Fran Vicary

Fran Vicary works for the National Disability Insurance Agency, an agency that implements the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and, therefore, has a disability focus. Fran has worked in roles that involve her passion for empowering people with disabilities and her skills in managing change in the National Disability Insurance Scheme and disability sector.  

As a woman with disability, Fran has a strong belief in community participation, equity and the realisation of human rights for all people. She has worked across many sectors, including vocational education, women’s health, disability, not-for-profit/advocacy, direct service provision and Government.  

Fran is the Queensland Director External Reviews Branch, managing Administrative Review Tribunal matters, and has acted in other roles across the Reviews and Information Releases Division. She was the first Queensland State Director of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission; and was a Regional Manager of the Carers Queensland Local Area Coordinator Program, supporting participants to enter the NDIS and use supports.  

She describes herself as a feminist, partner to Simon, and dog-owner, who loves the arts, shoes and literature.  

Uncle Willie Prince

Uncle Willie Prince’s life is a testament to resilience and the power of self-discovery. He was born on the Aboriginal mission of Cherbourg in Wakka Wakka country and has a spiritual connection to the Kalkadoon peoples of Mt Isa.  Uncle Willie faced the challenges of being part of the Stolen Generation - a painful period in Australian history when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were forcibly removed from their families and communities.  He was born with a disability in the 1960’s, a time where Indigenous people were not recognised as Australian Citizens and were considered property of the government.  He was displaced at the age of two when he was removed from country and community and placed in institution care.

Despite the difficult circumstances, Uncle Willie’s determination and curiosity inspired him to seek answers about his identity and culture.  As he grew older, he began asking questions, determined to reclaim his identify and connection to his roots.  Raised within the systems of institutional and government care, away from his family, people and community, he embarked on a journey of self-discovery.  Along the way, he received support from various individuals who helped him navigate this challenging pathway.

One significant turning point in Uncle Willie’s life was his opportunity to work at the State Library of Queensland. There, he delved into learning more about his background and where he came from. Conversations with other Indigenous people further enriched his understanding, and he often found himself crossing paths with relatives he never knew he had.  Uncle Willie’s story is a powerful testament of resilience, the importance of cultural identity, and the strength that comes from reclaiming one’s voice. His experience serves as a reminder of the need to listen to and honour the stories of those who have faced adversity and triumphed against all odds.

Steven Koch

Steve is the Deputy Director-General, Customer, Small and Family Business for the Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business (CDSB).   

He has over 25 years’ public sector experience where he has led service delivery, program management and regulatory functions.   He is passionate about the economic and social outcomes that government services and programs provide, particularly the impact for individuals.   

Steve has a strong background in small and family business and employment and training having held executive roles in departments responsible for these sectors over the past decade. 

He holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Business Management from the University of Queensland and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors - Company Directors Course.   

Elizabeth Kendall

Professor Elizabeth Kendall completed her PhD in 1997 on the topic of adjustment following traumatic- injury, for which she won the Dean's Commendation for Outstanding PhD Thesis in 1998 (UQ). She has continued to build a research agenda in rehabilitation and service systems for people who are managing the consequences of serious injuries, disabilities or chronic conditions. She was an invited visiting Professor at the University of Manchester National Primary Care Research and Development Centre.  

Elizabeth has designed and directed complex community-based evaluations and randomised controlled trials of major health reform projects over the last decade, including the Ambulatory Care demonstration projects the Queensland Self-Management Alliance, the Chronic Disease Place-based Initiative and the Logan-Beaudesert Health Coalition, the Qld Health Self-Management Working Party, the Coordinated Care Trials, the Sharing Healthcare Demonstration project, the Community Rehabilitation Workforce Reform Project, the Chronic Disease Smart State Working Party, the Spinal Injury Response Project on Integrated Services and the Youngcare Alternative Service Model trial. 

Elizabeth runs a collaborative research program with several significant partners including Queensland Health, General Practice Queensland, and Motor Accident Insurance Commission.  

Elizabeth manages an interdisciplinary research centre and has attracted over $50 million in research grants and consultancies, including 9 large Australian Research Council grants. She has over 200 publications in high-quality and impactful journals such as Social Science and Medicine, American Journal of Public Health, Rehabilitation Psychology, Disability and Rehabilitation and has produced over 65 industry reports. She was a member of the ARC College of Experts and chaired the Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences panel. She has supervised 18 PhD students to the completion of high-quality research outputs.