Inclusion (Disability) Advisory Panel

Annmaree is a clinician, writer and lived experience research fellow at the Centre for Disability Research and Policy (CDRP) at the University of Sydney. Their living experience with deafblindness informs their research which aims to improve communication and care for people with disability in hospital and healthcare settings.  As well as 2 books about care and communication, Annmaree has written a play, Harms way, that delves into what goes wrong in hospital when you have different communication styles and needs. Annmaree works towards making healthcare and broader society a happier, healthier and safer place for people with sensory loss/es and disability.

Charles has extensive public sector experience across architecture and the built environment, having worked on the design of educational and transport projects for adults and children with disability.

As a mentor for university students, Charles is a fierce advocate for young people with disability, especially those who struggle with mental health issues. His broad experience in disability extends to the use of innovative technologies, including virtual reality and augmented reality, to provide people with disability immersive experiences that would otherwise be physically impossible.

Charles was diagnosed with paroxysmal kinisegenic choreoathetosis aged 15. He has lived experience with disability and dealt with anxiety from high school to university, kickstarting his passion in guiding the younger generations to overcome disabilities.

He has a Masters degree in Property Development and a Bachelors degree in Architecture from the University of NSW. He was also the recipient of the Dean’s Scholars Award and several academic scholarships.

Daniel is a LGBTIQA+ Aboriginal man living with a hearing impairment and an upcoming emerging visual artist. He has been developing his skills over the last 15 years. Daniel learnt from his grandmother and Aunty Mumma Shirl, who taught him to represent Aboriginal art through dot paintings, which is widely known and recognized throughout Australia by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. His artwork keeps redeveloping its style year by year and he is very proud that he has been given the knowledge from his Elders.

Producing his first Deadly Hand Talk exhibition during NAIDOC Week 2022, Daniel decided to finally debut and introduce himself to the world as an artist. He plans to continue to show his evolving style of works and to continue his contribution as a person with disability in the arts and cultural sector.

Daniels’s art can’t be separated from his activism, and he identifies as part of the Gadigal Advocate Mob. The most important thing for Daniel is to tell stories about bullies, racism, discrimination, barriers and arts, and to show the truth of who he is, so everyone can see who he is and where he is from.

Dwayne, an Indian-born Australian double amputee diagnosed with ADHD, has overcome personal challenges and dedicated his career to making a meaningful impact on the lives of others.

As the manager of HR projects at Department of Communities & Justice, Dwayne spearheads initiatives to enhance accessibility outcomes for people in NSW. His consulting company, IDEA Services, focuses on improving business-to-delivery accessibility, creating a more inclusive environment for their customers.

Beyond his work in accessibility, Dwayne co-founded Minds at Play, a national social gaming company. This innovative venture uses games like Dungeons and Dragons and Minecraft to help players develop essential social and communication skills. Under Dwayne's leadership, Minds at Play has grown from 4 players in January 2024 to a thriving community of more than 550 players across Australia.

As well as his professional achievements, Dwayne is a passionate innovator, traveller, dancer and a record-breaker in stair climbing. Notably, he has set his sights on an extraordinary goal – to become the first double amputee in space. As the AstroAccess Flight 2 Ambassador, Dwayne is actively working towards this dream, believing that with resilient minds and inclusive hearts, we can collectively forge an accessible future.

Giancarlo (they/he) is an intersectional leader with disability, who identifies as LGBTIQA+, queer, non-binary and a person of colour. They currently lead policy and advocacy at People with Disability Australia, the NSW and national peak disability body. Giancarlo was named as one of the 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians of 2021 and one of Pro Bono Australia’s Impact 25, a list recognising the social sector’s most influential people in 2022 for their significant and positive impact.

A trained lawyer, they hold a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of NSW. They are also the president of the Australian GLBTI Multicultural Council, inaugural secretary of the Disabled Australian Lawyers Association and treasurer of the Australian Centre for Disability Law.

Giancarlo is a City of Sydney resident and sits on numerous government advisory committees, panels and working groups. They are passionate about psychosocial disability, housing and employment.

George has been living with multiple sclerosis for over 24 years and for the past 13 years has embraced life as a manual wheelchair user.

In 2010, George founded Access Mobility Solutions, leveraging his extensive 35-year involvement in the architectural and building Industry. His professional journey includes contributions to architectural firms, focusing on building design and access issues. Recognising the need for specialised expertise, George became an accredited access consultant, seamlessly transitioning into a role where his firsthand knowledge of the industry and personal experience as a manual wheelchair user provides a unique, dual perspective on access issues.

For George, the importance of good access goes beyond his professional endeavours, it has become an integral part of his life. Through Access Mobility Solutions, he’s dedicated to making a positive impact, ensuring that everyone has equal access to spaces and environments.

George’s qualifications include accredited access consultant, Diploma of Access Consulting, NDIS specialist disability accommodation assessor, LHA NCC livable housing design standard assessor, Livable Housing Australia assessor and Changing Places assessor.

George is a registered accredited access consultant member with Access Consultants Association.

Mathew’s experiences of living with disability and being LGBTIQA+ have given him an invaluable understanding of the power of community and the value diversity, belonging, fairness and equity adds to and strengthens society, our communities and workplaces. A workplace, community and society that reflects, gives voice to, listens to and respects every person is more inclusive, stronger, more resilient and has a deeper, more respected sense of purpose.

With extensive experience in the for-purpose sector and the arts, Mathew helped establish the Namatjira Legacy Trust and negotiate the successful transfer of copyright to it for the benefit of the community, many of whom live with disability.

Mathew is passionate about access to real money and real jobs for artists with disability who still experience greater unemployment and lower incomes than artists without disability. Mathew is the CEO of About Arts Access Australia, the national peak body for arts and disability in Australia. The organisation works to increase national and international opportunities and access to the arts for people with disability as artists, arts workers, participants and audiences.

Mim is a resident of the City of Sydney and is committed to improving inclusion and accessibility. She has been employed in the disability sector most of her working life and is passionate about the inclusion of people with disability, particularly people who are subject to stigma and prejudice.

Untreated mental illness and undiagnosed cognitive disabilities leave people without the necessary support to live a good life. Access to services requires knowledge, skills and tools that some people with cognitive and psychosocial disabilities do not have. Some people in these circumstances have some disability related behaviours that others find challenging. They are excluded from services, shopping centres and other amenities and are even more marginalised.

Mim has a long history of depression, starting from her childhood/teen years. She is now able to live well with her mental illness by treatment from counsellors and psychiatrists, medication, some physical exercise, singing in a choir and maintaining strong social networks.

She loves contributing to the local area as a member of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir. The choir represents ‘Harmony in Diversity’ with inclusion as a fundamental principle.

Nanushka (they/them) is a lived experience advocate and passionate about making the City of Sydney more inclusive for individuals with multiple intersectional identities and invisible disabilities.

Moving to Australia in 2016 as an international student, they add a culturally and linguistically diverse and migrant voice to the committee.

Nanushka is active on the Touching Base Board as secretary as well as the Co-production Disability and Sexual Violence Panel at the Education Centre Against Violence. They are passionate about ending sexual, domestic and family violence, working with victim-survivors from Fullstop.

They are also passionate about removing access barriers for migrant and disabled sex workers and people who exchange sexual favours for food, shelter or substances.

Paul specialises in embedding accessibility and inclusion considerations across building infrastructure, place and events that go beyond current compliance standards.

His consultation work includes making the Sydney Harbour Bridge wheelchair accessible, accessibility upgrades to the Australian Museum and as accessibility lead for the Sydney Invictus Games. Paul adopts the key principles that underscore universal design, design for dignity and the social model of disability to benchmark best practice.

Sharon, a Deaf individual from birth, stands as a dedicated advocate for the Deaf and hard of hearing communities, and an entrepreneur committed to fostering awareness around accessibility and inclusivity, particularly in workplaces and the broader community. With an extensive background spanning over 18 years in disability employment services and Auslan teaching, Sharon used her wealth of experience to establish Sign Hear.

Sign Hear focuses on Auslan education, workplace accessibility, Auslan interpreting, and support for job placement within the Deaf community and NDIS services. The organisation received a Local Business Award in 2022 and 2023 and Sharon was acknowledged as a Business Person of the Year finalist in the same years.

Beyond her entrepreneurial pursuits, Sharon dedicates her time to volunteering at Hear For You, particularly supporting school-aged Deaf and hard-of-hearing children navigating challenges related to hearing loss and identity. She also works as an advisory panellist with The Centre for Volunteering and passionately represents the interests of the Deaf and hard of hearing communities. Her advocacy extends to crucial areas such as Auslan access, workplace inclusivity, the enhancement of employment opportunities for people with disability and NDIS services. Sharon's multifaceted contributions underscore her commitment to creating a more inclusive and accessible city for all.

Stephen is a peer manager with over 7 years experience in the public health and community organisation sectors working in strategic roles at a district and local level as well as individual and group mental health care.

He is an advocate for people with psychosocial disabilities, a public speaker and educator specialising in mental health issues, trauma informed care, suicide awareness and the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Stephen identifies as an individual living with mental concerns – hence the peer (lived experience of mental health issues) in the job description!

Stephen also identifies as someone with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, who has an inspiring story of recovery over the last 10 years. He identifies himself as a person with a disability, a culturally and linguistically diverse man and was born in Australia of Ghanian descent. He is an advocate for people with psychosocial disabilities, research writer and educator specialising in mental health issues.

In a previous life, Stephen was a civil engineer, IT specialist and commerce graduate. Fun fact: with a father who worked in the UN, Stephen lived on 4 continents and visited over 20 countries. Stephen is passionate about diversity and inclusion of all people in Australia.