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Jane Spring AM is an experienced NSW Government leader and board executive, most recently having served as Assistant Commissioner, Capability and Leadership with the NSW Public Service Commission.
Jane has extensive experience supporting the inclusion of people with disability, including as Ambassador of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s IncludeAbility project, and member of the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s Event Access and Inclusion Group and the Olympic Access Advisory Committee for the Sydney Olympic Games.
In her role with the Public Service Commission, Jane was responsible for developing and implementing a range of programs and products to support the employment of people with disability in the public sector, including a Hiring Manager’s Toolkit, the Tailored Talent employment program, the EmployABILITY newsletter, and the establishment of DENConnect, an online forum for employees with disability.
Jane has expertise in the National Disability Insurance Scheme both as a participant and in her previous role as an Executive Director at the Department of Industry, in which she was responsible for working with business and industry to assist the market in preparing for the NDIS - and ensuring providers were ready to meet the very varied and often new demands of NDIS clients.
Jane’s term as Council Member expires on 5 December 2028.
Associate Professor Jill Duncan OAM, BSc (Speech Pathology and Audiology), MEd (Education of Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing), MEd Management, PhD, GAICD is an academic at the University of Newcastle. She has a diverse employment portfolio with experience not only as an academic in the education of children with disability, but also as an educational leader in programs for children and young people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and as an executive in the public service. Among other qualifications, Jill is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
As adolescents, Jill and her siblings became carers of their single-parent mother when she developed hemiplegia due to a brain injury. It was during this time that Jill learned first-hand the intense pressures of being a 'young carer'. In mid-adolescence, Jill acquired cholesteatoma (middle ear tumour-like growth), which resulted in multiple surgeries and a permanent conductive hearing loss. Jill’s son developed the same medical condition.
Jill has a long history of volunteer work in the education of children with disability, including her current Board position with Aussie Deaf Kids and as Editor-in-Chief (Australia) of Deafness & Education International, a top-tier journal. Jill also volunteers as a weekend respite foster carer for children with disability, most of whom have experienced trauma and are in long-term foster care.
As an academic, Jill supervises many doctoral students who are investigating various aspects of children living with disability, including those receiving the NDIS in regional, rural, and remote Australia. Jill’s two personal research foci include the buffering effect of social capital for adolescents with disability and non-discrimination in Australian primary and secondary schools.
Jill is honoured to be appointed a member of the NSW Disability Council and brings a full commitment to upholding its responsibilities under the Disability Inclusion Act.
Jill’s term as Council Member expires on 31st December 2027.
Gail Le Bransky has spent many years working in disability issues and applying customer-focused, innovative approaches to accessibility challenges. In 2019, Gail was recognised for this work when she received the NSW Public Service Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Gail’s experiences include leading policy development on inclusive transport; helping modernise the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport; and representing Transport for NSW on NDIS Steering Committee and other NDIS governance structures. Gail also has lived experience of disability, following a stroke in December 2020.
Other projects led by Gail include the development of the Age of Inclusion campaign to increase employment of people with disability, and successful partnerships with Digital.NSW, Microsoft and Property NSW to increase capabilities in accessible ICT and deliver guidelines on accessible office accommodation.
Gail’s term as Council Member expires on 5 December 2028.
Kelly works with other disabled people to affect change around disability and human rights issues. That has included better provision of service within the NDIS, lobbying for a Royal Commission and a wide range of other local, national and international issues. As a disabled woman Kelly has first-hand understanding and lived experience of issues affecting disabled people. She has been actively involved in representing the rights of disabled women in disability rights spaces and is a contributing member of the disability rights movement in Australia.
Kelly currently holds a range of advisory positions for state and federal Governments and has previously worked in NDIS service Provision, Aboriginal Aged Care, for a Local Aboriginal Land Council and most recently as a Senior Policy Officer / Systemic Advocate to represent First Nations people with disability.
She grew up on Biripi Country and currently lives in the Bundjalung Nation. She has a developed understanding of the barriers disabled First Nations people encounter while trying to access services and supports. She is passionate about working to uphold the rights of all disabled people to ensure they are able to live the life they want and holds specific interest in violence prevention and intersectional issues and the way these further marginalise and disadvantage people with disability.
She believes that we should make sure all disabled people have a voice, especially people who come from exceptionally marginalised backgrounds.
Kelly’s term as Council Member expires on 14 February 2027.
Jodie Hoger was legally blind by the age of 16 and totally blind by 30. She was told at the age of 17 that she was stupid to want to be a teacher and that she would never do anything like that. This statement made long ago is still what fuels her passion for disability access and inclusion in education and employment. Jodie was instrumental in establishing disability services for students with disability at the University of Wollongong and became their first Disability Advisor. Moving into the vocational education and training sector, she has worked at TAFE NSW now for 27 years fulfilling her goal to become a qualified teacher in her role as Disability Teacher Consultant, supporting students with disability along with teaching in Community Services. Throughout her career Jodie has been a strong advocate for accessible information and inclusive teaching practice and has worked hard to change general perceptions and biases that many people have regarding employees with disability.
As Jodie evolved and embraced her disabled identity, she became an established leader in her Organisation and secured the role to manage the implementation of TAFE NSW’s first Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP). She is now managing a team of Disability Teacher Consultants who support students with disability. Jodie is the current co-chair of the TAFE-Ability network for employees with disability. Her strengths are her ability to influence and motivate Allies, advocate for change and be future focused imagining a world where an individual can just be themselves knowing that their environment is accessible and inclusive and they are accepted for who they are and their contribution rather than through the lenses of perceived barriers that others often wear.
Jodie’s term as Council Member expires on 14 February 2027.
Matthew has worked for the NSW public service for the last 22 years. He suffered a spinal cord injury in a motor vehicle accident in 2002, and successfully transitioned to a new role within the same organisation. Matthew is passionate about accessibility in the workforce and advocating for those who wish to retain their engagement in the workforce despite disability. He also has a keen interest in improving public access for people in wheelchairs and in ensuring accessible design of public spaces.
Matthew completed a Diploma of Law in 2012 and as part of Matthew’s work he travels daily to courts across the Sydney metropolitan area. He has participated in a number of policy working groups within the Department of Communities and Justice. Matthew is also a member of Forward Ability Support.
Outside of work, Matthew enjoys participating in aquatic sports, amateur photography and meeting with people in his faith community.
Matt’s term as Council Member expires on 14 February 2027.
Quang Nguyen was born in Vietnam and travelled to Australia with his family when he was 4. He has a wealth of experience in disability advocacy, currently serving as chairperson of the Council for Intellectual Disability, as well as being on the board of the Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association. He previously served on the board of Diversity Disability Alliance, and as a Living Life My Way Champion and Ambassador for the Don't Dis my Ability campaign.
Quang has a particular interest in accessible transport and has been on a number of transport advisory groups. Quang is also passionate about the use of technology to support people with disability to lead better lives and increase independence.
Quang’s term as Council Member expires on 31 December 2027.
Sharon is a passionate advocate for the rights of people with disability, committed to building a world where everyone can live the life they choose. With a clear vision and determination, she champions the potential of people with disability, recognising their inclusion as both a moral responsibility and a strategic advantage.
Sharon supports the social model of disability, emphasising that societal barriers—not a person’s disability—limit opportunities. By addressing these barriers, she believes we can create environments where everyone can thrive.
As an employee of the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), Sharon is dedicated to fostering inclusive, accessible, and equitable workplaces. Her mission is to drive systemic change, transforming recruitment and practices across the public sector. With this in mind, Sharon envisions a workplace where dignity thrives, and inclusive leaders empower all employees, ensuring adjustments and a supportive culture. This workplace fosters an environment where everyone flourishes, with co-designed programs and systems benefiting both customers and employees, enabling effective service delivery. At the heart of this vision lies a connected, engaged, and proud community of NSW employees with disability who experience daily progress and equity. Furthermore, Sharon strives for a workforce where diversity is celebrated, with more staff with disability represented at all levels, enriching our organisations.
Her achievements include designing professional development programs for employees with disability and championing sensory room initiatives at Parramatta Square, setting new benchmarks for inclusive workplaces.
Sharon’s personal journey as a person with disability—initially masked to conform to societal norms—now empowers her advocacy. Embracing her authentic self, she leverages her lived experience to challenge stigma and promote awareness of both visible and hidden disabilities. Sharon believes that changing perceptions and creating truly inclusive practices requires firsthand experience and collaboration.
Beyond her professional work, Sharon is committed to advocating for her grandchildren, who are Aboriginal and neurodiverse, ensuring a future that values diversity, equity, and cultural understanding.
Sharon's term as Council Member expires on 5 December 2028.
An accomplished leader, practitioner, consultant and facilitator with experience in government, the arts, not-for-profit and university sectors, Morwenna Collett has worn the hats of CEO, Board Director, senior leadership team member, lecturer, researcher, trainer and advisor. Morwenna runs a national consultancy practice specialising in access, diversity, equity and inclusion. She has worked closely to support a range of large and small organisations to help them improve their practices,with recent consulting clients such as Creative Australia, the Sydney Opera House, Taronga Zoo, Womens Housing Company, the National Gallery of Australia, MCA, People With Disability Australia and more.
Morwenna is a member of the Festivals Board at Create NSW, Board Director of the Peggy Glanville Hicks Trust, Chair of both the Sydney Festival and Sydney Fringe Access Committees and member of the Perth Festival’s Access Committee. She is also an Affiliate of the Association of Consultants in Access Australia (ACAA) and a member of The Inclusion Circle network. She has previously been CEO of Accessible Arts and held various senior leadership positions at The Australia Council for the Arts (now called Creative Australia). Morwenna completed a Churchill Fellowship, exploring inclusive music programs, venues and festivals which actively engage disabled people across the USA, UK and Ireland. Her work is influenced by her own lived experience as a disabled musician.
Morwenna's term as Council Member expires on 5 December 2028.
Tracey is a proud hard of hearing woman with a passion for advocacy and inclusion. Her 30-year career has crossed social housing, women’s domestic violence services and the film and television industry. She received her Order of Australia in 2023 for services to people with disability and the arts.
Her advocacy work in the Australian screen industry has seen her lead on strategies driving greater representation and employment of people with disability across film, TV and advertising, including hosting the Driving Change: Disability Employment Summit and leading the work of Bus Stop Films on a global scale, enacting human rights outcomes for people with disability through filmmaking, skills development, employment and advocacy.
Tracey previously worked with Legal Aid NSW as the State Manager of the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Assistance (now Advocacy) Program and with both Screen NSW and Housing NSW in roles leading on policy, programs and stakeholder engagement. Tracey is an Includeability Ambassador on disability employment to the Australian Human Rights Commission, Director of Northcott (Disability Services) and Northcott Innovation and was previously a Director of Deaf Sports Australia. She is also a member of the Screen Australia Gender Matters Taskforce.
Tracey holds a Bachelor of Arts – Welfare Studies from University of Western Sydney and a Diploma of Business Frontline Management from University of Technology, Sydney.
Tracey's term as Council Member expires on 5 December 2028.
Jeramy is the CEO of a Specialist Disability Housing Advocacy Organisation and a Non-Executive Director dedicated to advancing the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities. With over 25 years of experience in the disability, aged care, and youth sectors, Jeramy combines deep not-for-profit expertise with strong business acumen. He holds an MBA, is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and is a Practicing & Chartered Manager—Fellow through the Institute of Managers and Leaders.
In 2023, Jeramy received a national scholarship through the Disability Leadership Program, completing the Comply Directors Course and advancing his governance and leadership skills.
Jeramy’s work is informed by his lived experience of disability following a workplace injury that led to a permanent neurological condition. As a proud father of four, he is also inspired by his daughter’s experiences with autism, hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD), and psychosocial disabilities.
Throughout his career, Jeramy has led significant sector reforms, managed complex organisational change, and advocated passionately for systemic and individual disability rights. His leadership reflects a steadfast commitment to inclusion, equity, and transformative outcomes for people with disabilities.
Jeramy's term as Council Member expires on 5 December 2028.
Donna Purcell is a Disability Advocate and a specialist in developing and leading change for the greater inclusion of people with disability in Australia.
Donna joined the National Disability Insurance Agency as Branch Manager Office of the Participant Advocate in March 2021. Donna is also the NDIA SES Disability Champion, representing the NDIA on the Australian Public Service (APS) Disability Champion Network.
Donna also Chairs the APS SES Disability Network.
Donna’s previous role was within Customer and Community Advocacy at Commonwealth Bank, and where she led the Enable Disability Employee Network.
In 2020, Donna was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to undertake overseas study, researching successful leadership and culture change programs resulting in greater employment and workplace inclusion for people with disability.
Donna is a certified Access Consultant through the Institute of Access Training Australia.
Donna is a current Director on the Australian Disability Network Board and a former Board Director with the Northcott Society, Sydney-based community radio station 2RPH and the NSW Centre for Volunteering.
Donna is passionate about creating accessible and inclusive communities where people are supported to be their best.
Donna's term as Council Member expires on 5 December 2028.
03 Feb 2025