Join us for an engaging panel discussion on "Creating Safe Spaces: Insights into Inclusive Startup Events," where we will launch the report of the findings from our recent roundtable on ensuring that the WA startup ecosystem events are always welcoming, inclusive, and safe

In this session, our panellists will discuss actionable strategies and best practices derived from comprehensive discussions on three pivotal questions:

Empowering bystander intervention: How might we enable attendees to combat harassment and discrimination effectively in real-time at startup events?
Equipping event staff and volunteers: What training and tools can we provide to ensure event personnel can spot and respond to harassment or discrimination?
Designing inclusive spaces: How can we design or adapt event spaces to promote inclusivity and minimise opportunities for harassment or discrimination?

Our panel features three distinguished guests, each bringing unique perspectives and expertise to the conversation.

Elizabeth Lang, Founder and CEO, Diversity Focus
Elizabeth Lang is the visionary CEO of Diversity Focus, a pioneering consultancy championing inclusive workplace cultures with a focus on racial and gender equity. With a background in community development and qualitative research, Elizabeth is a recognised speaker on international stages, including presentations at the United Nations in Geneva. Holder of a Bachelor of Social Science and a Master of Human Rights, Elizabeth is currently pursuing her doctorate at Curtin University, deepening her understanding of gender equity and cultural diversity. Beyond academia, she advises and serves on various boards. Globally acclaimed, Elizabeth was named in the 2021 Global 100 Under 40 Most Influential People of African Descent. She's received prestigious awards, including the 2023 Business Migrant Award and the 2024 Telstra Best of Business Award for Accelerating Women, highlighting her commitment to advancing gender equity through Diversity Focus.
Matt Willson, Co-founder and Chief Resilience Officer, The Up Next Company
Matt K. Willson is an award-winning resilience expert, mindset coach and business improvement specialist. He has helped more than 1000 people with his Resilience Model, based on his own lived experience of mental health recovery. He is the co-founder and Chief Resilience Offer of the Up Next Company, where he specialises helping different leaders make a difference. He is Mental Health First Aid Australia Licensed Instructor, Lean Six Sigma Practitioner, Certified Facilitator of LEGO® Serious Play® and the World’s only SUPERCONNECT® Certified Practitioner. He was the Citizen of the Year for 2022 and was a finalist for the WA Mental Health Awards in 2023. He loves heavy metal, meditation and plant-based cooking.
Elisha Middleton, Senior HR Consultant, Green Shoots
Elisha is a highly experienced tertiary qualified senior HR leader and practitioner, with expertise cultivated through two decades of HR and leadership experience. They actively engage with the Australian HR Institute (AHRI) through their roles as a network convenor for the WA ER/IR network and as a member of its national ER/IR advisory panel. As a senior consultant with Green Shoots, Elisha applies a strategic and pragmatic approach to their work, with the aim of fostering strong, engaged workforces and contributing to sustainable business success for organisations of all sizes and across sectors and industries.
Moderator: Danielle Giles, Director, Catalyst CoLab
Danielle Giles is an experienced professional with a passion for innovation, human-centered design and heart based leadership. She is committed to making a contribution to the world she has crafted transformative strategies, products, and experiences across diverse industries, including the arts, allied health, education, and utilities, working within government, nonprofit, and private sector contexts. Danielle's career spans experience in franchise operations, digital startup and executive positions. Her authentic leadership and mentorship are grounded in the valuable lessons she has learned from her successes, challenges, and failures.

This event is an opportunity for startup founders, event organisers, volunteers and community members dedicated to fostering a safer, more inclusive environment in the WA startup ecosystem.

This event is hosted by StartupWA and WiTWA, and supported by CERI as venue sponsor.