Advancing Disability Inclusion and Workplace Adjustments in Employment

Registrations for this event have now closed. If you still wish to attend please contact adbmedia@justice.nsw.gov.au

Anti-Discrimination NSW (ADNSW) invites you to join a thought-provoking event exploring disability inclusion in employment and the role workplace adjustments play in creating equitable opportunities for all.

As part of ADNSW's Thought Leadership Series, this event brings together leaders, advocates and changemakers to reflect on the progress of disability rights and inclusion across the employment sector while thoughtfully examining the challenges that remain.

Featuring a keynote address by Rosemary Kayess, Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission, followed by a panel discussion, the event will provide a forum to explore policy advances, cultural shifts and the practical application of inclusive workplace practices. Drawing on both professional expertise and lived experience, panellists will engage in a rich, intersectional conversation about what meaningful disability inclusion looks like in today's workplaces and what more is needed to ensure people with disability can thrive.

Join us to learn, connect and be inspired by the ideas, experiences and actions helping shape more inclusive workplaces for the future.

Event details

Date: Thursday 17 September 2026

Time: 10:00am to 11:45am 
          (Registration and morning tea from 10.00am, official event/online livestream starts 10:30am)

Venue: In-person (at the Parramatta Square Business & Events Centre, Podium Level 2, 4 Parramatta Square, 12 Darcy Street, Parramatta) and online.

For online tickets, the MS Teams link will be provided on registration. Please register for this event by COB Tuesday 15 September 2026.

If you have accessibility requirements, please contact adbmedia@justice.nsw.gov.au to let us know how we can support you.

Keynote speaker

Rosemary Kayess (she/her)
Disability Discrimination Commissioner | Australian Human Rights Commission

Rosemary Kayess commenced as Australia’s Disability Discrimination Commissioner in January 2024. An internationally recognised human rights lawyer and academic, she previously held senior roles at the University of New South Wales and is a Visiting Professor, Centre for Disability, Law and Policy, the University of Galway. Ms Kayess was one of the drafters of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and currently serves on the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She was awarded the Human Rights Medal in 2019 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights.

Panellists

Dr Scott Avery (he/him)
Professor of Indigenous Disability Health and Wellbeing, Girra Maa Indigenous Health | University of Technology Sydney

Dr Scott Avery is a professor of Indigenous disability health and wellbeing at Girra Maa Indigenous Health, the University of Technology Sydney. He is an Aboriginal man from the Worimi people and is profoundly deaf. A recognised educator, researcher and policy adviser on Indigenous cultural approaches for the inclusion of people with disability, his work has influenced national policy across Closing the Gap, Australia's Disability Strategy and the Disability Royal Commission. Dr Scott advises numerous government agencies and serves on several national boards as director including Hearing Australia, while also contributing internationally as a founding member of the WHO Disability Health Equity Network. In 2025, he was honoured to be named recipient of the Aunty Barbara Nicholson Social Impact Award.

Megan Spindler-Smith (they/them)
Acting Chief Executive Officer | People With Disability Australia (PWDA)

Megan Spindler-Smith is Acting Chief Executive Officer of People With Disability Australia (PWDA), the national disability rights and advocacy organisation led by and for people with disability. A proud disabled person, Megan is a strategic, innovative and influential executive leader with more than two decades experience advancing inclusion, culture and change initiatives across the not-for-profit, public and private sectors. Drawing on lived experience and a background in clinical, human-centred and organisational development, they work with government, business and community organisations on disability rights, leadership, accessibility, and systems change, bringing a practical and action-focused perspective to complex challenges.

Jody Grima (she/her)
Agency Head | Independent Review Office

Jody Grima is currently on secondment as Agency Head of the Independent Review Office (IRO), an independent statutory agency responsible for reviewing workers compensation and injury management decisions to ensure fair, transparent and accountable outcomes for injured workers and those involved in motor vehicle accidents. Previously, as Chief People Officer for the NSW Department of Customer Service (DCS), Jody led the people strategy for a workforce serving more than eight million customers across NSW. With extensive executive experience in transformation, service delivery, governance and organisational leadership, she has driven significant reform across the NSW public sector, fostered inclusive and high-performing cultures, and led large multidisciplinary teams through complex change. Jody has held senior leadership roles across Family and Community Services, Service NSW and DCS, including as Chief Operating Officer. In 2020, she was awarded a NSW Public Service Medal for outstanding service to the community.

Moderator

Nas Campanella (she/her)

National Disability Affairs Reporter | ABC

Nas Campanella is the ABC’s National Disability Affairs Reporter. Nas is totally blind and lives with a neurological condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) which means she can’t read Braille. After completing a Communications degree at the University of Technology Sydney, majoring in journalism, she started with the ABC as a cadet. Nas has worked as a regional reporter in south eastern NSW and then as a triple j newsreader for seven years. In taking on this role, Nas became the first blind newsreader in the world to read and operate the studio for herself live to air. In 2020, she was appointed to the senior national Disability Affairs role.

Nas travels the world to speak at events, helping to motivate people on issues ranging from inclusive education, adaptive technology, accessible travel and the importance of empowerment and leadership for women. Now also a proud mum to her son, Nas also shares her experiences navigating motherhood as a parent with disability. As well as working in the area of policy development in Australia and across the Pacific, Nas has volunteered abroad creating disability awareness training programs for the United Nations and has held several board positions in the disability sector.

Speakers

Chris D'Aeth

A/President | Anti-Discrimination NSW

Chris D'Aeth was appointed acting President in March 2025. He is the Deputy Secretary of the Courts, Tribunals and Service Delivery Division at the NSW Department of Communities and Justice. With extensive experience in legal and administrative roles, Chris oversees the efficient operation of courts and tribunals in NSW, ensuring accessible and effective justice services.

Mia Zahra

Executive Manager | Anti-Discrimination NSW

Mia Zahra is the Executive Manager at Anti-Discrimination NSW. Over the past two decades, Mia has held various leadership roles at the Department of Communities and Justice and Legal Aid NSW. Mia has also worked at the South Australian Attorney-General's Department including Multicultural SA and the Equal Opportunity Commission of SA.

The Anti-Discrimination NSW Thought Leadership Series brings together thought leaders and practitioners who work to strengthen anti-discrimination policies and practices in NSW. We aim to create a platform to promote conversation and best practice. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to learn more about upcoming events.