart on their sleeve to try and inspire hope and spark joy for other LGBTQIA+ people, especially the youth.

Kath’s dedication and commitment to Diversity and Inclusion, see them going above and beyond every time. They will always strive for your experience to be exceptional and for the support, you receive to be personalised and positive.

Kath can be found here on LinkedIn and welcomes every connection.

Education Team

Dr Virginia Mapedzahama (PhD, Sociology) is the Member Education Director at Diversity Council Australia. She is a first-generation Black African migrant woman and a critical race Black feminist scholar in the broader field of sociology of difference. Her research interest is in understanding the social construction of all categories of difference. She explores this interest in the context of subjective experiences of race, racism and ethnicity, migration, diaspora, Blackness and Black subjectivities, sexuality, hybridity, intersectionality and gendered violence. Virginia has published extensively in these areas as well as the broader fields of cross-cultural identities, African feminisms, post-colonial feminisms, the new African diaspora in Australia and African women diaspora.

Sheetal (she/her) is passionate about leveraging platforms and privilege to connect ideas, people and opportunities that amplify and empower underrepresented experiences. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and political science from the University of the Fraser Valley (Canada) and a Juris Doctor, Master of Laws and Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from Bond University (Australia). 

She is the Principal and Founder of Shakti Legal Solutions; an award winning innovative low-bono law firm designed specifically to improve access to legal assistance for everyday people through a unique ‘pay what you can’ model. She also works with the College of Law as an adjunct lecturer, and volunteers her time on various not-for-profit organisations and boards, including the Centre of Legal Innovations Emerging Leaders Advisory Board and the Queensland Law Society.  Sheetal was awarded the 2022 Multicultural Queensland Awards for her outstanding contribution as a new Queenslander. 

Joel has a background in designing and coordinating programs in the not-for-profit sector, working with Jewish and First Nations organisations. He has a Bachelor of Arts (Social Justice) from Macquarie University.

As Knowledge Program Coordinator, Joel (he/him) is responsible for the administration and management of the Knowledge Programs and is committed to assisting in delivering high quality and evidence-based D&I training programs to member and non-member organisations.

Joel’s Jewish upbringing has imprinted on him strong values and interests in social justice, First Nations justice and a desire to help create a more equitable world around him.

Purnima (she/her) is a first-generation migrant Indian-Bengali woman from the land of Rabindranath Tagore. Her post graduate degrees are in management and communication studies and she is currently pursuing her PhD in migrant women career and identity in Australian workplaces. Her work and research is driven by her own lived experiences and her passion in this field. 

Prior to joining DCA, Purnima has worked as a learning and development professional specialising in behavioural and cultural development programs for diverse individuals. She is particularly interested in storytelling and narratives and believes in the power of voice and the difference it can make. She has also worked as a trainer and educator in the field of leadership and management. 

Outside of work, Purnima’s time belongs to her three year old little girl. She also loves to carve time out for her other loves which are books, music, writing, art and photographing doorways of old buildings. 

As the Education Manager, Angelica (she/her) supports DCA’s Education team in the design, management, and ongoing review of DCA’s education offering to its members.

Angelica comes to DCA as an experienced researcher, educator, and advocate. Angelica served as the 2022 Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations. She has a strong background on subject matter areas including reducing inequalities experienced by historically marginalised communities, wellbeing and mental health, youth participation, girls and young women’s safety, anti-discrimination, and multicultural affairs. Angelica holds a Master of Research specialising in public health and sociology, and has taught in tertiary education settings on culture, diversity, and health.

Outside of her work at DCA, Angelica is engaged in community work and advocacy. Angelica has also been named as one of the United Nation’s 23 Young People Leading Resilient Recovery in the Decade of Action.

Shalani (she/her) brings a diverse range of experiences to the RISE project management team. Her experience includes six years of crafting state-of-the-art industrial telecommunication solutions which include network design, router configuration, and data center design for global clients. Through the Teach for Australia Leadership Development Program, Shalani championed for equity in education in low-socioeconomic communities as a STEM educator for three years. She is fiercely passionate about diversity and inclusion, and in particular, initiatives that support culturally and racially marginalised (CARM) communities.

In addition to this, she volunteers as a teacher to support communities from low-socioeconomic backgrounds and champions girls in STEM pathways. She is a recipient of numerous Best Executive Awards and a CEO Merit Award by Telekom Malaysia.

In her free time, Shalani enjoys bushwalking and gardening. She is a flower enthusiast and enjoys identifying native flowers.

Communications Team

Jenny is our Communications Director at DCA, responsible for leading external communications. Her background includes over 25 years’ experience in corporate affairs, internal and executive communications, change communication, issues management, media strategy, brand strategy and sustainability communications.

She leads our talented team of media and communications professionals, including our media relations, social media and online communications functions.

Jenny has worked at a senior management level across corporate, government, consulting and non-profit sectors. Prior to joining DCA, she led communications for Ambulance Victoria’s Equality and Workplace Reform program and ran a successful consulting practice with a strong focus on sustainability and corporate social responsibility for a range of corporates including Bega, Bunnings, ANZ and NAB.

In the not-for-profit sector, Jenny has managed Communication and Business Development for Launch Housing to support their mission to end homelessness, served as Communications Manager for SANDS Australia, and managed marketing and communications for the Parenting Research Centre and their flagship project the Raising Children Network. She has also managed communications departments in local government. Earlier in her career Jenny was a senior communications manager in the airline industry with Ansett, and worked with the consultancy Porter Novelli with a focus on government and public education campaigns.

She is passionate about using her skills to make a positive difference and has served as a sessional lecturer in Strategic Communications for the Master of Communication at RMIT University, and guest-lectured in undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Jenny holds a Master of Marketing from Melbourne Business School, University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations, RMIT University.

She lives on the land of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people with her husband and has two adult daughters. Jenny enjoys photography and hiking, spending time in the great outdoors on the land of the Wadawurrung people, in Anglesea.

As Media Advisor, Ali is responsible for platforming DCA as a leading voice in the D&I space by creating and maintaining media relationships, developing and executing media plans, producing media content and response, and ensuring all media and comms activity is grounded in DCA’s ground-breaking research.

Prior to joining DCA, Ali has worked primarily as a journalist across print, digital, TV and radio platforms such as The Hoopla, The ABC and, most recently as the editor of leading travel trade publication Travel Weekly.

Ali has undergraduate degrees in Communication and Media Studies and International Studies. She lives on Gadigal land with her giant orange cat named Melon.

As the Social Media Content Strategist at DCA, Veronica is responsible for creating and curating content across DCA’s social media platforms, ensuring that content is relevant, valuable and engaging for DCA’s members and audience.

Veronica comes to DCA with a background working in health policy and planning, with a focus on HIV and other health issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) communities. Previously employed at ACON, Australia’s leading health promotion organisation specialising in HIV prevention, HIV support and LGBTI health, she specialised in strategic planning and evaluation, programs and systems planning and reporting, research support and coordination and held a policy portfolio focused on the inclusion of lesbian, bisexual and queer women in health policy frameworks.

Through professional and personal experience, Veronica is passionate about sexuality and gender diversity and utilising the power of digital technology, such as social media, to elevate the unheard stories of visibility and inclusion of minority voices.

Hailing from Washington D.C. with Bolivian roots, Veronica holds an academic background in Communications and Social Policy.

Rebecca (she/her) forms part of the Communications team at DCA, focusing on research project communications, website management, analytics and providing support to the broader DCA team.

A true language enthusiast, Rebecca holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Foreign Languages and International Economic Affairs from the University of Toulouse. She has a background in translation and communication in education and sustainable business and is passionate about sustainable development. 

Originally from Stockholm, Sweden, Rebecca now lives in Sydney and is an active member of her local community.

Operations Team

Catherine is Operations Director responsible for developing and implementing the systems and platforms to ensure DCA can deliver services effectively, build its capabilities, and grow its membership base. She works to improve systems, policies, processes and governance, that includes being responsible for the IT and HR functions as well as overseeing DCA’s comprehensive event program. In particular, she will be working to enhance DCA’s digital platforms and capabilities to enable it to deliver on its future strategy. 

Prior to this new role that commenced in July 2021, Catherine was also Communications Director overseeing all DCA’s communications to strengthen the DCA brand and position it as the leader on D&I. She was responsible for creating and developing the Communications function and collaborating across all the other functions to inform and promote the work of DCA. She also acted in the role of CEO prior to the appointment of Lisa Annese in 2014.  

Catherine has a strong background in corporate communications and her expertise spans communicating to a broad range of audiences from business through to consumers, employees, investors, shareholders and the media. Prior to DCA, she 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’.  

From 2018 to 2020, Catherine has been a judge for the Gender-wise Philanthropy Award in the Australian Philanthropy Awards. She has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Arts degree in Communications from Monash University. She lives in Melbourne with her partner, two children and two furry friends.

Catherine Petterson on LinkedIn >

Simone joined DCA in 2013 as the Office Manager and Executive Assistant to the CEO and has now moved over to work in the Events team.  Simone has a pertinent understanding of event coordination, bringing over fifteen years of experience to DCA and has an advanced Diploma in Business Marketing and Events.

As a proud Awabakal woman, she was appointed DCA’s first Aboriginal Liaison in 2018 and provides guidance to the DCA team and DCA members on all Indigenous matters.  In 2019 Simone lead the DCA Reconciliation Action working group to successfully create and launch the first Reflect RAP for DCA and continues in this role as the Chair of the working group.  Simone has completed a Diploma of Aboriginal Studies for Professional and Community Practice, a Certificate in Aboriginal Culture and a Certificate in Aboriginal knowledge for the workplace.

Simone’s career has spanned the entertainment, government, banking & finance and FMCG industries.  She has also worked with the NSW Attorney General & Justice Department on a contract basis within their adult and juvenile restorative justice programs. 

In her spare time, she focuses on her Aboriginal culture and is currently learning about foraging bush tucker for eating and medicinal purposes.  She also volunteers with various Sydney and regional community groups.

As Senior Events and Sponsorship Manager, Sue’s role is to work in partnership with DCA members to present a comprehensive D&I events calendar, including face-to-face and online events. DCA events include research launches, corporate networking and DCA’s Diversity Debate and D&I Oration.  All DCA events are designed to ensure that the members have access to cutting-edge D&I thinking with a focus on commercial applications for member businesses within the workplace to drive best practices.

Sue’s key focus in this role involves liaising with academics, industry, and DCA members to engage speakers and coordinate the timely delivery of a robust calendar of events.

Sue joined the DCA team in February 2012, and prior to that, she spent the past 16 years working within the broader exhibition and events industry.  Her breadth of event experience includes major corporate events, sporting and tourism events, and trade exhibitions.  As a senior events manager, she worked in a privately owned trade event company, Groupe Grand Sud, for five years to deliver three significant retail trade events. Prior to that, she spent eight years working for a global sports marketing company, International Management Group (IMG), on a number of events.

Sue initially started her career as Membership Coordinator, for the then-peak tourism industry Victorian Tourism Operators Association (VTOA), now Tourism Alliance Victoria, a non-profit association advocating for and supporting the development of professional and sustainable tourism industry. 

Sue has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). She lives in Melbourne, with her family.

Todd is Diversity Council Australia’s Digital IT Product Manager and is responsible for managing DCA’s digital transformation, online assets, and IT operations. He brings with him over eight years’ experience in the end-to-end management of web, software application and digital transformation projects.

He has been involved in projects from a range of NFP and government organisations including the Center of Perinatal Excellence (COPE), Victoria Police, Minerals Council of Australia and Murdoch University, managing website, custom software and mental health mobile apps.

Todd holds a Masters of Business Administration through La Trobe University and a Bachelor of Media & Communication from QUT.

He lives in Melbourne with his wife and two rescue animals, Benny the cat and Rosie the dog.

DCA’s outstanding team is representative of many diversity dimensions, as outlined in the infographic below.

Download accessible version of the DCA team diversity infographic 2023 

The diversity of DCA's Team

Our Board

DCA has a prestigious Board of Directors with extensive experience in the fields of business, HR, law, information technology, management and accounting. 

Please see below the individual profiles of DCA Board members.

Ming is a well-known and respected leader with non-executive experience in a broad range of industries including financial services, real estate, and investment management. Ming has held senior executive and leadership positions, including CEO and CFO roles, in listed and unlisted companies through organisational restructuring, M&A and has significant experience leading through challenging economic conditions.

Ming is the first woman with an Asian heritage to lead an ASX-100 or 200 listed entity in Australia. She led the establishment of the Property Male Champions of Change in 2015, was named as a 100 Woman of Influence, was a finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards, and in 2020 was named a Member of the Order of Australia for significant contribution to the financial and real estate sectors and to D&I. She is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a member of Chief Executive Women. She is currently a non-executive director of Telstra, IFM Investors, QBE Insurance (Auspac), and CEDA. She is a member of the Climate Governance Initiative Australia Council with the AICD and a member of ASIC’s Corporate Governance Consultative Committee.

Chris is Deputy Commissioner at the NSW Public Service Commission. His role includes leadership of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging for the Commission which oversees the largest workforce in Australia.

Prior to this, Chris spent 12 years at Lendlease and served at different times as the HR Director – Australia, Global Head of Organisational Development and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. During his career, Chris has held HR Executive roles across Asia Pacific, the UK and Europe and driven inclusion programs across the globe.

Chris previously served on DCA’s board from 2010 – 2019 and was a foundation member of the Pride in Diversity (PiD) Advisory Board in 2010, serving until 2020. In 2015 Chris received AHRI’s Diversity Champion Award and in 2018 he completed further postgraduate education in Aboriginal Studies. Chris is also a Non-Executive Director of Netball NSW.

Chris is a registered psychotherapist and sees clients in private practice several evenings each week to play his part in increasing access to mental health support services.

Chris lives in Sydney with his wife of more than 25 years, and they have two adult children.

Manisha has worked in innovation, design, environmental advocacy, and with not-for-profits for the past 30 years. She is passionate about social justice and human rights and has skills in the areas of strategy, policy, program design, co-design, and inclusion. She is also the host of With, Not For, a podcast helping companies with practical insights into inclusion by design.

Manisha is the CEO, and chief strategist and visionary, of the Centre for Inclusive Design (CfID), a social enterprise leading the conversation in the power of thinking from the edge. In short, Manisha brings a wealth of experience in the understanding and implementation of inclusive design and human-centred strategy and facilitation. She also has the demonstrated ability to build strategic partnerships and manage complex stakeholder relationships.

Manisha currently sits on the Boards of Bambuddah Group, and Nautunki Theatre Company, as well as the SBS Community Advisory Panel. She was a former Board member and Deputy Chair of ADHD Australia.

Julie Canepa is responsible for driving strategy to enable business & IT alignment as the Chief Information Officer for Cisco APJC.  She achieves this by focusing on growth, productivity and user experience across Cisco’s IT service portfolio and by enabling digitisation through IT initiatives in APJC. Julie is proud to be named as one of the top 50 CIO’s in Australia by CIO Magazine for five years running.

Julie has been in the IT industry over 25 years, leading IT initiatives in a wide variety of global and regional roles. She has held several leadership positions at Cisco, specialising in IT service delivery in sales, commerce, supply chain systems and operations. Her strong commitment to operations excellence and aptitude for partnering cross-functionally has resulted in great synergies between business and IT.

Julie shares her passion for technology through her active engagement in the IT industry.  Julie is regularly involved in speaking events, customer engagements and acting as an IT Advisor for several large Australian entities.

Julie is an active member of her community with a special interest in promoting STEM education and championing women in technology. She is executive sponsor for Cisco’s ‘Women of Cisco’ program in Australia and New Zealand. Julie also supports the culture of Cisco as an active member of Cisco’s global “Inclusion & Diversity in IT” team.  Julie is a member of the Industry Advisory Board at the University of Sydney’s School of Computer Science. Julie lives in Sydney, with her husband and three children.

Julie is Chair of the IT Committee of the DCA Board.

Peter joined UniSuper as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in September 2021. As CEO, Peter is responsible for developing, leading, and implementing corporate strategy and culture, and is accountable for the overall services and operational management of UniSuper nationally.

With over 30 years’ experience in financial services across the retail and industry fund sectors, his leadership is helping to shape the future for one of Australia’s largest super funds. UniSuper now has more than 634,000 members and over $130 billion in funds under management (at 31 December 2023).

Migrating from Hong Kong to Australia in 1978 at the age of eight and not speaking English, the requirement to assimilate and learn to be part of the “Australian” culture was deeply ingrained in Peter as to how to adjust to this new life. Experiencing life in Australia, Peter is deeply passionate about diversity and inclusion and actively engages in opportunities to address equity and belonging in business and in the community.

At UniSuper, he’s driving a culture of equity by sponsoring the gender strategy and initiatives that involve; investing in training programs targeted for women, regular remuneration review by role, employing a balance of genders at all levels and actively promoting women in leadership roles. He is personally committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and delivering on a diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy for UniSuper employees and members, and asks that those he leads make the same commitments to diversity and inclusion.

Prior to joining UniSuper, Peter held senior executive roles at Aware Super, Colonial First State and Credit Suisse.

Peter is a qualified Actuary and holds a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University. He also holds Graduate Diplomas in Applied Finance and Investments and Financial Planning from the Securities Institute of Australia; and has undertaken the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School (Boston, USA). Peter is a Member of the Investment Magazine Advisory Board, the ASFA Fund Advisory Panel and the Australian Chamber Orchestra Finance Audit & Risk Committee.

Liz is a director in Ashurst’s Risk Advisory practice and has extensive experience in risk management, culture, strategy, conduct, compliance, regulation and supervision. Committed to improving organisational and sectoral capability in a way that is aligned with good practice and stakeholder expectations, Liz delivers transformation programs that effect change sustainably, leveraging diversity of thought to inform decision-making.

Across banking, superannuation and wealth management sectors, Liz has shaped major law reform and guidance, and assessed operational readiness and implementation, through a range of previous roles with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, including on secondment with the Macquarie Group.

Most recently, she played a pivotal role as a Lead Supervisor in establishing ASIC’s enhanced supervisory approach, Close and Continuous Monitoring (now Institutional Supervision), where she had responsibility for driving uplift in breach reporting in the context of incident management, internal dispute resolution, and internal audit within two of Australia’s Big Four banks, and another major institution.

Liz was also an Associate to the Honourable Justice Neville Owen at the HIH Royal Commission. She has more than ten years of applied governance practice, and is currently a Director of KU Children’s Services and Chair of the KU Marcia Burgess Foundation Committee. She is a former Board Chair of Shopfront Arts Coop and Ensemble Offspring. She holds a Master of Laws and Management, Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Liz is on the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee of the DCA Board.

Craig is Chief Digital Officer and Vice President Digital at the University of Canberra. He is a member of the University executive, and is responsible for championing digital and innovation capability uplift, technology and engineering delivery, and ultimately reimagining the student and staff digital experience.

Craig’s career spans more than 25 years across the private, public and higher education sectors. Possessing deep skills in business, corporate and digital strategy, digital and information technology, enterprise transformation, cyber security, data analytics and data science, as well as service design and enterprise agility.

Craig has held previous non-executive director roles at Hepburn Health Service (2016-2019) and Castlemaine Art Museum (2016-2023). At Hepburn Health he was Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, as well as a member of the Clinical Governance and Credentialing Committee. At Castlemaine Art Museum, Craig was Chair (2018-2022), and member of the Audit and Risk Committee. Craig is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

Craig holds a Bachelor of Computing(CompSc) from Monash University, a Masters of Project Management from RMIT University and a Masters of  Business Administration (MBA) from Melbourne Business School. Craig lives in Canberra with his husband, Adrian.


Annie is currently the Acting Director of NSW Treasury’s Women’s Economic Outcomes Team, where she is responsible for providing specialist advice, developing strategic policy initiatives, and collaborating across government to improve women’s economic outcomes. ​

​In 2022, Annie led the drafting of New South Wales’ inaugural gender budget statement, the Women’s Opportunity Statement, which followed the NSW Government’s Women’s Economic Opportunities Review. Annie also oversaw NSW Treasury’s First Nations Expenditure and Outcomes Budgeting reports, and has been Co-Chair of NSW Treasury’s Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Network since 2021.

Prior to joining NSW Treasury, Annie held executive leadership roles in the non-government and public sectors and led her own consulting practice supporting Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) to improve their diversity and inclusion and employee wellbeing policies. Annie worked for seven years in senior leadership roles at the Australian Human Rights Commission, where her work focused on integrating human rights and diversity and inclusion into school curricula, and public service, vocational training and business sector policies and processes.

Annie previously served as a board member of the Women’s Rights Action Network Australia for five years, during which time she was also Co-Convenor of the Women’s Rights (CEDAW) Report Card to the United Nations.

Annie holds a PhD in Criminology (human rights and policing), which she completed at Monash University in 2009. Annie lives in Sydney with her wife and their two young children.

Harry Rolf (PhD) brings a breadth of experience to the DCA Board in policy, communications, and research though his role as Centre Manager at the ANU Tech Policy Design Centre, and prior roles held at the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering and at the Council of Australian University Librarians. He has also worked for over a decade as an independent web and information designer.

Harry has a PhD in information science from the University of Tasmania. His research investigated the everyday challenges faced by international students and how they used digital technology to accessing information and support while living in Australia. The research has been used to helped improve institutional and state support for international students staying in Australia.

Following his PhD, Harry continues to pursue his research at the ANU Australian Studies Institute where he is a Research Associate. Hi research interest is in how digital technology is reshaping society, particularly on issues of gender, sexuality and culture. He also pursues his interest in diversity and inclusion through his work, study and involvement in community and not-for-profit organisations. As a member of the LGBTIQ+ community, these issues are important to both his personal and professional life.

He also brings significant past experience volunteering as a director on the boards of not-for-profit and higher education organisations and has played an active role as a student leader at a state and national level.

Harry is on the IT Committee of the DCA Board.

Kate Russell is a proud Awabakal woman from Lake Macquarie and is committed to empowering her community. Kate draws on her extensive experience working across public and community sectors and is driven by a desire to promote opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – making sure to approach all programs, policies and initiatives through an intersectional lens. Kate is passionate about engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities to co-design programs and services using international best practices to make tangible changes in policy. 

As a consultant, Kate has worked across multiple policy areas to support the delivery of outcomes and community benefits, with a focus on people and culture programs. Prior to this, she held senior roles at the Department of Planning and Environment, where she oversaw the design and delivery of programs across a portfolio of agencies and over 15,000 staff.

Additionally, Kate has spent time working at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Sydney and Canberra and for the Catalan Department of Education in Spain. Kate returned to Australia to work in the community sector to focus on Aboriginal employment and leadership development, and eventually joined the NSW State Government in 2016. Kate’s broad expertise and experience in diversity and inclusion, organisational culture, leadership, human resources and knowledge, and project management enables her to develop programs that recognise the intersectionality of diverse experiences.

Currently, Kate is a Board Director at the Diversity Council Australia and has previously served as a Director for Yilabara Solutions and Interrelate. In July 2023, she commenced her role as Chief Executive Officer at Supply Nation, the Australian leader in supplier diversity. Kate holds a Bachelor of International Studies (Distinction), an MBA and an Executive Masters of Public Administration.

Abbie Wright is a well-known and respected leader of social inclusion and workplace diversity. Abbie joined Arup in November 2018 to continue the evolution of Arup’s inclusive culture having previously led the delivery of Aurecon’s inclusion and diversity strategy. 

Abbie has held senior diversity roles and received accolades for her work including the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) Diversity Champion, and, is a recipient of the South Australia National Association for Women in Construction (NAWIC) Crystal Vision Award in recognition of the work she champions towards gender equality. 

Abbie brings a deep understanding of the positive outcomes from creating a work environment where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of difference, and is encouraged by visible, inclusive leadership. Abbie is a member of both Arup’s Australasian Diversity and Inclusion Executive and Arup’s Global Equality, Diversity and Inclusion working group. Abbie works closely with teams on strategies to pursue inclusion and diversity across a range of diversity portfolios, and, supports leaders to develop inclusive cultures that enable inclusive leadership.

Abbie proactively raises the profile of inclusion and diversity within the engineering, infrastructure and design industries to influence a more inclusive industry.  She is an Implementation Leader for the Champions of Change Coalition (CCC), the Consult Australia group and has previously sat on the CCC STEM group. In 2016, Abbie led Aurecon’s inclusive workplace effort which resulted in an AHRI Most Inclusive Workplace award and industry recognition through the Aurecon #Unconventional campaign.  Abbie was previously a member of the South Australian Property Council Diversity Committee and contributed to the South Australian Male Champions of Change group. 

Abbie sits on the Board of the Diversity Council of Australia (DCA) and the DCA Research Committee. Abbie has proactively contributed to and supported both the DCA Words@Work and Cracking the Cultural Glass Ceiling research programs.

Abbie is on the DCA Research Advisory Committee.

Karla Dunbar is a lawyer in Gilbert + Tobin’s Charities + Social Sector team, providing legal advice and assistance to charities, not-for-profits and social impact organisations.

Prior to joining Gilbert + Tobin, Karla worked in the charities and social sector, in various research, policy and governance roles, assisting with the development of research publications, government submissions and policies in the diversity and inclusion space.

Karla has been the Company Secretary of Diversity Council Australia since 2017 and is a former director of One Eighty Inc, a registered Australian youth suicide prevention charity.

Knowledge Program Facilitators

DCA is proud to work with a team of experienced facilitators to deliver our research-based Knowledge Program workshops.

When team performance and organisational excellence are vital, it is a must to engage a people, project and change specialist.

Maree Burgess is a trainer, coach, facilitator, author, and speaker whose practicality guides leaders and teams to create the culture you desire, and importantly, they want to be part of – which greatly improves performance.

Obsessed with building environments of excellence where staff collaborate, work and even play well together, she is renowned for bringing out the best in teams and individuals alike.

Like you, Maree knows there can be occasional challenges and draws upon a vast skillset developed throughout her career of over 30 years. With a focus on inclusion Maree is adamant that everyone should be able to work in a psychologically safe workplace.

From being a registered nurse at a major Melbourne trauma hospital, followed by several senior roles in banking to over 19 years as an expert behavioural consultant, she is equipped with the resolve and knowledge to connect with and inspire any mix of people.

Author of 3 books:

  • ‘The XX Project – Giving women the skills and confidence to step up in the corporate world’
  • ‘Connecting Us, Develop the engaged, goal-kicking team you’ve always dreamed of’
  • ‘Level Up, how managers can do less and be more’
  • She has also released an eBook ‘Going From Pressure to Performance, working
    with your team to amplify your results’.

Maree knows exactly what is required to create environments where dynamic staff turn up invested in common success.

Loren is a lawyer who has worked in the public, private and NGO sectors. She has extensive experience in policy, human rights, legal and regulatory reform. Her specialist areas have included working with a range of organisations to embed an intersectional approach, and consulting with a diverse range of communities to work towards achievable reform.

Sheetal Deo (she/her) is passionate about leveraging platforms and privilege to connect ideas, people and opportunities that amplify and empower underrepresented experiences. Sheetal has a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and political science from the University of the Fraser Valley (Canada), and a Juris Doctor, Master of Laws and Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from Bond University (Australia).  

Sheetal incorporates her political and social science training in her advocacy for equity & accessibility. She is the Principal and Founder of Shakti Legal Solutions; an award winning innovative low-bono law firm designed specifically to improve access to legal assistance for everyday people through a unique, ‘pay what you can’ model.   

In addition to her work with the Diversity Council of Australia, Sheetal works with the College of Law as an adjunct lecturer, offers private and bespoke trainings and keynotes with her own diversity and inclusion consultancy (The Diversity Collective) and volunteers her time on various not-for-profit organisations and boards, including the Centre of Legal Innovations Emerging Leaders Advisory Board and the Queensland Law Society where Sheetal is the first woman of colour to serve on its Council in its 150 year history.   

Sheetal was awarded the 2022 Multicultural Queensland Awards for her outstanding contribution as a new Queenslander. 

Manjusha helps leaders to navigate through the complexities of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) considerations so that they get clarity on the strategy, processes and behaviours required for meaningful impact and outcomes. 

She guides organisations to work from their current state, identify gaps and co-create adaptable solutions through contextualising strategy and practices aligned to the organisation’s Purpose, Vision and Values. She partners with organisations that prioritise people and a sense of belonging along with profit. 

Her expertise includes Board roles establishing DEI portfolios, inclusive policies and practices, cross-cultural communication and advising on strategic considerations. Her focus on engaging diverse demographics such as culturally and racially marginalised and People of Colour, LGBTQ, Women, First Nations and Ageing populations in strategic conversation and solution generation effectively and respectfully address challenges and meet their needs to work towards equitable experiences. An experienced translator of intersectional insights and data to people with varying levels of DEI awareness, Manjusha is also passionate about creating thriving cultures through somatic leadership, consultation, 1:1 and group coaching.  

Dr Susan Oguro is an expert facilitator, consultant and coach in the areas of intercultural communication, diversity, language use and inclusive cultural practices. She is principal of Susan Oguro Consulting.

Susan has had an extensive career as an academic in the field of International Studies and Education and as a senior manager in the higher education sector. Her work locally and globally with corporate, government, NGO and educational institutions has successfully established and delivered effective training programs and supported diverse and inclusive workplace practices.  Her expertise has been formally acknowledged with awards from the European Association for International Education and the University of Technology Sydney.  She has formal qualifications in Workplace Training and Assessment, in Education and in the Humanities.

Margaret has been a campaigner for social justice for as long as she can remember. Her paid work in equity and inclusion has been in the University sector. She has worked in the Equity Department at QUT for many years where she is a trainer and a discrimination complaints adviser. She has been a University Ombudsman.

Margaret continues to research and write about racism. She has a particular interest in the discourse of white privilege.
Margaret holds degrees in Law and Arts. She holds a Masters in Cultural Heritage and a post-graduate diploma in Library Science. She had trouble deciding what she wanted to be when she grew up.

Margaret was a board member of Micah Projects Inc in Brisbane for many years. She feels very fortunate to have been educated by the staff and clients of Micah Projects Inc about the consequences of social marginalisation and structural inequality.

She is the mother of three adult children who have willingly followed her as social justice warriors. This makes her very proud.

Gaya is passionate about supporting organisations in building and maintaining inclusive, psychologically safe and connected workplaces. Over the past decade, Gaya has led the development and implementation of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategies, policies, as well as training and education facilitation. This work has been delivered for organisations throughout Australia in the community, private and public sectors. Gaya works closely with senior and middle management to foster a sense of belonging in workplaces, through the principles of relationship building, intersectionality, and a human-centered approach. 

Gaya grounds their approach to DEI by drawing on their 15 years’ experience working in the health and wellness industry. This includes working in private practice as an acupuncturist and wellbeing coach, as well as a consultant, concentrating on developing and implementing workplace health and wellbeing initiatives. Drawing on evidence-based practice, and the legal requirements regarding workplace inclusion and psychological safety, Gaya provides professional and personable DEI consulting and training services for organisations at all stages of the DEI journey.

Eva is a Certified Diversity Professional with broad experience in Diversity and Inclusion (D&I). She has developed and implemented D&I strategies, guided and coached leaders and HR professionals in D&I related matters, and provided expertise about various areas of diversity including gender equity, disability, First Nations people, LGBTQI+ and age diversity. Eva also has an extensive background in group facilitation and workshop development and delivery.

Prior to embarking on a career in D&I, Eva worked as an organisational development professional leveraging her degree in organisational psychology with a key focus on leadership development, team coaching, outplacement and career development, and behavioural assessments. She is currently completing a PhD researching how to most effectively lead age diverse employees, with an emphasis on inclusive leadership.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander External Advisory Panel

DCA supports the proper recognition of the unique status of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples in our country’s history and of ensuring Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander voices are central in any discussions around recognition and reconciliation.  

DCA’s Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander External Advisory Panel is an external group that provides guidance and advice on DCA’s Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Constitutional Recognition and Reconciliation activities.

Our Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander External Advisory Panel is made up of respected Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community members across country, with representatives throughout Australian states and territories.

The Panel meets regularly throughout the year to assist DCA promote and facilitate, on behalf of its members, reconciliation between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, specifically with respect to better labour market engagement and recognition of the talents and untapped potential of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Panel members provide expertise, cultural knowledge and lived experience to DCA about our direction and activities in the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander employment, community engagement and supplier diversity space.

Kate Russell is a proud Awabakal woman from Lake Macquarie and is committed to empowering her community. Kate draws on her extensive experience working across public and community sectors and is driven by a desire to promote opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – making sure to approach all programs, policies and initiatives through an intersectional lens. Kate is passionate about engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities to co-design programs and services using international best practices to make tangible changes in policy. 

As a consultant, Kate has worked across multiple policy areas to support the delivery of outcomes and community benefits, with a focus on people and culture programs. Prior to this, she held senior roles at the Department of Planning and Environment, where she oversaw the design and delivery of programs across a portfolio of agencies and over 15,000 staff.

Additionally, Kate has spent time working at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Sydney and Canberra and for the Catalan Department of Education in Spain. Kate returned to Australia to work in the community sector to focus on Aboriginal employment and leadership development, and eventually joined the NSW State Government in 2016. Kate’s broad expertise and experience in diversity and inclusion, organisational culture, leadership, human resources and knowledge, and project management enables her to develop programs that recognise the intersectionality of diverse experiences.

Currently, Kate is a Board Director at the Diversity Council Australia and has previously served as a Director for Yilabara Solutions and Interrelate. In July 2023, she commenced her role as Chief Executive Officer at Supply Nation, the Australian leader in supplier diversity. Kate holds a Bachelor of International Studies (Distinction), an MBA and an Executive Masters of Public Administration.

As a proud Ngarrindjeri/Narungga woman, Lauren is committed to promoting cultural diversity, respect and equity within the South Australian community. Drawing on her extensive experience within the public sector and educational institutions, she campaigns for equality for Aboriginal peoples.

In 2009, Lauren commenced her career with the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) in Adelaide, South Australia. There, she worked across all tiers of government to promoted cultural diversity and equality within the workplace. Lauren was a member of DPTI’s Reconciliation Committee, a cultural representative and was awarded Campbelltown City Council’s NAIDOC award for services to the community.

In her current role as a Planning & Audit Officer, Lauren provides professional support in the areas of business planning, audit and risk management, policies and procedures. Lauren is responsible for the coordination of Parliamentary Estimate briefings, Service planning and audit requirements, undertaking reviews (including Freedom of Information Act Internal Reviews) and projects, preparation of/and reviewing Service policies and other significant proposals and matters.

In 2018, Lauren graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Written and Creative Communication) from the University of South Australia, where she developed skills as a professional, technical and creative writer, editor and publisher. Lauren is currently completing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with the University of South Australia.

Peter Anderson is from the Walpiri and Murinpatha nations in the Northern Territory. He researches in the area of Indigenous education and educational systems and its relationship with indigenous peoples globally within the Australian context the protocols of engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in educational settings. A member of the ARC College of experts, he also holds research advisory positions to the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, the Diversity Council of Australia and the Australian Education Research Association.

Thomas Mayo is a Torres Strait Islander who was born and raised on Larrakia Land in Darwin.

He was a stevedore, or wharfie, for sixteen years before becoming an official of his union, the Maritime Union of Australia. As an activist in his local community, Thomas has passionately fought for workers rights, Indigenous rights, and for social justice in general. In 2017 he attended the Darwin Regional Constitutional Dialogue, where he was elected to represent the region at the Uluru National Constitutional Convention. The convention is where the Uluru Statement from the Heart was overwhelmingly endorsed on 26 May 2017.

Thomas has since advocated for the proposals in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and is the author of ‘Finding the Heart of the Nation – the journey of the Uluru Statement towards Voice, Treaty and Truth’, published by Hardie Grant. His book tells his story, the story of the Uluru Statement, and features some of the remarkable Indigenous people that he met on his campaigning journey. A children’s version, Finding Our Heart, will be published in June 2020.

Today, Thomas continues to advocate for the Uluru Statement while being the National Indigenous Officer and Deputy Secretary of the Northern Territory Branch for the Maritime Union of Australia, and the Assistant Secretary of the Northern Territory Trades and Labour Council.  

Jordy is a proud Peek Whurrong woman of the Gunditjmara nation, born on beautiful and sacred Eastern Maar land, but currently residing on Bunurong Country in Naarm. Across her career, she’s worked in several different sectors in Indigenous affairs, including but not limited to health, education, sport, and business. In her current role as a Policy Advisory at the Business Council of Australia, Jordy works with corporate Australia and the Federal government, to drive social and economic policy change across the Indigenous, disability and women’s participation spaces. She also coaches the under 15 Australian Indigenous Women’s AFL team, the Woomeras, who come together twice a year to develop their football abilities, personal skills and strengthen their cultural identity. Being an inaugural Woomera and VFLW player for Hawthorn Football Club herself, Jordy is a proud leader and positive role model for our younger generations of Indigenous women. She is also a consultant for Mifsud Consulting & Advisory, who are an Aboriginal family-owned and run business, that partners with and advises clients on the design, implementation, and monitoring of tailored solutions, predominantly in Indigenous affairs.

Nareen Young is Industry Professor, Indigenous Policy (Indigenous Workforce Diversity) at Jumbunna Institute of Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Technology, Sydney where she is Director of the Indigenous People and Work Research and Practice Hub. The Hub is a community of scholars and practitioners that aims to enhance and advance the standing of Indigenous people in the Australian employment market via robust diversity research and practice.

Prior to this appointment, Nareen spent over twenty years developing her standing as one of Australia’s leading and most respected employment diversity practitioners, leading two peak diversity employment organisations (NSW Working Women’s Centre and Diversity Council Australia) to enormous impact and success.  She has led diversity thinking and practice in Australia, and most recently as employment lead for PwC’s Indigenous Consulting where she developed many concepts for Indigenous employment diversity practice. Nareen is influenced by her own Indigenous and culturally diverse heritages in this regard and has received many citations, awards and accolades for her work. She has commentated widely and published and presented nationally and internationally.

Nareen also has significant governance experience. She spent a three-year term as a Director of Indigenous Business Australia and currently serves as Director of Souths Cares, BlakDance and Refugee Talent.

Research External Advisory Panel

DCA’s Research External Advisory Panel is a group that oversees DCA’s research. Members include leading academics and researchers with knowledge of D&I theory and practice. 

The panel meets approximately four times a year to provide strategic direction to DCA’s Research function. It assists DCA to deliver on its research vision to work in partnership with members to generate groundbreaking diversity research that enables Australian organisations to leverage the benefits of D&I fully. Panel members provide expert guidance to DCA about our direction and collaborations with the industry. More specifically, this involves:

  • Reviewing DCA research vision, research priorities and research projects
  • Identifying ‘ahead of the curve’ research topics and emerging issues for possible future research projects
  • Assisting in identifying appropriate research partnership and sponsorship opportunities

With a background in human capital, cultural change, executive coaching and leadership development, Abbie’s approach to D&I is to “bring others on the journey” by influencing a work environment where everyone can feel safe, valued and accepted regardless of difference.  Abbie is committed to bringing about change within the engineering consultancy industry.  Her vision is an industry where organisations celebrate the benefits of diverse, creative talent, and where clients benefit from ongoing innovative design solutions. 

Abbie joined Arup as a Diversity and Inclusion Leader in 2018.  Previously Abbie was the Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Aurecon, delivering a successful D&I strategy in partnership with the leadership team, culminating in a Most Inclusive Workplace AHRI award.

Abbie was the 2014 Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) Diversity Champion and is a recipient of the South Australia National Association for Women in Construction (NAWIC) Crystal Vision Award in recognition of the work she champions towards gender equality.

Abbie is a member of the Male Champions of Change Consult Australia Implementation Leaders groups and a previous member of the STEM group.

In 2016 Abbie led a partnership with Diversity Council Australia to deliver the Words@Work project to raise awareness on the power of inclusive language. Abbie has a passion for inclusive leadership, including the integration of attributes that will enable leaders to lead inclusively. 

Raymond Trau is senior lecturer at Macquarie Business School in Macquarie University. Raymond’s research focuses on diversity and inclusion.  The most notable contribution of his research is on theory and practice of LGBTIQ inclusion

Raymond’s research has been published in a number of international journals including Journal of Applied Psychology, Human Resource Management and British Journal of Management. His research has received research mentions and interviews by major international and domestic media outlets including the Financial Times, Bloomberg, CBS News, Globe and Mail, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, ABC TV, ABC News, SBS NewsABC RadioHRM AM, HRM Monthly and HR Daily. Raymond also has contributed opinion pieces to the Harvard Business Review, HRM AM, The Conversation and Work180.

Raymond’s work has a strong link with industry via research collaboration, consultation and co-authorship with profit, non-profit and government organisations including Diversity Council of Australia, Pride in Diversity, Deloitte, QBE, Department of Premier and Cabinet of Victoria, Queensland Health and BHP Billiton.  

Dr Dimitria Groutsis is the Program Director of the Dalyell Scholars Stream and Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Work and Organisational Studies at the University of Sydney Business School.

Dimitria is a leading scholar in the field of migration, labour mobility and cultural diversity in the business context. Her work has appeared in leading national and international peer review journals, book chapters and she has co-edited and co-authored several books. Her consulting role sees her working with the Diversity Council Australia, the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, large corporate sector partners and key stakeholders in the government and non-government sectors. Dr Groutsis has received a number of competitive external research grants, with total funding in excess of 1.5 million dollars. Along with Professors Collins and Reid, she is the recipient of an ARC Linkage grant, examining Syrian-Conflict refugees: settlement, employment and education outcomes.

She currently serves as the Associate Editor of the European Journal of Management, and is an Advisory board member of the Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies. She has served on the advisory board of the Diversity Council of Australia (DCA), consulting on their cultural diversity in leadership project and is on the DCA’s Research Committee. She has also been working closely with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on preserving a large migration archive.

Dimitria is the Convenor of the Migration, Ethno-Racial, Cultural and Intersectionality@Work Research Group at the University of Sydney Business School. Established in 2011, the Research Group provides an important platform for researchers and policy makers to present, discuss and debate research on migration and diversity management in the business context, bringing together a broad audience including: academics, the business community, and representatives from government.

Professor Peter Anderson is from the Walpiri and Murinpatha peoples of the Northern Territory and is Professor and Director Indigenous Research Unit at Griffith University. Professor Anderson’s research spans the area of Australian Indigenous education, educational systems, curriculum and pedagogical interventions and the intersecting relationships with indigenous peoples both globally and domestically. A member of the ARC College of Experts, a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Queensland Academy of Arts and Science and member of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies and a Lifelong Fellow of the Atlantic Institute at Oxford University. He also holds research advisory positions for the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, the Diversity Council of Australia and the Australian Education Research Association.

Over 400,000 educated Greeks left their country between 2008-2017, looking permanently for more advanced economies due to the Greek financial crisis; Sophia was one of them.

Her experience as a mature professional and a carer of a disabled child seeking better employment, better pay, and better social and economic prospects in a new country defined her professional identity. She is passionate about access to jobs, inclusive workplaces, job quality and businesses that care for local communities.

Sophia holds an MA in Mass Communications from the University of Leicester, a Bachelor of Communications and Mass Media from the University of Athens and undertook the MA of Social Impact by Research from the Swinburne University of Technology in 2016. She focuses on impact frameworks, impact measurement and ways of using media and communications to enable projects with a distinct social purpose.

She is currently the Communications, Marketing and Evaluation Manager at Jobsbank, a for-purpose, not-for-profit independent organisation helping businesses navigate social procurement, diversity and inclusion.

With over 40 years of experience working with both corporate and government sectors, Tammy brings a wealth of knowledge of diversity and inclusion and how to influence organisational structures and cultures to be inclusive, flexible and equitorious (Tammy’s term for equitable meritocracies).

Tammy has a Masters of Indigenous Social Policy from the University of Technology, Sydney and a Bachelor of Arts (double major Political Science) from the University of Queensland.  With a social justice bent and a penchant for delving deep into data and analytics, she is that weird mix of persuasiveness and evidence-based analytics.  This brings her to the quandary of how do you base programs on evidence-based best practice when the evidence base is tainted by an ability to get the funding and/or have the time to write up the evidence or chase the awards?  Those delivering on the ground to the people do not have time to write up the evidence or follow the prescriptive requirements of becoming known best practice.

Tammy has particular expertise and experience in building cultural competencies, negotiating and brokering win/win solutions for both First Nations peoples and non-Indigenous.  Tammy works with a keen eye on ensuring Aboriginal integrity in all she does.  She currently works within the local government arena, with a strong focus on innovation, collaboration and building resonate relationships.