Speaker Biographies Welcome to Country Agnes Shea, Elder of The
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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