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Speakers
Jill Brazil
Diversity in Training
Jill Brazil CPA, is a DEI advocate, mentor, trainer and owner of Diversity and Training, which provides training and support in DEI education and framework development. Jill has a keen interest in inclusion of all genders at work and has launched a free gender equity framework and action resource for the local government sector in WA.
Jill is the co-founder of Diversity and Inclusion Network of WA (DINWA), a network for all passionate Diversity and Inclusion practitioners or volunteers to share ideas, network and collaborate. With a background in accounting, Jill is also Chair of CPA Australia WA Gender and Career Balance Committee which focuses on mobilising members to address pivotal issues such as promoting workforce inclusivity, advocating for parental leave etc.
Jill’s passion for inclusion combined with lived experience, is reflected in the provision of Menopause Awareness in the Workplace on behalf of Menopause Friendly Australia.
Topic: Menopause in the Workplace
Jill will discuss barriers that can be experienced in the workplace with perimenopause and menopause, and what employers can do to attract, support and retain people experiencing menopause symptoms.
Sughanda Chapman
Snr. Manager, Client Diversity, Inking Group
Sugandha, known as Sig, is a modern polymath, unconventional thinker, and creative visionary celebrated for her human-centered approach to leadership and transformation. With nearly 20 years of experience across tech, social impact, entrepreneurship, and management consulting, she advocates for reimagining success to align with one’s evolving personal journey, leveraging a multi-passionate skill set for greater impact.
Her own journey, marked by a kaleidoscope of experiences as a woman of colour and a late ADHD diagnosis, showcases the strength in neurodiversity and embodies the essence of diverse thought and creativity she champions. Sig’s personal narrative is a declaration of her mission: to champion equitable systemic change and inclusive communities where every voice is heard, and every identity is valued.
As a Senior Manager of Client Delivery at Inkling Group, Sig combines psychological science with commercial acumen to drive cultural transformation and organisational wellbeing. Her global perspective, particularly in the APAC region, has led to successful partnerships with industry giants like Coca-Cola, Woolworths, Adobe, Aurecon, and CBA, fostering inclusive cultures that fuel innovation.
At Inkling Group, Sig helps lead the D&I practice, using her consulting expertise and executive coaching skills to help organisations harness the power of diversity and inclusion for competitive advantage. Known for her human-centered approach, she equips leaders with essential insights to build high-performing, inclusive teams.
Sugandha Chapman’s authentic, results-driven approach makes her an influential voice for leaders committed to driving significant change in their organisations.
For organisations looking to make a meaningful impact, Sig’s message is clear: embracing diversity and inclusion is not just a social responsibility but a competitive edge. Offstage, Sig enjoys family life, salt and vinegar chips, and K-dramas.
Dr. Tanya Finnie
Global Cultural Strategist , RedHead Communications
Dr Tanya Finnie, the founding principal of RedHead Communications, is a global cultural strategist with over 20 years of experience working in leadership and cultural domains. Tanya hails from a widely diverse cultural background, having lived and worked throughout several African, European, and Australasian countries.
Over time, she has built valuable cultural and intellectual experience to coincide with her academic knowledge on cultural topics and challenges. She holds a PhD in Cultural leadership, postgraduate Diploma in Adult Education and Training and a Bachelor of Commerce in Tourism Management.
Topic: From Shadows to Safari: A Journey to Equity and Inclusion
Tanya’s brand-new keynote covers overcoming adversity, adventure, and the pursuit of equity and inclusion. Growing up in an abusive household across Africa during tumultuous political times, Tanya’s story unfolds with her adventures as a game ranger and her ultimate success as an inclusive practitioner. This transformative journey highlights the importance of creating equity and inclusion, offering profound lessons and actionable insights to inspire and guide others in fostering a more equitable world.
Maureen Frank
Chief Disruption Officer and Lead Coach
Maureen Frank is the Founder and CEO of Emberin, a global leader in delivering award-winning diversity and inclusion solutions that focus on accelerating results with impactful outcomes. Her diverse career and various accolades include the Head of Mergers and Acquisitions for Aon in UK and Australia, Telstra Businesswoman of the Year, and BRW Rising Star. She is an international speaker and bestselling author, with her publications and programs having been used by over 50,000 people worldwide. Since she moved into the D&I space, she has amassed almost 20 years’ experience on global stages, mentored 35,000+ people worldwide, and influenced the D&I strategy and experience of 25,000 international leaders — across every industry. Bestselling author of book ‘The 6 Habits of Being Inclusive’ and a LinkedIn names diversity and inclusive global influencer. Maureen is passionate about disrupting the way we’ve traditionally delivered D&I programs. It’s time to rip the band aid off! We need to empower our leaders to be more inclusive in their everyday behaviours. It’s a big journey, but the first step starts by unpacking unconscious bias.
Topic: How to increase visible leader commitment and buy in to D and I
You have a DEI strategy and your leaders are supportive – but are they truly owning it?
Our discussions with DEI leaders has made it clear, the biggest issue most of you face right now is REAL and VISIBLE leader buy in. How can you move passion and ‘it’s important to me’ to visible action and leadership?
Keri Le Page
Inclusion & Diversity Lead, Australia & New Zealand, Mars Incorporated
Keri’s background is as an Organisational Psychologist who spent many years working in senior consulting and organisational development roles before moving into inclusion & diversity. She has since spent over 13 years working exclusively in I&D in a number of different industries including finance, construction and IT, across Australia/New Zealand and Asia Pacific.
Keri joined Mars as the Inclusion & Diversity Lead Australia & New Zealand in September 2022 and is loving working in FMCG and particularly in Mars. Her goal is to lay a solid I&D foundation whilst introducing best practice solutions to foster a culture of belonging for all.
Morgan McAllister
Wellbeing, Inclusion and Diversity Lead, CPA Australia
Morgan is the Lead for Inclusion, Diversity and Wellbeing at CPA Australia, and is passionate about helping organisations become great places to work.
Morgan has been a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practitioner for over 20 years, focusing on Gender Equality, Flexibility, Disability, LGBTIQ+, Cultural Diversity, Australian Indigenous Reconciliation, and Wellbeing. She has worked with local and global organisations across various industries in both the private and public sectors.
For Morgan, it’s about creating an environment that supports people to be their best self and do their best work. A place where people are empowered to thrive both professionally and personally. To do this, organisations need to understand that talent comes in all different shapes and sizes, and so to attract and retain talent, you need to forget the one-size-fits-all approach, and instead create a workplace that offers a range of supports and tools that enable people to set themselves up for success throughout all life stages.
Topic: Inclusive Innovation Showdown
Our showcase where companies share their inclusive projects in a succinct 10-minute slot, aiming to inspire and share best practices. It includes audience interaction as voting for your favourite projects in categories such as Best Inclusive Innovation and Most Impactful Project. We promote continued discussion and collaboration, and you may find a perfect partnership or idea to adapt to your organisation.
Veema Mooniapah
Strategy and Intersectional Inclusion Consultant and Published Writer
Veema is a published writer, known for her work “Undefeated” which features 90 professional migrant women and 118 compelling stories that highlight resilience and diversity. As a storyteller and speaker, she brings a wealth of lived experience to her roles as a policy and strategy advisor, and program management specialist.
With a deep commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), she focuses on intersectionality in all her endeavours. Recognised for her achievements in the field of diversity, she has been a mentor and an award nominee, including the Inaugural Women in Community Life Award and the 2018/2019 Global Pluralism Award. An advisor to agencies on DEI strategy and community resilience, she contributes her expertise to Emergency and Disaster Management through the Multicultural Emergency Management Partnership (MEMP).
Topic: Harnessing Data for Inclusive Excellence
Roman and Veema will explore the critical intersection of diversity data literacy and the human experience, showing how understanding and using diversity data can reveal the nuanced realities of different demographic groups within organisations. The session will highlight the importance of cultural safety and data resistance, addressing how to navigate and counteract biases to maintain the authenticity and integrity of data, especially in intersectional analysis.
Participants will learn strategies for making their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives truly impactful by understanding what data is needed, what may be missing, and how data connects across employment and culture indicators. This discussion will empower attendees to transform their DEI efforts into actionable and measurable successes, fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment for all.
Julie Moss
General Manager Diversity and Inclusion – Transgrid
Julie Moss is a senior Inclusion, Culture, Learning and Organisational Development professional. She has worked across Australia and internationally in the Energy, Banking and Finance, Consumer Goods and Professional Services sectors.
Her passion is for, and success is in, building inclusive workplaces and bringing about change that people want to be part of, to drive the best business outcomes. A recognised subject matter expert, experienced at establishing functions in green field environments and driving culture change, recently receiving recognition from the Clean Energy Council for best Diversity and Inclusion program for 2024.
Topic: Inclusive Innovation Showdown
Our showcase where companies share their inclusive projects in a succinct 10-minute slot, aiming to inspire and share best practices. It includes audience interaction as voting for your favourite projects in categories such as Best Inclusive Innovation and Most Impactful Project. We promote continued discussion and collaboration, and you may find a perfect partnership or idea to adapt to your organisation.
Michael Muñoz
Global Marketing DEI Lead, Google
Michael Muñoz drives the strategy and delivery of Google’s Marketing DEI commitments and operational plans, advising Google’s leadership team on building capacity and shared DEI accountability.
Before joining Google, Michael led DEI efforts at Aetna, MassMutual, EY and ESPN. Michael has actively facilitated the Anti-Defamation League’s ‘A World of Difference’ training for the last 20+ years.
Michael serves on the boards of ADCOLOR and the University of Connecticut Hillel and has a B.S. from the University of Connecticut and a Masters in Human Resource Management from Cornell.
Topic: Inclusive Innovation Showdown
Our showcase where companies share their inclusive projects in a succinct 10-minute slot, aiming to inspire and share best practices. It includes audience interaction as voting for your favourite projects in categories such as Best Inclusive Innovation and Most Impactful Project. We promote continued discussion and collaboration, and you may find a perfect partnership or idea to adapt to your organisation.
The Inclusion Gap: Why Training Fails and a Multi-Modal Approach for How to Fix It
With all that we now know about the brain and neurodivergence, why are we still delivering DEI training the same way and expecting different results? Most inclusion training misses the mark and yet building the capabilities of Leaders to create inclusive environments and foster belonging for members of their team has never been more important. This session explores the 4 crucial behaviors of inclusive leadership – Show Up, Be Courageous, Create Visibility, and Amplify Voices – and how [Examined] Human helps managers actually adopt them.
Mariane Power
Clinical Psychologist
Mariane Power is a future-focused Clinical Psychologist, Executive Coach for Neurodivergent Leaders and award-winning entrepreneur. The ultimate purpose-driven multi-hyphenate, Mariane’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to science-backed knowledge and strategies that promote human flourishing translates across her coaching, consulting, research, writing and speaking engagements, and has seen The Posify Group, a future ready workforce development company she co-founded, named by Deloitte Global and The World Economic Forum as a WorldClass Education Top Innovation.
Mariane is the host of podcast Classroom 5.0, interviewing today’s leading experts on topics related to the future of work, leadership and education. The author of The IMPACT Framework and IMPACT Mindset Theory, her academic and applied research explores the individual, cultural and environmental conditions that unlock human potential and drive inclusive impact.
Mariane’s lived experience of raising two twice-exceptional children (gifted and AuDHD) and her own late diagnosis of ADHD combined with her deep academic knowledge and neurodivergent affirming practices, makes her a sought after speaker and contributor to inclusive change initiatives and events.
Topic: Neurodiversity Panel
The robust and comprehensive panel discussion on neurodiversity will explore the diverse experiences of individuals with neurological differences, focusing on both early and late diagnoses. Panellists, including those diagnosed in childhood and adulthood, will share their unique journeys, highlighting the impact of timing on their personal and professional lives. Experts will discuss the challenges and benefits of late diagnosis, shedding light on the importance of awareness and understanding in creating inclusive environments. Audience members will gain insights into the varying needs and strengths within the neurodiverse community, fostering a more informed and supportive society.
Dr Jessica Riordin
Research Fellow, University of Melbourne
Dr. Jessica Riordan is an early career researcher in the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne with a passion for conducting neurodiversity-affirming research, translating research into practice, and inspiring positive societal change through community-led advocacy and education. Drawing on her research background in developmental psychology and lived experience of neurodivergence, Jessica co-founded the University of Melbourne Neurodiversity Project in 2023 and is currently serving as the Project Leader for Staff and Student Wellbeing. Co-led by a team of neurodivergent academics, this multi-faceted, interdisciplinary initiative aims to better support neurodivergent staff and students through: improving the understanding of neurodiversity and neurodiversity-affirming teaching and learning practices across the university, building a stronger sense of community for neurodivergent staff and students, connecting neurodivergent staff and students with support services within the university, and conducting world-class, neurodiversity-affirming research. Outside of work, she is a proud mum of two young girls and enjoys engaging in creative pursuits such as art, crafts, creative writing, and music.”
Roman Ruzbacky
Principal DEI, Roman Ruzbacky & Associates
Roman is an experienced diversity, equity and inclusion leader and practitioner who helps to create equitable, inclusive and happy workplaces.
He is a principal DEI consultant at Roman Ruzbacky & Associates, which he established in 2021 and has previously worked in the scientific research, university and the Victorian Public Sector in a number of DEI roles. He specialises in diversity data literacy, gender equity, pay equity analysis, workshop facilitation and started his career as an analytical chemist with a music major in composition. He was the President of the Equal Employment Opportunity Network between 2017 to 2022, and a member of the AHRI and Swimming Victoria DEI Advisory Committees.
At the core of his work is the belief that people should be treated with dignity and respect, have equitable access to employment opportunities and outcomes and the ability to participate in all aspects of work and public life.
Topic: Harnessing Data for Inclusive Excellence
Roman and Veema will explore the critical intersection of diversity data literacy and the human experience, showing how understanding and using diversity data can reveal the nuanced realities of different demographic groups within organisations. The session will highlight the importance of cultural safety and data resistance, addressing how to navigate and counteract biases to maintain the authenticity and integrity of data, especially in intersectional analysis.
Participants will learn strategies for making their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives truly impactful by understanding what data is needed, what may be missing, and how data connects across employment and culture indicators. This discussion will empower attendees to transform their DEI efforts into actionable and measurable successes, fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment for all.
Paula Theocharides
Executive Office Manager, Australian Services Union (ASU) Victorian Private Sector Disability Advocate – Neuro-inclusion, ‘true’ access & inclusion
Paula brings over 25 years of robust experience in strategic leadership and project management across various sectors, with a specialised focus on disability advocacy and community services. As the Executive Office Manager for the ASU Victorian Private Sector Branch, and an active member of the Labor Enabled Victoria Group, and Multicultural Aging & Disability Policy Sub-Committees (ALP Victoria), Paula combines her professional expertise with a passionate advocacy for neuro-inclusion, and ‘true’ access & inclusion for disabled people, underlining her commitment to promoting inclusive practices and enhancing accessibility.
For the past eight years, Paula has been deeply embedded in the not-for-profit sector, driving initiatives that ensure person-centred programs thrive and align with organisational goals. Her approach integrates a strong drive for excellence with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities involved in managing diverse teams and implementing effective community-oriented strategies.
Topic: Neurodiversity Panel
The robust and comprehensive panel discussion on neurodiversity will explore the diverse experiences of individuals with neurological differences, focusing on both early and late diagnoses. Panellists, including those diagnosed in childhood and adulthood, will share their unique journeys, highlighting the impact of timing on their personal and professional lives. Experts will discuss the challenges and benefits of late diagnosis, shedding light on the importance of awareness and understanding in creating inclusive environments. Audience members will gain insights into the varying needs and strengths within the neurodiverse community, fostering a more informed and supportive society.
Samira Wadhavkar
Senior Manager, Professional Development - Engineers Australia
With over 16 years of experience in purpose-driven organisations spanning local government, scientists, and the medical field, Samira has managed all facets of business, from sales to project management for events and programs, establishing and implementing effective policies, goals, and procedures. As a proud member of the Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Council at Engineers Australia, Samira is dedicated to creating environments where individuals can be their authentic selves and where diversity is celebrated and awareness is generated through shared experiences. Samira leads a diverse team at Engineers Australia and is passionate about advocating for fairness in the workplace, normalising the idea that “diversity is a superpower.”
Michael Walmsley
Diversity Atlas
Michael is an accomplished, highly respected people-first strategic leader working with organisations at the forefront of innovation, creativity and market growth in digital and emerging technologies. Michael has played pivotal leadership roles that have resulted in local and global expansions across diverse global teams. He leads the globalisation and commercialisation of Cultural Infusion’s Diversity Atlas platform, helping organisations and communities understand and transform their diverse workforces and communities to unlock the social, cultural and economic potential of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Prior to Cultural infusion, Michael led commercialisation of unique emerging technologies, building diverse and inclusive teams with technologies that focus on people, data and transformation from innovative start-ups in MarTech and HRTech domains.
Topic: Diversity Data Unpacked
Come and see how data drives diversity by analysing the data live of you as attendees. A data-driven approach offers organisations a nuanced, multifactorial understanding of their workforce’s rich cultural diversity, ensuring that everyone counts as the multidimensional person they are. This leads to a more inclusive and better performing workforce.
Book launch & meet the authors
Fiona Krautil
Fiona is a leading diversity, equity and inclusion specialist. Drawing on 25 years of extensive leadership, change and prectical experience. Fiona’s passion lies in building organisational diversity, capability and performance. Founder and Principal of Diversity Knowhow, she has held a range of DEI senior leadership roles including with ANZ Bank, Esso Australia, University of Sydney, Uniting and Goverment.
Roman Ruzbacky
Roman is an experienced diversity, equity and inclusion leader and prectitioner who helps to create equitable, inclusive and happy workspaces. He is a principal DEI consultant at Roman Ruzbacky & Associates, which he established in 2021 and has previously worked in the scientific research, university and the Victorian Public Sector in a number of DEI roles. He specialises in diversity data litiracy, gender equality, pay equity analysis, workshop facilitation and started his career as an analytical chemist with a music major in composition.
Dr. Tom Vergese
Dr. Tom is a trusted advisor and international consultant specialising in diversity, cultural intelligence and elderhood. Passionate about leadership and he has designed and facilitated programs for global organisations including BP, Autoliv, Rio Tinto, Oracle and Mitsubishi. Tom’s unique approach reflects a rich blend of personal and professional experiences enriched by his multicultural background.
Special Thanks to our Sponsors, Partners and Venue Host
