Dinesh was the first quadriplegic medical intern in Queensland. Dinesh is a doctor, lawyer, disability advocate, and researcher.
Halfway through medical school, he was involved in a motor vehicle accident that caused a cervical spinal cord injury. Dinesh has completed an Advanced Clerkship in Radiology at the Harvard University.
Dinesh works in the emergency department at the Gold Coast University Hospital. He is a senior lecturer at the Griffith University and adjunct research fellow at the Menzies Health Institute of Queensland. Dinesh is a researcher in spinal cord injury. He is a doctor for the Gold Coast Titans physical disability rugby team. Dinesh is a senior advisor to the Disability Royal Commission. He is an ambassador to the Human Rights Commission’s Includeability program. He was a 2021 International Day of People with Disability ambassador. He is a founding member of Doctors with Disabilities Australia.
Dinesh was the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service’s Junior Doctor of the Year in 2018. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2019. He was the third Australian to be awarded a Henry Viscardi Achievement Award. He was the 2021 Griffith University Young Alumnus of the Year. Dinesh was the Queensland Australian of the Year for 2021. In 2022, Dinesh was listed as number 33 in the Courier Mail’s top 100 power list for Queensland’s most influential in health and wellbeing. His autobiography, Stronger, was published by Pan Macmillan in 2022.
Ms Sue-Anne Hunter is a Wurundjeri and Ngurai illum Wurrung woman and is Deputy Chair and Commissioner for the Yoorrook Justice Commission.
Ms Hunter was the National Sector Development Manager for SNAICC – National Voice for our Children. As Deputy Chair of SNAICC between 2013 and 2016, Ms Hunter spoke on the Royal Commission into Institutional Sexual Abuse of Children in Care and sat on the working group for the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children.
Ms Hunter is a trained social worker and has worked in the Aboriginal children and family welfare field for over 18 years. She previously had oversight of all the cultural clinical healing services at the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency. Ms Hunter also was Co-Chair of the ‘Family matters’ campaign to end the over-representation of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care.
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A Cross-cultural Consultant, Tasneem addresses issues of diversity, equity and inclusion across organisational leadership, including intersectionality within government, corporate, arts and community sectors. For her efforts she has been appointed an ‘Anti-Racism Champion’ by the Australian Human Rights Commission - and awarded an OAM.
Tasneem is a Strategic Advisor to the Victorian Public Service Commission, Fire Rescue Victoria, the Collingwood Football Club Expert Panel on Anti-Racism and the inaugural Ambassador for Women of Colour, Australia. She is also an outgoing Board Director for The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI).
A TEDxMelbourne presenter and writer, Tasneem has featured on numerous platforms including The Guardian, SBS Life, BBC’s IQ2 Debates, Q&A The Drum and is host of the podcast series, ‘Strengths Untold’..
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www.tasneem.com.au
Ruby Hamad is an author, journalist and emerging academic. She is in the second half of a PhD in media studies at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.
Her best-selling debut book WHITE TEARS/BROWN SCARS traces the role that White Womanhood and feminism have played in the development of Western power structures. The non-fiction book was inspired by her viral 2018 essay 'How White Women Use Strategic Tears to Silence Women of Colour', which was published in Guardian Australia and became a global flashpoint for discussions of race and gender.
Ruby spent five years as a columnist for Fairfax media's flagship feminist portal Daily Life. Her columns, analysis, literary reviews and essays have also featured in Australian publications The Saturday Paper, Meanjin, Crikey and Eureka St, and internationally in The Guardian, Prospect Magazine, The New York Times, and Gen Medium.
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Naomi Moran is a Nyangbal, Arakwal and Dunghutti woman from New South Wales, and is the General Manager of Australia’s only independent Indigenous newspaper, the Koori Mail. Her career in Indigenous media spans over 20 years, and includes experience in print, television and radio.
At just fourteen years old, in April 1998, Naomi joined the Koori Mail as a trainee office worker, which resulted in a ten-year journey working for the paper in various roles and departments throughout the business including advertising, sales, marketing and editorial. In 2008 she pursued her career goals in Indigenous Media, joining the communications team at NITV, Australia’s only Indigenous TV station, and then went on to explore working in radio with a joint position with both the Brisbane Indigenous Media Association and the National Indigenous Radio Service, in Brisbane. In April 2016, Naomi returned to the Koori Mail, with the Koori Mail Board of Directors appointing her as General Manager. Naomi has a passion for supporting Indigenous youth with employment and career pathways, by developing and delivering in-school programs and mentoring for students throughout the northern NSW region.
Juliana is a trainer and public speaker on social justice, racism, colonisation, blackness and diversity, and is passionate about human rights and women’s rights. She is currently the Founder and President of African Women Australia and Domestic and Family Violence Project Manager at Settlement Services International (SSI).
Juliana has participated extensively and energetically in the Australian community in many areas including the NSW Police Commissioner’s Committee on Responsive Policing, the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia (FECCA) Women’s Steering Committee, and the National Steering Committee of the Living in Harmony Partnership Project implemented by the Family Court of Australia. She was the first women’s representative of the African Communities Council of NSW and the originator of the African Workers Network in Sydney.
In 2014, she completed a successful innovative project on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which upskilled women to speak on the issue of FGM within their communities and in the mainstream, leading to the development of the Charter of Ethical Practice in FGM.
She was also awarded Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2013 for her significant service to the community, particularly the welfare of women and refugees.
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Teela Reid is a Rebellious Lawyer, storyteller, essayists and proud Wiradjuri and Wailwan woman. Teela is also the co-founder of Blackfulla Bookclub, an instagram platform that honours First Nation’s Ancestors as the original Storytellers.
Teela is currently a Sydney-based Senior Solicitor in Aboriginal Land Rights litigation and in 2022 was appointed the inaugural First Nations Lawyer in residence at The University of Sydney Law School. She is also a key advocate for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and recently been appointed to the Federal Governments Referendum Engagement Group to provide strategic input for a Referendum on a First Nations Voice to Parliament.
Teela completed her Postgraduate Juris Doctor/Law from the University of New South Wales. She has a double Bachelor degree in BA.Secondary Teaching/BA.Health and Physical Education from the University of Newcastle, where she studied abroad in Canada. Teela is a graduate of the Global Emerging Leaders Program at The Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University in Boston USA.
In 2022, Teela was awarded the Australian Law Awards Indigenous Leader of the Year.
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www.teelareid.com
Leah Thomas is a celebrated environmentalist based in Los Angeles, CA. Coining the term ‘eco-communicator’ to describe her style of environmental activism, Leah uses her passion for writing and creativity to explore and advocate for the critical yet often overlooked relationship between social justice and environmentalism. With this intersection in mind, Leah founded and launched the non-profit Intersectional Environmentalist, a platform and resource hub that aims to advocate for environmental justice, provide educational resources surrounding intersectional environmentalism, and promote inclusivity and accessibility within environmental education and movements.
Building on her work in the field, Leah penned The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet. The book serves as an introduction to the intersection between environmentalism, racism, and privilege, and as an acknowledgment of the fundamental truth that we cannot save the planet without protecting all of its people.
Leah is also the founder of the eco-lifestyle blog @greengirlleah, where she uses her multiple years of eco-focused educational and work experience to inform her ever-expanding list of projects, and connect with her audience of more than 400k followers across channels. Leah has been named to several notable lists—including TIME100 NEXT, INSIDER’s Climate Action 30, Marie Claire’s Creators to Watch, EBONY Power 100, and InStyle’s The Badass 50—and is an established public speaker who has presented at Google, 1% for the Planet’s Global Summit, Dreamforce, and more. Her writing has appeared in a variety of publications, including Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Teen Vogue, The Washington Post, and Highsnobiety. She has also been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, W Magazine, and CNN as well as ABC News, NBC, The Weather Channel, and numerous podcasts.
Leah is a graduate of Chapman University with a B.S. in Environmental Science & Policy and a cluster in Comparative World Religions. She has interned with the National Park Service and has worked at leading green companies, including eco-friendly soap company Ecos and outdoor retailer Patagonia.
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. This interest is fuelled by her own experiences of racism, racialisation, racial discrimination, and intersectional harms as a racially marginalised person living in Australia. Virginia explores her research 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, new African diaspora in Australia and African women diaspora.
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Sabrina holds a BSc. in Biology (University of Geneva) & a MSc. in Environmental Economics (The University of Queensland, UQ). Sabrina’s PhD (UQ) explored packaged food reduction in food systems. Her work provided a repositioning of the socio-materiality of food packaging, politicising packaged food & highlighting the need to pursue degrowth strategies to increase the sustainability of food systems. Her current CSIRO’s research focuses on the complex social-economic-ecological interaction that can influence a socially just & ecologically sustainable transition in Australia. Sabrina is also course coordinator at UQ, teaching e-technologies applications in food systems.
Sabrina has been advocating for a more sustainable society, leading numerous collaborations in various countries across Europe, Kenya, Ecuador, Mexico & Australia, including an initiative with Queensland’s Environment Minister to introduce the law banning single-use plastic bags. To translate into practice her knowledge & vision, in 2017, she founded the Brisbane Tool Library, a social enterprise that encourages people to borrow tools, camping gear & other equipment. This community-driven circular economy model reduces productivism & consumerism. The Brisbane Tool Library is Australia’s first & only ‘library of things’ to be located within a public library - State Library of Queensland. Sabrina co-founded also the Degrowth Journal, an academic journal that supports slow science & the decommodification of knowledge.
Post Growth Institute fellow, winner of the 2020 Create Change 7News Young Achiever Award (QLD) & recipient of the Emerging Female Leader bursary from the National Council of Women of Queensland (2020), Sabrina is a multi-award social entrepreneur, researcher & educator invested in systemic change.
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Dr Lois Peeler is of Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri heritage by her mother and Wurundjeri Heritage by her father. Dr Peeler's upbringing included life on the Cummeragunja Aboriginal Reserve and the river flats of Mooroopna where activism for improved conditions for Aboriginal people was deeply embedded. She grew up surrounded by strong men and women who led the fight for equal rights for Aboriginal people.
Lois is one of the original members of The Sapphires, an all-girl singing group from the 1960s, she is Australia's first Aboriginal model and TV presenter and has had a diverse career in the music industry, public service, community development, social activism, tourism, and education.
A dynamic contributor to Aboriginal affairs Lois has held many positions in the government, community and corporate sectors. She began her career as Assistant Director of the Aborigines Advancement League leading to senior positions in the State and Federal public service, across 16 years.
Lois entered the public service as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer with the Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands where she managed the first Aboriginal Ranger Program. She became Director of the Aboriginal Employment Unit and managed the Aboriginal Employment Strategy.
Lois has been Chair of the Binjirru Regional Council of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), appointed as a Director of the Indigenous Land Corporation, Land Enterprise Australia and to the board of Parks Victoria.
Lois headed Aboriginal Tourism Australia for over a decade, was a member of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee to SOCOG for the Sydney Games and co-authored the Respecting our Culture (ROC) tourism accreditation program for the Australian Tourism industry.
Lois was a founding member of the National Federation of Aboriginal Women and a founding member of Koorie Women Mean Business and was appointed to the Victorian Women’s Advisory Committee. She was a trustee of the Fairley Foundation and was appointed to a term as Acting Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People.
In 2003 Lois received The Centenary Medal and In 2014 she was made a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for her service to the Indigenous community as an educator, advocate and role model.
In 2017 she was Senior Victorian of the Year and in the same year she was awarded a Doctor of Social Science, Honoris Causa, by RMIT University.
In 2020 she was inducted into the Victorian Women’s Honour Roll.
Lois is now Chair of the Department of Justice Eastern Metropolitan Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee (RAJAC), a member of the Aboriginal Justice Caucus and Chair of the Aboriginal Independent Prison Visitors Program.
Lois is a member of the Museums Victoria Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee.
Lois was awarded the 2022 NAIDOC Female Elder Award.
Katherine is an advocate for economic change with roles including writer-in-residence at the University of Edinburgh and a Strategic Advisor for the Centre for Policy Development. She co-founded the Wellbeing Economy Alliance and WEAll Scotland, and instigated the Wellbeing Economy Governments partnership. She sits on advisory groups including for The Democracy Collaborative, the C40 think tank, and the Centre for Understanding Sustainable Prosperity. Her most recent book (with Jeremy Williams in 2019) is The Economics of Arrival and her major report Being Bold: Budgeting for Children’s Wellbeing was launched in March 2021.
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www.katherinetrebeck.com
Amy Gordon is a Gooreng Gooreng woman and the First Nations Justice Campaigns Director at Getup. She’s been working on First Nations and climate justice for the last 15 years including as Campaign Director at the AYCC.
Amy also worked as an organiser in the US working on refugee rights and strengthening gun laws. Amy is passionate about building the capacity of young mob and telling the stories of our people.
Sovaida Ma’ani Ewing is a prolific author and speaker, international lawyer (with 18 years experience in private and government practice), and the founding director of The Center for Peace and Global Governance (cpgg.org), a virtual think tank and online forum that pools and proposes principled solutions to pressing global challenges through publications, podcasts, lectures, online courses, workshops, and targeted consulting.
She has written five books in the area of peace, collective security, and global governance: “Collective Security Within Reach” (2008) with a foreword written by an Under-Secretary General of the United Nations , “Building a World Federation: The Key to Resolving Our Global Crises” (2015), “21st Century Ready” (2018), “Bridge to Global Governance: Tackling Climate Change, Energy Distribution, and Nuclear Proliferation,” and her latest, “The Alchemy of Peace: 6 Essential Shifts in Mindsets and Habits to Achieve World Peace.” She also hosts a live monthly video cast entitled “Re-Imagining Our World” on her CPGG — Center for Peace and Global Governance — YouTube channel which is dedicated to creating a vision of the world we want and infusing hope that we can make the choices necessary to attain it.
Ms Maani Ewing has lived and worked on four continents and speaks four languages.
Maria Dimopoulos AM is nationally and internationally recognised as an expert specialising in the intersections of diversity, gender equality and the law. She is an outstanding communicator and facilitator and possesses an extraordinary ability to captivate her audience. She has had extensive experience in policy formulation for the Government sector, research for social planning and in community education.
Much of Maria’s work has been aimed at promoting and enhancing a gendered approach in the ongoing complex legal and political reform processes and in ensuring the meaningful inclusion of diverse women’s voices and perspectives in those reform processes.
Maria’s expert contributions have included knowledge provision and advisory roles in gender justice, advocacy, bridging and supporting participation in mainstream processes, coordination, capacity-building, and piloting innovative projects. In 2008, she was appointed by the Federal government to the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children. The Council provided expert advice to Government on reducing the incidence and impact of domestic and family violence and sexual assault on women and their children and was tasked with the development and distribution of a National Plan of Action. In 2012 Maria was appointed by the federal Minister for Multicultural Affairs to the Access and Equity Inquiry panel to conduct an inquiry into Australian Government services to ensure they are responsive to the needs of Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Maria has undertaken extensive sensitive research with a range of diverse communities and organisations and has had research published in a range of professional publications and peer reviewed journals including the Feminist Law Journal, Family and Domestic Violence Clearinghouse, and the Australian Institute of Criminology. She has also co-authored the book ‘Blood on Whose Hands’ – the Killing of Women and Children in Domestic Relationships.
Maria is currently the Chairperson of Safe and Equal, a member of the Coronial Council of Victoria and a board member of Midsumma. She was the inaugural Chairperson of the Harmony Alliance, Australia’s national coalition of migrant and refugee women and a member of the National Women’s Alliances.
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Dean Foley is an internationally recognised expert of First Nations Entrepreneurship, and is the founder of Barayamal.
His passion and commitment come straight from his identity as a Kamilaroi man from Gunnedah NSW and from his love for his people and his vision for how to help them build a better world for themselves and in so doing build a better world for everyone.
This vision is why he started my company Barayamal, which is now known for being a world leader in First Nations Entrepreneurship.
His history of service to his community began when he served as a National Guard member and during his time in the Royal Australian Air Force, and he has continued to prioritise work that allows him to give back and make a real difference in people’s lives.
The lessons he learned in teamwork, problem-solving, project management, and leadership from his time in service and from his educational and professional experiences allowed him to identify and target the best ways to give back to his community through successful business ventures and consultancy work.
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www.barayamal.com.au
Over the past 20 years, Shankar has accumulated experiences in Youth Services, Housing, Public Health, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs across Victoria, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the ACT. In one capacity or another, he has worked for local governments, Transparency International, Oxfam Australia, National Heart Foundation, Amnesty International and the Red Cross.
Shankar has been an adviser to State and Territory members of parliament (incl. members of Cabinet). His appointments have included sessional teaching at Charles Darwin, Monash, UNSW and Deakin universities.
Shankar is a Commissioner for Multicultural Affairs in the State of Victoria and the Deputy Chair of the Migrant Workers Centre.
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www.multiculturalcommission.vic.gov.au
Varsha Yajman is an Indian-Australian climate justice and mental health youth advocate and has been an organiser for School Strike for Climate and the Australian Youth Climate Coalition. Varsha is currently studying law and politics at the University of Sydney, is a Coordinator at Sapna South Asian Climate Solidarity and paralegal at Equity Generation Lawyers, which conducts climate change ligation.
As a woman of colour, Varsha’s work also focuses on the importance of amplifying the voices of young South Asians and young people who are impacted by mental health issues and climate change.
Her work aims to create a community for young South Asian Australians to feel represented and empowered.
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Phil is an Aboriginal man descended from the Bunganditj, Gunditjmara and Narungga peoples in Victoria and South Australian regions. Phil has worked as a Barrister and Solicitor, and Consultant Legal Advisor, over many decades.
Born into the movement of Aboriginal rights, and raised by a single mother of 6, who was a passionate grassroots activist and campaigner, Phil’s focus is on improving justice and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal people across Australia.
This includes representing and advocating for Aboriginal people in organisations such as Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement, Aboriginal Community Services, National Disability Insurance Agency and Justice & Reintegration Programs.
Phillip has also chaired Aboriginal organisations in the aged care sector and youth arts. He is an artist and storyteller at heart, and currently co-host of Nunga Wangga radio Monday night.
He was recently appointed as the interim CEO of National Aboriginal Cultural Institute - Tandanya.
Phillip is a father to 2 daughters and currently lives in Adelaide, South Australia.
May Samali is a professionally certified leadership coach, facilitator, researcher, venture partner and business founder. She is passionate about investing in people and ideas that can transform the world. Drawing on more than a decade of international experience as a lawyer, impact investor, and technology non-profit CEO, May founded the Human Leadership Lab to help individuals and organisations identify their purpose and unleash their power and potential. In addition, May is a Senior Industry Fellow at FORWARD, RMIT University's Centre for Future Skills and Workforce Transformation, and a Venture Partner at NextGen Venture Partners, a network-driven venture capital firm headquartered in Washington DC.
May holds a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where she studied as an Australian John Monash Scholar, Gleitsman Leadership Fellow, and New World Social Innovation Fellow. She also holds a Bachelors of Laws and Economic & Social Sciences from Sydney University.
Her primary areas of interest include leadership, entrepreneurship, the future of work and wellbeing. She is published on these topics in multiple outlets, including the Australian, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Stanford Social Innovation Review, TechCrunch, Forbes, and VentureBeat. Based between Sydney and San Francisco, May loves almond milk lattes, morning hikes, and quality time with her family and furry friends.
Tania Farha is the CEO of Safe and Equal, a newly merged identity of two organisations: the Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria (DVRCV) and Domestic Violence Victoria (DV Vic). Previously, Tania has held executive positions across the Victorian Departments of Justice and Community Safety and Premier and Cabinet, including as CEO of the former Office of Prevention and Women’s Equality. Tania worked at UN Women for over four years as a policy specialist in the Ending Violence Against Women Section and worked for Victoria Police for over nine years to improve its responses to family violence, sexual assault and child abuse.
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www.safeandequal.org.au
Elizabeth Ayom Lang is the Founding CEO and Lead Consultant at Diversity Focus. She leads a team of practitioners that provide research, consulting and training services specialising in workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion at the intersections of gender, race, and ethnicity. She is also the author of the upcoming book, Wired for Bias, which explores how algorithmic or AI bias perpetuates racial inequity across various systems, including justice, education and health, to name a few.
As an impactful and engaging speaker, she has spoken on national and international platforms, including at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. In line with her passion for gender equity, inclusion and domestic and family violence, she is pursuing her PhD at Curtin University.
In recognition of her commitment to human rights and social justice, she was a finalist in the 2021 WA Human Rights Awards. She was also recognised in the 2021 Global 100 Under 40 Most Influential People of African Descent in the Activism and Humanitarian category for her work.
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www.diversityfocus.com.au
A lover of languages, people and creativity, Hala has lived, travelled and worked in more than 50 countries. She is an expert at designing and delivering professional training and has participated in event management, sales, teaching, counselling and community development in Australia, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Trained in Psychology and Social Work, Hala seeks to share ideas and knowledge that allow people to grow together. She is a strong advocate for anti-racism, gender equity and sustainable living. Hala is the founder and director of Global Echo Consultants, and the CEO and founder of the Institute of non-violence. Through these spaces she works with a team of experts to design and deliver niche training and other services focusing on:
organisations implementing justice, equity, diversity and inclusion;
anti-racism; and the intersections between gender and race;
applying an intersectional feminist framework to family violence response;
safely engaging individuals who use family violence;
She has spoken at various local, national and international conferences. A receiver of several awards including the Victorian Award for Multicultural Affairs, an attendee at the Australian 2020 Summit 2008, a Vincent Fairfax Fellow since 2009. Hala was also the Chair of Diaspora Action Australia from 2016 until December 2020.
Hala lives and works on the lands of the Gweagal clan of the Dharawal people and acknowledges all their elders and their descendants as continuous traditional custodians of the southern geographic areas of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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Jo is an experienced NED, Board Chair, Chief Executive, and social entrepreneur, committed to creating value and impact. As the Principal of Jo Cavanagh Consulting, Jo provides strategic advisory services to aspirational leaders and organisations seeking to be future focused and grow their impact for social and economic justice and change. Jo is also a Specialist Consultant with Social Outcomes, one of Australia's leading impact organisations for researching, designing, costing, implementing, measuring and financing impact.
Jo has extensive executive and board level experience and a track record for successful innovation, enterprise and impact with purpose driven organisations. An avid, eclectic reader and learner, Jo seeks out local and international opportunities for new knowledge and ideas to progress innovation and change at local, national and international levels. Her learning leads to insights and expertise for translating knowledge into action for outcomes.
As a creative thinker for innovation and change, Jo has worked across sectors to improve the quality of care in Australia, grow awareness and engagement to address and prevent violence in all its forms, demonstrate effective community responses to mental health and wellbeing, and prevent the need for statutory intervention in families. She has held national advisory and leadership roles aligned to improving policy and practice for impact and outcomes.
Strengths for Jo are in leadership, strategic thinking and analysis, innovation, business development, enterprise growth, impact measurement, strategy and good governance.
Jo has attended and presented at numerous international fora including the Skoll World Forum, Women Deliver International, Collective Impact Summit (Canada) European Social Services Network conference (Spain 2018) and the FSG Collective Impact Convening (Chicago 2019), in her continuing quest to learn from others and contribute to social and economic progress for all.
Jo holds positions as an Adjunct Professor with Swinburne University in the Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Chair of the Good Things Foundation Australia, Chair of the Swinburne Advisory Council for the Center for Social Impact, member of the Community Services Industry Alliance Reform Council and the Advisory Board for Regen Melbourne.
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Mittul is a Senior lecturer in sustainability and urban planning discipline at RMIT University. Her research is situated at the intersection of disaster recovery planning, housing reconstruction, community resilience and climate change adaptation.
She focuses on two aspects of recovery and resilience, as: i) institutional recovery program design, governance structure and project delivery approaches that assisted community recovery and hazard mitigation in the longer-term, and ii) the ability of communities to make housing and city planning decisions informed by disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
She adopts co-design and knowledge co-production approaches in her applied research, which sits in cross-cultural settings. She has conducted research in India, Solomon Islands and regional Australia.
Her research is funded by various UN-bodies, including UN-Habitat, UNEP, UNFCCC, national and local government as well as non-government organisations, including Habitat for Humanity.
She currently leads two research groups at RMIT University on Climate Change Transformations and Future Urban Researchers Network. She is also an active member of Climate Resilient Urbanisation in the Asia Pacific region research group.
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Sheetal is a lawyer by qualification and an advocate by choice. She is passionate about access to education and legal services. She occupies several roles which she uses to facilitate her passions and drive social impact.
When Sheetal isn’t advocating on behalf of her lawyer peers, she’s working alongside them to advocate on behalf of members from underrepresented and marginalised communities. She does this through her own private practice, Shakti Legal Solutions which she launched in February 2020. Sheetal started Shakti Legal as a means to improve #accesstojustice and works with a network of firms to ensure her clients get the help they need within their means.
Sheetal is also the co-founder and President of Ethnic+, a not-for-profit member association for culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) LGBTIQA+ (Rainbow) community and its allies. Ethnic+ aims to bridge gaps in awareness, understanding and education between affected groups and their allies. Ethnic+ does this by providing a safe place for everyone to listen, learn and share their stories and extracting teachable moments which we can all learn from.
Sheetal is a recent appointment to the Management Committee of the LGBTI Legal Service. In this role, Sheetal will assist the service in setting their 3 year strategic plan and use her experience, connections and skills to foster stronger connections within the LGBTIQA+ and its sub-CALD community.
Erfan Daliri is an author, educator and highly sought after social change consultant and JEDI specialist; Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.
His 20 years of professional experience in social change initiatives includes participatory community development, First Nations advocacy, cross-cultural communication, migration and settlement services, anti-racism training and consulting, systems thinking for social change and motivational speaking.
Erfan has a Masters in Communication for Social Change from the University of Queensland and is the founder and director of Newkind Social Justice Conference.
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www.kindenterprises.co
www.erfandaliri.com
Dr Hannah McGlade (LLB, LLM, Ph.D) is from the Kurin Minang people in Western Australia. Her lifelong work has focused on justice for Aboriginal people, racism and discrimination, Aboriginal women and children, incarceration and state violence, culture and heritage protection.
As an academic, writer and social justice activist, Hannah's human rights work includes the national and international sphere of the United Nations where she is appointed to the UN Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues.
An Associate Professor at Curtin University, Dr McGlade has always worked closely with Noongar community and is an Advisor to the Noongar Council for Family Safety and Wellbeing.
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Lewis Brown is a proud Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung and Gunditjmara man and holds the position of Reconciliation Advisor for STEM College. Lewis is responsible for supporting STEM College build a more culturally competent environment and continually to educate staff on First Nations business, protocol and ways of being. Outside of RMIT, Lewis is a proud dad of 2 and is actively involved in the First Nations community, holds Board of Director role on an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation and practices his culture and land management through Dja Dja Wurrung Aboriginal Clans Corporation.
Prior to working for RMIT University, Lewis has worked for the Koori Court as court and project officer, Executive Officer for the Aboriginal Justice Caucus, a number of case management roles at the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) and the Family Violence Healing Support worker at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service.
