Jo Allivoc
Director 3D, HR Legal
Jo Alilovic is an employment lawyer, business owner, author and podcaster. She helps business leaders go from people problems to teams that get results.
She is a true believer in flexible work – being an early adopter of the remote first model when she started her law firm in 2016, and truly believes in the power of setting clear expectations to maximise flexibility.
Last year Jo published her book, Homeforce – sharing how to create engaged and connected home-based teams. Jo speaks publicly and consults privately with various professional organisations helping them successfully embed hybrid/remote teams and ensure legal compliance, while also upskilling their leaders/managers with focused workplace training and inspiring them to create amazing places to work.
Topic: Neurodiversity Panel
Emily is a Neurodivergent Process Engineer with over 10 years of experience in the resources industry. Emily knows firsthand what it feels like to be misunderstood, mismanaged, and undervalued as a neurodivergent individual attempting to navigate the neurotypical corporate world. Only through finding her community to support her unmasking could she thrive authentically in the workplace. This lived experience led to her starting Neurodiversity Employee Resource Groups at Woodside and Fortescue, before collaborating with like-minded individuals to create the Perth Neurodiversity Network.
Currently, she is the Neurodiverse representative on National Association of Women in Operations Intersectionality Advisory Committee, Engineers Australia’s I&D WA Committee, and City of Perth’s Inclusion and Accessibility Committee.
sami blue bird
Diversity and Inclusion lead, Avivo
sami blue bird – they/them draws upon a variety of professional and lived experience gained over a career in enterprise, not for profit and community settings. They bring creative and strategic approaches to question conventional attitudes and has a passion for instigating positive cultural change.
sami spent 25 years in digital media in creative/business/executive management roles, before a personal life change –leaving that industry in 2010 to work in the Community Services sector in support of people with disabilities.
From 2020 to the present, they have led the Diversity and Inclusion team at Avivo – a leading not for profit community services organisation with over 1000 employees in WA. avivo.org.au Outside of that role they are also involved in creative, technology and community projects.They perform and record electronic music under the name tranXista: @tranxinsta, and run QUILTBAG workshops: @quiltbag.me
Topic: QUILTBAG – The New Alphabet
Have you ever had trouble remembering all the letters in the alphabet soup? QUILTBAG is all about demystifying and seeing them anew. Learn about how QUILTBAG is helping people unpack LGBTQIA+ labels in a fun and memorable way. Be part of this movement!
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.
Rebecca Darby
Senior Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Business Partner,
AngoGold Ashanti
Rebecca is currently the Senior Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Business Partner at AngloGold Ashanti Australia. AngloGold Ashanti is an independent, global gold mining company with a diverse, high-quality portfolio of operations, projects and exploration activities across nine countries on four continents.
She holds a Master of Human Resource Management from Murdoch University and has over 15 years’ experience in People and Capability roles. Rebecca is accountable for driving the development, implementation and maintenance of the Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (IDE) business Unit Action Plan, and IDE program design and execution across the Australian region.
AngloGold Ashanti partnered with Menopause Friendly Australia and have committed to becoming a Menopause Friendly Workplace, as well as addressing menstruation and assisted reproductive treatment (ART) in the workplace.
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. Ait 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.
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.
Emily Kendall
Principal, Concept Studies | Decarbonisation, South 32
Emily is a Neurodivergent Process Engineer with over 10 years’ experience in the resources industry. Emily knows firsthand what it feels like to be misunderstood, mismanaged, and undervalued as a neurodivergent individual attempting to navigate the neurotypical corporate world.
Drawing from her lived experience she led a collaboration of like-minded individuals to launch the Perth Neurodiversity Network. Currently, she is the Neurodiverse representative on National Association of Women in Operations Intersectionality Advisory Committee, Engineers Australia’s I&D WA Committee, and City of Perth’s Inclusion and Accessibility Committee.
Topic: Neurodiversity Panel
Emily is a Neurodivergent Process Engineer with over 10 years of experience in the resources industry. Emily knows firsthand what it feels like to be misunderstood, mismanaged, and undervalued as a neurodivergent individual attempting to navigate the neurotypical corporate world. Only through finding her community to support her unmasking could she thrive authentically in the workplace. This lived experience led to her starting Neurodiversity Employee Resource Groups at Woodside and Fortescue, before collaborating with like-minded individuals to create the Perth Neurodiversity Network.
Currently, she is the Neurodiverse representative on National Association of Women in Operations Intersectionality Advisory Committee, Engineers Australia’s I&D WA Committee, and City of Perth’s Inclusion and Accessibility Committee.
Emma Ketley
Mental Health Therapist/ADHD Coach,
Enriched by Experience
Emma is an HCPC and AHPRA registered Mental Health Occupational Therapist with an expansive range of over twenty years of professional experience from both the UK and Western Australia.
In 2022, Emma’s unquenchable curiosity- amplified by the social impact of the global pandemic- led her to recognize the lack of neuro-affirming and trauma-informed services available for neurodivergent adults. Recognizing this gap within adult supportive services, Emma undertook Adult ADHD Coach training at the highly regarded ADDCA Coaching Academy of New York. From there, she gained credentials as an ADHD Coach, an Academy Associated Coach (AACC), and as an International Federation of Coaching Accredited Coach (ICF ACC).
As a result, Emma’s Private Practice “Enriched By Experience” now provides a unique niche service for Adult Clients that can offer the choice of ADHD Coaching or Neuro-informed Mental Health Therapy. She is committed to both roles as an ICF-registered ADHD Coach and as an AHPRA Registered Therapist.
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.
Joseph Frederick Kolapudi
Solvesquad
Joseph is a young professional who serves as the Creative Director for SolveSquad, a social enterprise providing digital opportunities for youth to upskill using virtual volunteering as a vehicle for change. He also serves on the board of the Australian Refugee and Migrant Care Services (ARMCare), a national charity. In his spare time, he serves as a Cultural Lead for an international nonprofit movement and was a recent nominee for the Tech Diversity Awards 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. Ait 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.
Susan Kreemer-Pickford
General Manager, Engineers Australia WA
A Fellow of Engineers Australia and Engineering Executive, Susan joined Engineers Australia as General Manager WA in 2015. Previously, she worked in consulting engineering culminating in senior roles in client management and industry engagement. Susan was Project Director for the Living Smart program consultancy for the East Metropolitan Regional Council to reduce community travel, waste, water and energy use through behaviour change. Susan sits on a number of government and industry advisory committees. She is currently Chair of Curtin University’s Science and Engineering Faculty Advisory Council, a member of the Circular Economy WA steering committee and Board member of the Gravity Discovery Centre.
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. Ait 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.
Cara Leavesley
Special Council, 3D HR Legal
Cara is a specialist workplace relations lawyer and formally trained workplace mediator with a Masters of Laws from Melbourne University. Cara has worked in top tier employment law practices in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth and currently works for employment specialist firm 3D HR Legal.
As a specialist employment, industrial relations and safety lawyer, Cara works with employers to help them proactively avoid people-related problems, and the myriad of expensive legal claims that often follow them.As a TED enthusiast and workplace trainer, Cara refuses to facilitate boring staff training and works proactively with clients to design bespoke, interactive and practical training that challenges stereotypes and the “way things were” and empowers leaders to create and embrace the standards and best practice of the future. Most recently, Cara has been designing training packages to help managers practically prevent and effectively manage psychosocial hazards.
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.
Johno Montgomery
Project Lead – LEAP
With a background in Occupational Therapy and a passion for innovative solutions, Johno joined the Valued Lives Foundation, Empowered Connections platform to drive change and see more people with disability working in open employment. As Project
Lead for LEAP, Johno and his team deploy customised employment methods, to offer both practical solutions for employers to realise their workforce diversity goals and provide meaningful employment that matches the skills and experience for people with disability. Whilst many companies realise the value of diversity, equity and inclusion, to date they have tended to focus on gender and ethnicity neglecting disability as a source of competitive advantage. By supporting business in Job Design, Johno works with an employer to address myth or lack of previous experience or simply know how that may be preventing them from tapping into such a diverse and motivated workforce. This highly creative and tailored approach taps into Valued Lives expertise as a registered provider of NDIS employment supports and Johno’s personal quest to break through the status & accumulating in new ways to deliver on diversity and inclusion.
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. Ait 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.
Peter Mousaferiadas
CEO, Diversity Atlas
Peter Mousaferiadis is the CEO of cultural enterprise Cultural Infusion, headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and founded in 2002. He has had an extensive career in the cultural & creative industries as a conductor, creative director & producer, and thought leader in culture as a driver of progress, social cohesion and innovation. Cultural Infusion builds global harmony through intercultural action in education, the arts and Information and Communications Technology (ICT), with programs delivered to more than 350,000 students annually. Its holistic data and equity SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) tool Diversity Atlas was launched in 2019 and has clients including multinationals and think tanks from around the world.
Peter Mousaferiadis has garnered international awards and recognition for his innovative approach to education and use of technology in building intercultural understanding, most recently the 2021 Global Business & Interfaith Peace Award Silver Medal from the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation and the United Nations Global Compact’s Business for Peace Initiative.
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.
Larissa Muir
CEO, 12 Buckets
Larissa Muir is a firm believer that creating spaces for all people in the community has the power to change lives. Larissa has worked in the community services sector for over 15 years and considers herself a disruptor, challenging the status quo. Her most hated phrase in life is ” why change it? It’s always been done this way?” because she sees it as a limiting comment reducing our ability to be curious and creative. She is the CEO at 12 Buckets, where she is utilising her spicy brain thinking to ensure that all children are able to engage in their education and connect to their local community. When she isn’t working at 12 Buckets, she is renovating with her husband Dave and showing her 3 children how amazing their unique brains are.
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.
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.
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 will delve into the critical intersection of diversity data literacy and the human experience. Attendees will explore how understanding and effectively utilizing diversity data can illuminate the nuanced realities of different demographic groups within organisations. The session will emphasise the importance of data resistance and integrity, addressing how to navigate and counteract biases to maintain the authenticity and reliability of data. Participants will learn strategies for making their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives truly impactful by leveraging data to inform decisions, measure progress, and drive meaningful change. Through this comprehensive discussion, the speaker will empower attendees to transform their DEI efforts into actionable and measurable successes, ensuring that their work fosters a more inclusive and equitable environment for all.
Dr. Tom Verghese
Principal, Cultural Synergies
Dr Tom Verghese is a trusted advisor, executive coach, international consultant, author, presenter and founder of Cultural Synergies. Tom is a dynamic, enthusiastic, passionate, energetic and entertaining speaker. Tom’s expertise is in cultural intelligence, inclusive global leadership and diversity, equity and inclusion. The development and support of Asian talent is also an area that he is passionate about.
He has designed, facilitated, and written specific learning and development programs for clients that are now delivered worldwide. He is the author of ‘The Invisible Elephant – Exploring Cultural Awareness 2nd edition’, ‘25 Years On – A Collection of 25 Reflections as an Intercultural Management Consultant’ and co-author of ‘The Pillars of Growth – The Keys to Getting Exponential Growth in Your Business Today.’ His latest book is Cultural Agility – A Practical Guide for Putting Cultural Intelligence into Action.
Tom holds a Masters in Education and a Doctorate of Business Administration. He speaks several languages. Of Indian origin, born and raised in multi-ethnic Malaysia, Tom moved to Melbourne as a foreign student. His wife is English, and they have two children as well as a dog and a cat.
Topic: Book Launch – The Fearless Practitioner
A rich collection of stories, strategies, and pragmatic insights that reflect the authors’ shared commitment to creating workplaces where every individual can thrive. Whether you’re an experienced leader, a budding professional, or an advocate for positive change, this book provides a roadmap for integrating DEI into the fabric of organizations, enhancing their adaptability and long-term sustainability.
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.
Elle Beaumont – Bilsby
Project Manager Employability, ECU
Elle has had a ‘squiggly career’, working in digital and interactive media since the early web. Through learning, unlearning, adapting and breaking tools/rules, Elle has learned ways to create meaningful, valuable and persuasive human connections using design. Elle’s work in the ECU Employability Project team involves collaborating across disciplines, service areas, academic centres and diverse student cohorts at Edith Cowan University to find ways to increase student agency. At the heart of this work has been a commitment to inclusion, with initiatives that pragmatically address inclusive co-design with the aim of supporting inclusive employability.
Alison Braun
Speaker
Alison Braun’s journey is a powerful testament to the complexities of belonging and self acceptance in a society fixated on appearance. This experience ignited Alison’s passion for challenging societal norms and promoting authentic belonging.
With a diverse background spanning senior leadership roles in local government, aged and disabilities sectors, an appeals board member for the Department of Communities Housing, an ambassador for Lifeline WA and a national motivational speaker Alison brings a wealth of experience to her advocacy work. Alison has used her platform to address mental health stigma and promote emotional and physical well-being.
Often referred to as the “grandmother of reality TV,” she leverages her public profile to challenge restrictive societal boundaries and our self-imposed boundaries and question the ideal image perpetuated by media.
Special Guests and Entertainment
Barbie Q
Alexas Armstrong