Passionate about our vision to create a disability confident Australia, our people are flexible, collaborative, open minded and focused on results.
We explore new ways of doing things and are committed to continuous learning and improvement in order to maximise our impact.
We know that working in partnership with organisations we can make a difference to people with disability accessing business as customers, employees and stakeholders.
Corene joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) as the Chief Executive Officer in July 2021.
An experienced CEO, Corene is passionate about improving the lives of others and building communities for good. A NFP specialist, with a marketing background, Corene was previously Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics Australia, part of the world’s largest disability sports organisation.
Her previous role was also in the sports sector as Chief Executive Officer for the NRL’s Men of League Foundation responsible for the welfare of the rugby league community. Corene was the first female of to be appointed.
Prior to that she was the inaugural National Marketing Manager for Legacy Australia, caring for the families of the fallen and ill Defence force Veterans. As a result of Corene’s efforts Legacy underwent major transformation and appointed their first National CEO, after 90 years of volunteer led administration. A great believer in the value of education her professional career included senior appointments at Tribeca (now Kaplan), University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM).
Corene is a South African born Aussie with a solid sporting pedigree and has been a citizen of ours since 1987. Corene is married to Peter, and they enjoy travelling in their motorhome, as well as swimming at her beloved Cronulla beach, playing golf, yoga and cycling in her spare time.
Rachael joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) as COO in January 2022.
Prior to joining AND, Rachael had worked in a variety of sectors including mining, telecommunications and service and support industries. Her most recent role was as CFO of Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries and Land Manager where she led a comprehensive overhaul and deployment of all IT platforms.
At Southern Phone Company Ltd, as CFO and Company Secretary, Rachael was involved in the transformation of a company under the disruption of the introduction of the NBN and was a key member of the acquisitions team who acquired and integrated into the business multiple customer bases.
Rachael has held a number of finance and administration roles over her varied career and is known for supporting organisations with governance frameworks, project planning and the integration of customer journey into IT infrastructure. Her system, process and analytical skills ensure that business processes operate efficiently her insights into processes ensure that improvement align to the organisation strategies.
A keen volunteer, Rachael can be seen out in the estuaries teaching children to fish as a Fishcare Volunteer.
Rachael has a Bachelor of Commerce, is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a member of AHRI and is a Graduate of the AICD.
With a desire to do social good and a passion for equity, Amber joined AND to use her consulting skills to drive and empower organisations to make a difference. With her project management skills, Amber designs national pioneering projects and theories of change to create lasting and sustainable impact in the not-for-profit sector.
Amber joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) in December 2017 bringing her business analyst and social research background. Amber’s career path has always focused on consulting where she enjoys deep analysis to understand a market and environment. In the past, Amber’s work has focused on inclusion strategies, policy and system development, behavioural change and workshop training and facilitation.
Amber has extensive experience advising C-Suite decision makers on change management strategies to improve access and inclusion of the business, increase market share and generate revenue growth.
If you’ve ever been on a video call with Amber, you would know that she also has two miniature dachshunds that like to contribute during meetings. Carly (aged 14 months) is particularly vocal when it comes to the inclusion of people with disability.
Amber holds a BComm in Management and Marketing and DipLang in Indonesian from the University of Melbourne.
Emma joined the team at Australian Network on Disability (AND) in 2018 bringing with her 15+ years’ experience working in the community sector in both the disability and crisis services / homelessness fields.
Emma’s career path began at Kew Residential Services and has wound its way through the disability sector to include support work, coordination, leading teams and projects, and case management. Following the completion of a Master of Social Work (MSW), Emma shifted to work in the housing and homelessness sector first at The Salvation Army Crisis Services, then at Sacred Heart Mission’s Homefront (Women’s Crisis Accommodation). This pathway has shown Emma that there can be no real change for the individual without first breaking down the systemic barriers that impact on their situation.
As a woman with disability, Emma is passionate about disability representation and seeing her community thrive. As Head of Consultancy, Emma supports an amazing team whose goal is to build the disability confidence of Australian businesses through key Australian Network on Disability programs and services.
A constant student, Emma holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Disability Studies), Master of Arts (Writing and Literature) and a Master of Social Work. She also happens to be a trained yoga and meditation teacher.
Sharon joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) in May 2023 as the Head of Programs.
Previously, she worked at the Australian Institute of Company Directors as Scholarships Partner and at Aurora Education Foundation as their Scholarships Manager.
In her role at Aurora, Sharon worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and professionals, coordinating the international study tour, scholarships and programs to support postgraduate academic achievement.
As Head of Programs, Sharon is committed to working collaboratively with her colleagues and stakeholders and is responsible for supporting current programs, developing and growing new initiatives, and ensuring that all programs are executed with excellence.
With her strong background in coordinating programs and working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, Sharon is excited to work in the disability space, where she can apply her skills to make a positive impact on people’s lives. She believes that people with disabilities deserve the same opportunities as everyone else, and is committed to working with AND in creating a society that values and supports inclusion.
As an Indian woman from Fiji, Sharon enjoys the hot sunny beach days and loves cooking for family and friends. Outside of work you can find her checking out local markets, scouring Sydney’s food scene and always on the hunt for great coffee spots. Sharon also loves travelling, has a passion for arts and crafts and enjoys weaving and dabbling in paints. She loves to read and also has some great recommendations on Audible if you’re keen!
Stephanie joined the Australian Network on Disability team in March 2015 as Program Coordinator of Stepping Into and PACE Mentoring. Following the rapid growth of both programs, she stepped into the role of Programs Manager in December 2016 to lead the expanding Programs team.
Her passion for supporting employers to provide inclusive candidate and employee experiences led her to join the Member Experience team as a Relationship Manager in 2017. Since then, She has continued to develop strong relationships with AND members and deliver bespoke solutions to support their access and inclusion goals.
She stepped into a new role at AND in 2022 as Member Development Manager, leading the member networking and roundtable events and providing coaching support to the Member Experience Team.
In September 2023, she stepped into the role of acting Head of Member services.
Throughout her career, she has been driven by a strong desire to contribute to positive social change in Australia. Through storytelling, connection, and reflection, Stephanie hopes to see her work advance equal opportunities in social and economic participation for all people – including people with disability.
She has a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Technology, a Master of Publishing from the University of Sydney, and an Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies from the University of New England.
Emily Matthews
Head of Member Services (on maternity leave)
Emily Matthews
Head of Member Services (on maternity leave)
Emily joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) as a Relationship Manager and PACE Program Manager in August 2015. In March 2019, she joined AND’s Leadership Team in her role as Head of Member Services. Emily leads the Member Experience Team and is responsible, with her team, for ensuring Members are active, engaged and working closely with AND to meet their access and inclusion goals.
Prior to joining AND, Emily worked in both corporate and not-for-profit environments, focusing on relationship management, training and program management.
Throughout her career, Emily has effectively developed relationships with key stakeholders, including government departments, community organisations and corporate partners, to facilitate community, business and school-based mentoring programs. Emily is a passionate advocate for creating positive change through opportunity, education and awareness.
Emily has a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology and holds a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
Katie joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) as Head of Marketing & Communications in June 2023.
She is a passionate storyteller with more than 20 years of communications, marketing, and brand experience gathered from the finance, tech, telco, and disability sectors.
Throughout her career, she has focused on opportunities where she can tell stories that effect meaningful change. This is why she is delighted to be part of the AND team, an organisation dedicated to building Australia’s capability and confidence to employ people with disability.
Katie previously led brand and communications at Cerebral Palsy Alliance, where she was incredibly proud to launch Cerebral Conversations, a podcast series that tackles some of the biggest disability issues like ableism, accessibility, advocacy, inclusion, innovation, research, and a whole lot more.
When not in the AND (or home) office, Katie can be found breathing new life into old chairs, at music festivals with her husband Greg, reading in the sun, or trying to snuggle her rescue cat Lucky!
Lara joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) Consultancy team in January 2023 as Disability Confident Recruiter Program Lead. She comes with a range of experience in human resources, recruitment in international development volunteering as well as local and international disability employment projects.
With a passion for building inclusive and diverse workforces, Lara has previously supported employers in building disability awareness and confidence in supporting employees in the workplace. Lara has developed guides and resources for organisations to improve inclusive work practices generally and within inclusive recruitment.
Lara has obtained a Bachelor of Management (Human Resources) and postgraduate studies in International and Community Development. One of Lara’s most impactful experiences was contributing to the Disability Empowerment Skills Exchange program, supporting inclusive schools in building transition pathways for young people with disability in Fiji.
Lara studies the Italian language, which connects her to her family heritage, and enjoys the opportunity to practice any chance she gets. A lover of nature and water, Lara spends much of the summer at the beach and adventuring with her family and dog Duke.
Tom Bevan
Dignified Access Lead
Tom Bevan
Dignified Access Lead
Tom joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) as the Dignified Access Lead in September 2022.
He has a degree in Social Psychology and is currently studying Disability and Access at Deakin University.
For the last 12 years, Tom’s social inclusion work has exposed him to many community development sectors including, social enterprise, local government, not-for-profit, and disability services.
His approach is lived experience-driven, co-design informed, and capacity centered, taking a 360-degree view by embracing intersectionality.
A career highlight for Tom was pioneering access for all to Australia’s beaches by applying Universal Design principles to Williamstown and Altona beaches in Melbourne.
Tom spent over a decade working at the world’s number one travel guidebook publisher, Lonely Planet, holding executive positions in sales, marketing, and publicity.
Travel runs in his veins, and he loves exploring and celebrating the diversity of South East Asia with his family.
Inspired by the Big Issue Street Soccer program Tom cofounded Social Goal: a social enterprise that uses sport as a platform to promote inclusion. A major outcome to date is kick-starting of Australia’s first-ever Blind Soccer national team the Bilbies.
Tom is so excited to take his grassroots knowledge to a national level and to support members to break down barriers so that every Australian can have their voice heard.
Jazmyn Brennan
Disability Consultant - Career Pathways Pilot
Jazmyn Brennan
Disability Consultant - Career Pathways Pilot
Jazmyn joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) team as a Disability Consultant in October 2023.
Prior to AND, Jazmyn worked in the Healthcare industry, both Government and Private. During her Diversity, Equality and Inclusion roles, she had the opportunity to work on strategic projects and initiatives that fostered positive cultural change to the workplace and community. In her Organisational Development role, she was able to lead programs on leadership development, employee engagement and experience and performance motivation.
Her career highlight is her contribution in Implementing and facilitating the 2021 National HR award winning DisTinct Pathways Program – achieving a 100% completion rate and 89% ongoing employment rate. This program gave Jazmyn a greater understanding of the purpose of working and collaborating with a group of our community, who can excel once they are included in the journey.
Outside of AND, Jazmyn enjoys reading, crafting miniatures, spending time with my family and spending too much time on Tik Tok.
Pauline Brown
Administration Coordinator
Pauline Brown
Administration Coordinator
Pauline joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) in Sept 2022 as an Administration Coordinator.
Before joining AND, Pauline held various administrative roles within the private and public health sectors for ten years.
She has extensive experience in administration, including office management and accounts.
In her free time, Pauline enjoys reading, walking, and volunteering.
Hayley Brooks
Customer and Employee Experience Lead
Hayley Brooks
Customer and Employee Experience Lead
Hayley joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) as a Relationship Manager in August 2021. In September 2022, she joined AND’s Consultancy Team in her role as Customer and Employee Experience Lead. In this role Hayley is responsible for working with business to ensure the lived experiences of people with disability are embedded in the planning, design and evaluation of products and services to ensure they are inclusive and accessible.
Hayley has over 12 years’ experience working in the disability sector in various roles which has included in direct support work, project management, systemic advocacy, research, education, and case management. These roles have not only supported people with disability but have also supported organisations to understand how to work with people with disability in respectful ways.
Hayley holds strong values that people with disability have the right to be able to participate in all aspects of society. To empower people with disability, Hayley uses trauma informed and collaborative approaches, acting as a facilitator to create safe and supportive opportunities to amplify the voices of people with disability.
Highlights of Hayley’s career have included the management of co-designed projects focused on enhancing skills of both individuals with disability and organisations to prepare their responses to natural disasters. In 2014, 2017, and 2018 these projects won awards in the Resilient Australia awards, for their innovative approaches to facilitating shared learning between people with disability and the emergency management sector.
Hayley has a Bachelor of Inclusive Education and Disability Studies, and Master of Social Work from the Australian Catholic University, where she was included on the Dean’s List and awarded Outstanding Graduate of 2013 by Catholic Care.
Hayley is excited to be working with and supporting AND’s members on their inclusion and accessibility journeys.
Regine Caramancion
Marketing Coordinator
Regine Caramancion
Marketing Coordinator
Regine joined the Australian Network on Disability as the Marketing Coordinator in July 2023. She joins us with experience in the disability sector and digital marketing.
Regine studied a Bachelor of video game development. She is a gamer who is interested in the potential of video games and the positive impact it can have on society, particularly in bringing people together on interact digitally.
Regine is passionate about social justice and supporting those that are vulnerable. She travelled to the Philippines to help locals rebuild their village after a devastating earthquake. She also went to a disability hospital in Mexico to spend time with patients and people who are homeless. She also taught them English!
Brooke Carter
Program Coordinator - Career Pathways Pilot
Brooke Carter
Program Coordinator - Career Pathways Pilot
Brooke joined Australian Network on Disability (AND) as Program Coordinator in October
Brooke is a qualified Social Worker who has always enjoyed being connected to and supporting the community through her wide range of community services and NDIS roles. Prior to AND, Brooke was the All – Abilities Project Officer at Banyule City Council and was also the Project Lead of the Inclusion@Sport Project, which involved supporting local clubs on their journey of becoming more inclusive by creating their own all-abilities programs.
Brooke assisted members across the country through preventive health programs at Medibank which was obtained through a placement with the Vision Australia Career Start Graduate Program.
Brooke’s career highlight is being the first graduate to undertake a placement with Medibank as part of the Vision Australia Graduate Program, being nominated as a finalist for the 2023 Disability Sport & Recreation Awards from The Inclusion@Sport Project and for being selected as a finalist for Volunteer of the Year as part of her volunteer work within the sport of Goalball.
Brooke enjoys being active and believes this is a means of social connection. Brooke plays a lot of sport and has played Goalball at a local and state level for 15 years. Brooke enjoys hiking, boxing and can often be found at most Melbourne-based fun runs or local Parkrun. Brooke also enjoys listening to audiobooks and music.
Brooke is passionate about creating systematic change to create a more equitable world for people with a disability.
Manu Dhatt
Program Coordinator
Manu Dhatt
Program Coordinator
Manu Dhatt joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) in February 2023.
Originally hailing from London, Manu moved to Sydney in 2014.
She has a diverse professional background, spanning across education, childcare, events, sustainability, hospitality, media, and community outreach.
These diverse experiences have helped Manu shape her person-centered approach and cultivate interests in areas such as human behaviour, environmental design, personal development and social change.
She is excited to be part of the Australian Network on Disability, as it aligns with her values of helping to build a more equitable society.
Manu enjoys examining the world through an anthropological lens, with a particular interest in nature, art, and culture.
Sarah Driscoll
Relationship Manager
Sarah Driscoll
Relationship Manager
Sarah joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) in March 2023.
She has worked in the disability and mental health sector for over 8 years, most recently working in partnership with employers and NDIS participants to foster employment relationships.
Sarah has a master’s degree in Disability and Inclusion from Deakin University and a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences (majoring in Health Promotion and Nutrition) and in Arts (majoring in Drama).
Other work includes facilitating drama, dance, and art programs in Australia and Cambodia, working as a Research Assistant, and supporting people with disability to achieve their goals.
Driven by a desire to foster inclusion through employment, Sarah is excited to collaborate with employers to turn aspiration into action – building confidence and capability to create accessible and inclusive workplaces.
Valuing listening, learning, creativity, and honouring lived experience, this quote from an Aboriginal activist group in Queensland in the 1970s grounds much of Sarah’s work “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together”.
On the weekends Sarah enjoys cooking for her family and friends, painting, gardening, and hanging out with her camp dog from Yuendumu, Lottie.
Marie Fox
Delivery Manager - Employing 100
Marie Fox
Delivery Manager - Employing 100
Marie joined the Australian Network on Disability in May 2023.
A senior manager for over 15 years, Marie complements a well-rounded career in Not-for-profit, State, and Local Government and Big Corp with a Master of Business, specialising in Human Resource Management.
She joins Australian Network on Disability as the Delivery Manager for the Employing 100 project, which aligns with her passion for helping people be their best and find their best.
She has a history of leading strong team performance, securing business growth, and implementing programs that have had a measurable impact on the organisations she has served and the community.
She is passionate about equity, diversity, and inclusion. Inclusion of people with disability in all aspects of business is important to Marie as someone with lived experience and as a member of the LGBTQI+ community. She considers herself a diversity champion, enjoys inviting everyone on her “success bus” and welcomes a reportable outcome.
A self-confessed “Talent Specialist”, Marie relishes in uncovering the hidden skills and talents of others.
Outside of office hours, you will find her supporting the Pyjama Foundation as a “Pyjama Angel”, tending her large amount of houseplants, drinking tea, spending time with her stepdaughters, or enjoying a laugh with her beloved Texan.
Bianca Georgakopoulos
Member Liaison
Bianca Georgakopoulos
Member Liaison
Bianca joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) as Administration Officer in December 2018, then in June 2021 transitioned into the role of Program Coordinator.
Prior to joining AND, Bianca worked in an office administrative position for more than four years, organising and maintaining day-to-day operations across four separate business divisions.
With qualifications in business and retail, and more than five years’ experience in customer service, Bianca’s strong interpersonal, time management and communication skills have been an asset to AND’s team and network of members.
Bianca is passionate about inclusion and believes everyone is entitled to a fair go.
Rudy Haruta
Programs Lead - Stepping Into
Rudy Haruta
Programs Lead - Stepping Into
Rudy joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) team in September 2022 As a Program Coordinator. He was promoted to Program Lead in December 2022.
Prior to joining AND, Rudy had worked in different roles in administration, operations, marketing, and events for QBE and Platypus, developing his teamwork, organisation, and communication skills.
Rudy has a keen interest in sports, music, and writing. He actively participates in Baseball, Football and, Oz tag all year round and has coached a youth football team for 6 years. He is also currently making music in a band with his close friends.
Rudy is passionate about making a difference in the community and further developing his knowledge of disability confidence and accessibility in the workplace.
Katherine Havas
Project Liaison - Career Pathways Pilot
Katherine Havas
Project Liaison - Career Pathways Pilot
Katherine joined Australian Network on Disability (AND) as a Project Liaison in October 2023.
Katherine is passionate about accessibility, prior to AND she Co-Chaired a highly successful Employee Reference Group for accessibility and mentored others in that role. Katherine studied a Bachelor of Business in Management and Employee Relations, and has many years of experience in customer service excellence in the transportation and telecommunications industries.
Katherine was a speaker at the inaugural AND Conference and her topic was ‘Engaging middle management in the Accessibility Journey’. She is also currently an Observer in The Observership Program.
Katherine loves learning, she is currently learning French for the sheer exhilaration of the ‘aha’ moments when a new concept is understood. She is a great ally to have on a trivia table. She loves her family, exploring remote and beautiful places, and music (having 20 years of choral experience and singing in other languages). Katherine loves camping and can often be found setting up tents but has promised not to do so in the office.
Arpita Jauhari
Relationship Manager
Arpita Jauhari
Relationship Manager
Aripita Joined the Australian Network on Disability in April 2023.
She has extensive experience working across business partnering and learning consultancy roles in India, Australia, and New Zealand.
Previously, she has worked in employment partnering and training people with intellectual disabilities to work in open part-time employment. She has also provided training to people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds on their employment readiness.
Outside of work, Arpita likes to read biographies, philosophy, and psychology books in her spare time. She is passionate about volunteering to educate those who do not have access to education.
Arpita is a foodie who loves to try new cuisines.
Megan Jones
Marketing Projects Manager
Megan Jones
Marketing Projects Manager
Megan joined AND in February 2021. She is an experienced marketer and people leader who is passionate about building brands with purpose.
Megan has led marketing strategy and campaigns for some of Australia’s best-known brands, working in both the corporate and government sector. With a strong interest in customer behaviour and psychology she utilises audience insights to deliver relevant and engaging communications and customer experiences.
She enjoys educating through story-telling and emotive content and aims to deliver both rational and emotional connection through all activity. Megan is excited to bring her skills and experience to a brand that aligns with her personal values.
Tia joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) in May 2021 as a Program Coordinator. She was promoted to Program Lead in October 2022.
Prior to joining AND, Tia has worked in different roles in communication, social media management, program management ,and not-for-profit organisations, which allow her to develop excellent teamwork, leadership and organisational skills.
Tia has made her life-long goals to empower individuals, with a desire to work in a challenging environment to inspire empathy and equity. Her previous experience in supporting people with disability has also developed her passion on advocating for diversity, accessibility and inclusion.
Tia is pursuing a postgraduate degree in Communication and specialises in Public Relations and Digital Media.
Rosie Lane
Access and Inclusion Index Lead
Rosie Lane
Access and Inclusion Index Lead
Rosie joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) as a Programs Coordinator in August 2019, and commenced as the Access and Inclusion Index Lead in September 2022.
As a member of the Programs Team, Rosie supported interns and jobseekers with disability in the Stepping Into and PACE Mentoring programs, as well as members, supervisors and mentors to have positive program experiences. She has qualifications in media and communications and extensive customer service, team leadership and administration experience. Prior to joining the Australian Network on Disability, Rosie worked as a marketing coordinator, successfully managing and growing multiple FMCG brands.
Rosie’s interpersonal, communications and organisational skills have been developed through her varied professional experiences, and she is delighted to bring these to the Consultancy team. Rosie is excited to be supporting organisations to use the Access and Inclusion Index to understand, assess, benchmark and improve their disability confidence and drive best practice in accessibility and inclusion for employees and customers with disability.
Rida joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) as Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer in February 2017.
Prior to joining AND, Rida held various executive assistant positions providing high level and confidential support to senior executives in government, legal, commercial and multinational organisations. Besides providing one-on-one support, she has worked effectively with both internal and external stakeholders to achieve organisational goals and objectives. Rida also possesses extensive experience in office administration and people management.
Rida attained her Bachelor degree (major in administration and management) from the University of New England, Australia.
Lisa joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) in October 2022. she has a Bachelor of Social Sciences and later studied Community Services through TAFE NSW. As someone who loves learning and developing her knowledge, Lisa is looking forward to further developing her knowledge of disability confidence and accessibility in the workplace.
Prior to joining AND, she worked as a Community Support Coordinator and later as a Relationship Manager at Hireup, an NDIS support provider and online platform. In her work at Hireup, she worked closely with people with diverse disabilities to facilitate and support them to discover and maintain quality support relationships through the NDIS.
Lisa is passionate about the inclusion, accessibility, and equity of all people living with disabilities and is dedicated to building a career based on advocacy for and practice of social justice, diversity, and inclusion of the broader disability community and other diverse groups of people. Lisa has strengths in creative thinking and a talent for building supportive and empathetic relationships with those that she works with and supports within the community.
Outside of work, Lisa enjoys traveling and weekend adventures in small country towns. Lisa also loves discovering new cafes and vintage shops in the city and enjoys arts and crafts such as embroidery and collage.
Peta Magick
Project Manager
Peta Magick
Project Manager
Peta joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) as Project Manager, working in the Strategic Development team in September 2022.
With over 15 years working in the for-purpose sector, Peta is committed to contributing to an organisation that advocates for equality, dignity, and respect for all and empowers and enables people to achieve their potential.
Peta spent over a decade working for the Australian Business and Community Network, connecting business and public education, and improving educational opportunities and outcomes for students experiencing disadvantage. She brings expertise in program design, project management, design thinking, training, and facilitation. Highlights of her previous role include co-designing award-winning mentoring programs and playing a pivotal role in the digital transformation of the organisation, which led to recognition as a finalist in 2021 Australian Financial Review Innovation Awards.
Peta is passionate about social equity and inclusion and in 2009 co-founded the charity St Kilda Mums, which supports thousands of Victorian families in need each year with material aid and promotes the vision to share more, waste less and enable every child to thrive.
Outside of work, Peta can be found immersing herself in the great outdoors, camping, hiking, bike riding or when lucky, swimming with dolphins in her beautiful local bay. She is a lover of the creative arts, music and literature and will happily engage in word games of any description.
Catherine Maitland
Research Lead
Catherine Maitland
Research Lead
Catherine joined the Australian Network on Disability in June 2023 as the Research Lead.
She has worked in the disability sector for 15 years. Catherine also has extensive experience in learning and development for support workers, specialising in person-centred practice.
At NSW Council for Intellectual Disability, she learned a lot from project workers about producing accessible materials in Easy Read and how to co-design training courses and policies and procedures.
Catherine completed her PhD at the University of Technology Sydney in 2022. Her research foregrounded the “insider perspectives” of people with intellectual disability and support workers. She also has a Master of Education, a post-graduate Diploma of Adult Education, a Bachelor of Arts, and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
Founding a broadcasting project in partnership with people with intellectual disability is a highlight of her career. ‘Making Airwaves’ promoted inclusion and the right to be heard and was a finalist in the NSW Disability Industry Innovation Awards in 2013.
Catherine volunteers at the Sewing Basket, Achieve Australia’s social enterprise that employs people with disability to sort and sell donated fabrics, machines, and other craft materials. This satisfies another of her passions – a sustainable environment – as these crafty goods are saved from landfill.
Outside of work, Catherine is very keen on the theatre, practising yoga, making her own clothes, and being creative. She loves walks with her fluffy rescue cats (yes, really!)
Rachel Matheson
Relationship Manager
Rachel Matheson
Relationship Manager
Rachel joined Australian Network on Disability (AND) in January 2023, following a career break.
Rachel previously worked at Carers NSW delivering a program that supported employers to develop carer-friendly workplaces and formally recognised those who did. Rachel wanted to continue to work purposefully and to drive equitable inclusion in organisations.
Rachel’s experience also includes working as a Relationship Manager providing career transition and career management services to employers. Working with HR professionals Rachel enjoyed developing and delivering solutions to support employees to exit organisations with dignity and respect.
Willow Metcalf
Project Liaison - Career Pathways Pilot
Willow Metcalf
Project Liaison - Career Pathways Pilot
Willow joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) team as Project Liaison in September 2023.
Prior to joining AND, Willow worked as Lived Experience Consultant in the non-for-profit sector focusing on autism advocacy. This involved using her lived experience as a person with disability to consult on autism inclusion audits and provide training about autism. Her most recent role as a Resources Officer in the same organization involved writing, reviewing, and refining a variety of resources. Willow has experience in event speaking, blog writing and participating in governance and focus groups.
With a passion for the inclusion of people with disability, Willow is a Teaching Associate in communication in health and disability at Monash University and is a selected member of the Economic Inclusion working group for the National Autism Strategy.
One of her career achievements was writing two booklets and two information sheets for a project funded by the eSafety Commissioner which aimed to educate healthy online video gaming for Autistic young people.
Willow loves playing video games, arts and crafts, music, animals and talking about her favourite nerdy TV shows and movies. Her best friend is her dog named Ziggy and even has tattoos of all the animals she’s owned and loved.
Willow has a Bachelor of Education Studies and Arts.
Nathan Mikhael
Digital Officer
Nathan Mikhael
Digital Officer
Nathan joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) as Digital Officer in October 2022.
He has qualifications and experience in digital marketing, communications, and project management.
Prior to joining AND, he worked with several organisations to transform and optimise the digital experience for their customers and stakeholders.
As a person with lived experience of disability, he believes every person should be given a fair go. He is passionate about driving change for others living with disability.
Nathan is a history buff and enjoys reading and watching documentaries about major historical events.
Isabel Money Galacho
Program Coordinator
Isabel Money Galacho
Program Coordinator
Isabel joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) in September 2022.
She recently graduated with a Bachelor of Criminology. She has a background in public service, previously working for a start-up medicinal cannabis healthcare service. She is part of a community of people experiencing chronic illness.
Isabel is a singer with an Alto-1 vocal range and is a member of the Decibelle Female Pop Choir. She also enjoys cross-stitching.
On the weekends, she likes to hang out with her friends, often frequenting one of Melbourne’s new bars and restaurants.
Lydia Moore
Disability Consultant - Career Pathways Pilot
Lydia Moore
Disability Consultant - Career Pathways Pilot
Lydia joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) team as a Disability Consultant in October 2023.
Prior to AND, Lydia worked in a range of areas such as Universities, UK National Health System. Her most recent role was in the corporate world at Stockland working in Commercial Property, Legal, and IT Project Management.
Lydia is passionate about the intersection of technology, innovation and disability particularly universal design and how this provides dignified and equitable experience.
Outside of AND, Lydia enjoys listening to an audiobook or podcast while gardening, growing her vegetable, art, and sewing. When there’s a spare weekend, Lydia can be found going out and about in nature with her dog Freddie or trying new restaurants or recipes to cook.
Mirabel Mowat Smith
Acting Membership Development Manager
Mirabel Mowat Smith
Acting Membership Development Manager
Mirabel joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) in October 2021. She joins with over 10 years’ experience as an HR professional, working in manufacturing and professional services industries across Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Throughout her career she has partnered with stakeholders and developed strong relationships to enable talent and a culture of high performance. She has a focus on continuous improvement and uses analysis and insights to influence change. Mirabel is passionate about equal employment opportunities for all and has volunteered in employment services for refugees, students and those in need.
Mirabel has Bachelors of Business and Arts from University of Auckland, majoring in Management, Employee Relations and History.
She is excited to be a part of the AND Member Experience Team and to be contributing to the meaningful work of the organisation.
Liisa Olsson
Mentor Lead
Liisa Olsson
Mentor Lead
Liisa joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) in January 2023.
She moved to Australia from Sweden in 2015, hence the spelling of her name, which is pronounced the same as Lisa (Lee-sah).
She has qualifications in digital development, cognitive science, and project management. She comes to AND with experience in recruitment services and sales in commercial and in the not-for-profit sector.
She’s passionate about inclusion in the community and accessibility for all. She cares about intersectionality and has volunteered for refugee and LGBTQIA+ communities.
You’ll often find her with her dog, Milo, glued to her side. She’s currently learning French and Auslan, is an avid gamer and enjoys spending time outdoors.
Ari Perala
Business Analyst
Ari Perala
Business Analyst
Ari joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) as a Business Analyst, part-time in Jan 2022, and then becoming permanent in May 2022.
Prior to Joining AND, Ari has worked as a Senior Project Manager, managing Business and Technical transformation projects, implementation of major products into organisations, as well as business projects.
He has also worked as a Business Analyst and programmer and has a wealth of knowledge in the IT industry, having worked in Insurance, Government, Data Analytics, Financial Companies.
Ari is passionate about all aspects of Information Technology and how it can enable people to perform to the best of their ability.
Clara Pirani joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) in May, 2022. She is an experienced journalist and editor and most recently worked at The Australian newspaper for 20 years in a variety of roles including Medical Reporter, Health Editor, Business Chief of Staff and Associate Editor.
She is passionate about public health and social equity and is currently studying a Master of Public Health at the University of Technology Sydney.
Penny joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) as a Relationship Manager in March 2021. Penny’s background is in diversity and inclusion in the higher education sector where she worked on programs to support the transition to university for students from disadvantaged and under-represented backgrounds. She then moved into workplace diversity and inclusion, delivering an organisation-wide disability awareness training framework, the establishment of staff inclusion networks, strategic diversity and inclusion events, and programs to support career development for staff from diverse backgrounds.
Penny enjoys working from the ground up to help organisations to develop and deliver access and inclusion plans, support disability champions, grow engaged staff networks and build disability confidence across all areas of their business. She is passionate about ensuring the social, educational and economic participation of people with disability in Australian society.
Penny has a Bachelor of Social Science with majors in policy and psychology from the University of New South Wales. In her spare time, she’s a volunteer counsellor and community educator with the Australian Breastfeeding Association.
Nerida Sleaman
Project Manager – Employing 100
Nerida Sleaman
Project Manager – Employing 100
Nerida joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) in February 2023 as a Project Manager, working in the Strategic Development team.
Prior to joining AND, Nerida worked as an Executive Assistant to the Chief Legal and Risk Officer, and the Chairman of the Board, in an ASX Top 50 Listed company where she developed her leadership, project management and change management skills.
Nerida is an Associate member of the Governance Institute of Australia, having completed a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance. She has over 20 years’ experience providing high level support in the Legal and Risk space, and has a reputation for completing projects on time, within budget, and with a strong focus on risk mitigation.
Disability inclusion has always been not negotiable to Nerida. Her lived experience, together with a term as lead on an Accessibility Employee Advocacy Group led to her studying Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging at the Academy to Innovate HR. Nerida has also successfully created, launched and embedded a Disability Ally Network.
In her personal time, Nerida enjoys gardening, reading, and karaoke. You can also find her walking her rescue dogs or volunteering at her community baseball club.
Mackenzie Small
Relationship Manager
Mackenzie Small
Relationship Manager
Mackenzie Small joined the Australian Network on Disability in November 2023. Prior to that, Mackenzie’s career has spanned 10 years across the employment and disability sectors where he has worked in recruitment, disability employment and partnerships. Mackenzie is passionate about diversity and inclusion in all its aspects, particularly where disability intersects with other parts of people’s identities.
Most recently, Mackenzie established the partnerships and engagement function for the Disability Gateway, a Department of Social Services funded information and linkages program for people with disability, their families, friends and carers to help find the support they need in Australia. In that role he managed relationships across government, peak bodies, advocacy organisations and the community services sector. A particular highlight within this role was during the COVID-19 global pandemic where he created a national referral pathway network for people with disability to access vaccines in their own home if they couldn’t access it via their doctor’s office or vaccination sites due to their accessibility requirements.
Outside of work, Mackenzie and his husband enjoy scuba diving, candle making and spending time on their family farms with their two rescue cats, Bella and Nala. A fun fact about Mackenzie is that he can’t recall any useful information for trivia, but he has a talent for recalling quotes from movies and tv shows!
Danielle Smyth
Relationship Manager
Danielle Smyth
Relationship Manager
Danielle joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) as a Relationship Manager in October 2022.
Prior to joining AND, Danielle worked in the Australian Public Service for over 6 years where she developed her skills in leadership, project management and correspondence design.
Danielle has also volunteered in Kenya and Nepal on community-led sustainable development projects, and locally in Brisbane with multiple not-for-profit organisations.
She holds a Bachelor of Social Science (majors in Development, and Social and Public Policy) and a Graduate Certificate in Human Services.
Danielle is passionate about achieving equitable access and genuine inclusion for diverse groups in Australia and overseas. She advocates for a person-centred approach and respect for unique lived experiences.
She looks forward to supporting AND’s members to achieve their access and inclusion goals.
Christopher Strickland
Training Lead
Christopher Strickland
Training Lead
Christopher joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) as Training Lead in September 2022. He comes with seven years of experience in disability sector roles.
A teacher with over 15 years of experience, he worked at the Western Sydney University as their Academic Advisor (Language Enhancement). He has also worked in TAFEs and for two years in Berlin as a corporate trainer.
Passionate about social justice, he’s worked in Sydney’s western suburbs training refugees and migrants. He has also worked as a consultant in CALD communities.
Christopher has a Masters in writing. He is also a Leo who loves cheese.
Alyson Todd
Campaign Manager
Alyson Todd
Campaign Manager
Alyson joined the team at the Australian Network on Disability (AND) as a Campaign Manager in February 2023.
She has extensive experience leading marketing teams in multicultural and international environments, chiefly across the not-for-profit, education and government sectors.
Alyson brings a strong focus on collaboration and innovation to tackling marketing challenges.
Valuing life-long learning, Alyson holds a Master of Commerce (Marketing), a Master of Learning Sciences and Technology and an undergraduate degree in Psychology and English.
Alyson is right behind AND’s mission to create a disability confident Australia, as she firmly believes everyone should be able to live with dignity, respect and not feeling they are on their own.
Dragan Tomic
Directing Change Project Officer
Dragan Tomic
Directing Change Project Officer
Dragan joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) as a Directing Change Project Officer, in August 2022.
Prior to joining AND, he has worked in diverse roles that has helped him refine his organisational, teamwork, and interpersonal skills. Dragan has experience of working in private, government and non-for-profit sector. Dragan is passionate about the inclusion of people with disabilities and making disability more mainstream.
Dragan is passionate about music and enjoys going to music festivals. Dragan is also passionate sport and enjoys watching football.
Dragan holds a bachelor’s in business majoring in sports management. Along with a master’s in Business majoring in information technology.
Emilie Van Os-Schmitt
Content Creator/Designer
Emilie Van Os-Schmitt
Content Creator/Designer
Emilie joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) as our Content Creator/Designer in November 2022.
Alongside completing her Bachelor of Visual Arts, Digital Media at ANU and a Diploma of Graphic Design at the CATC Design School, Emilie brings over six years of experience in freelance content creation to our team.
Often found sketching away in her notepad, enjoying a good book or taking part in outdoor adventures, Emilie is passionate about contributing her creativity and enthusiasm to positively impact the broader community.
Kylie Vitnell
Accounts Administrator
Kylie Vitnell
Accounts Administrator
Kylie joined Australian Network on Disability (AND) as Accounts Administrator in July 2022.
Before joining AND, she worked for 15 years in the Marine Construction industry.
During her time as Office Manager for Sub Sea Global, Kylie took on roles in finance, payroll, compliance, WHS and employee training.
Kylie enjoys working in accounts and has a passion for gardening.
Phillipa Ward
Accountant
Phillipa Ward
Accountant
Sarah Wojciechowski
Disability Consultant - Career Pathways Pilot
Sarah Wojciechowski
Disability Consultant - Career Pathways Pilot
Sarah joined the Australian Network on Disability (AND) team as a Disability Consultant in October 2023.
Prior to joining AND, Sarah worked in HR, specialising in Talent Management & Talent Acquisition, mainly in professional & financial services including KPMG, Deloitte, Factiva (Dow Jones), Australian fintechs and HR consulting firms.
Throughout her career, Sarah set up graduate recruitment programs, restructured organisations for success and established new talent acquisition functions from the ground up. Amidst these achievements, Sarah’s highlight has been the friendships built along the way – she is still good friends a former APAC HR Director from a former workplace in the UK from 20 years ago!
Prioritising her wellbeing, Sarah has a routine of going to the gym before work each morning. Sarah is currently taking piano lessons and enjoys good food, wine, getting out in nature or going for a camping trip.
Sarah loves to see the world having worked a ski season in France, months on a kibbutz in Israel, studying for a year in Germany, and even walked across the Inca Trail in Peru and backpacked through India.