Meet the QDN Emerging Leaders - 2022

Group 1

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Bithiah Alley

Rockhampton

"Disability leadership is about the disability community and the diversity of individuals within it. Disability leadership is about supporting each other, championing each other, and leading each other and the broader community to make positive and necessary changes in the world we live in."

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Donna Barlow

Caboolture

"Helping others that need to be helped."

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Liam Jack Barry

Murrumba Downs

"To me disability leadership means to be able to help change the NDIS and make the world better for everyone with disability and make them feel seen and to make sure we are not ignored."

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Brian Birchall

Gympie

"For me, disability leadership means to be the voice for people who find it difficult or can’t speak out about their needs."

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Con Corbane

Cairns

"To empower people to have a voice to determine their destiny after being fully informed through discovery and use correct method of communication to be influencers."

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Beth Fulton

Kingaroy

"I want to make it so that people with disability are included and those with no disability see what we have to offer and not just exclude us because of our disability. Equal, it shouldn’t matter if you are disabled or not we should all be helping each other."

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Erica Mellisa Golding

Rockhampton

"I rise for etiquette in leadership for working with people in a diverse needs environment."

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Dale Gonelli

Deception Bay

"Disability leaderships to me means people taking control."

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Patrick Heaton

Fraser Coast - Urangan

"It means I have the opportunity to network with peers to work towards a better quality of life for all people with disability."

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Michelle Mullane

Newmarket

“To be proud and to speak for others who can’t.”

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Joesphine Perrett

Enogerra

"To represent the views of people with disability."

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Clarisse Pilbeam

Gold Coast

"Creating jobs and opportunities for people with disability that treat their lived experience as a valuable tool in the workplace to further expand the success of the individual and therefore contributing to the goal of inclusive workplaces for people with disability."

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Catherine Pollaers

Albany Creek

"As a person with lived disability experience My goal is to provide a voice for those who need a voice."

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Barbara Read

Urangan

“Disability leadership to me, means helping people living with disability lead their best life through connection and support.”

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Andrew Simmons

Kingaroy

"Disability leadership means to me is sharing ideas and being heard and also having a voice."

Group 2

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Alison Barber

Burpengary East

"To me advocacy is about standing up for the rights of total equality and inclusion for all, regardless of gender, race, disability or sexuality. With regard to disability advocacy, I believe it is equally important to stand for those with both visible and invisible disabilities so that they may both be held in unconditional high regard."

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Kamania Butler

South Brisbane

“It’s good to be part of the Emerging Leaders Program because it gives you a greater sense of community and you give back.”

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Andrea Carroll

Rochedale South

"Having a voice and being heard to be included in the wider community. Belonging to a group where we are peer mentors to one another and share knowledge and information with each other as a group."

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Megan Collis

Basin Pocket

"Disability Leadership means standing on the shoulders of the giants that paved the way before me."

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Kyal Currant

Southport

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Jason Driscoll

Pittsworth

"As a former officer in the Australian Army, I take leadership very seriously. Personally it’s about making the most conscious and considerate decision that allows everyone to benefit efficiently and effectively."

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Lisa Forrest

Gold Coast

"To me Disability Leadership means speaking up even if your voice shakes, even if you are the only one doing so. Giving a voice to the voiceless, bringing choice and control back to the individual. It's about using lived experience to create awareness and upholding the rights of people living with disability, recognition of diversity, learning together, working with integrity and prioritising Access and Inclusive Practices, paving the way for a better future, creating empowered and transformational change within the Disability community and the community at large."

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Paul Justice

Kippa Ring

"Disability leadership is about the disability community and the diversity of individuals within it. Disability leadership is about supporting each other, championing each other, and leading each other and the broader community to make positive and necessary changes in the world we live in."

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Angelica Keegan

Caboolture

"To me, Disability Leadership means being authentic and proactive in driving and supporting change for people with disability, with empathy and integrity so that inherent value is recognised and voices heard."

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Matthew Knott

Bundaberg

"Active leadership in this sector seeks to assist those living with disability and people significant to them, in building capacity toward their highest good."

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Josh Marshall

Rangeville

“A good leader is one that can support those around them while assisting and enabling them to participate better in whatever activity they wish to pursue. A disability leader has a good understanding of the requirements of those with a disability and can lead them in the trials and tribulations they face, thus improving their participation.”

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Richard McCarthy

Toowoomba

"Disability leadership to me is doing things that will make changes that help others people with disability in some way."

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Alison McLean

West End

"Leadership means a lot to me being a leader within the disability field."

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Brianna

Queensland

"Working to undo the systemic ableism embedded in our society with whatever actions, big or small."

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Maria Scharnke

Richlands

"Disabled leadership is being helped by and helping other disabled people. We forge our own access when it isn’t given to us, and everyone who makes those paths or guides other people to and along them are disabled leaders."

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Allycia Staples

Graceville

"Disability leadership means to me that I am representing my community."

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Nicole Thurtell

Gold Coast

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