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Queensland Disability Conference 2026 – ‘Access All Areas: The Road Ahead’
Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN), in partnership with the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety, is hosting the FREE Queensland Disability Conference 2026, Online.
Conference Opening Address: The Honourable Ann Leahy – Acting Minister for Families, Seniors and Disability Services, and Acting Minister for Child Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence
In conversation – Access All Areas: The Road Ahead
- The Honourable Sam O’Connor MP – Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Youth
- Belinda Drew – Director General, Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety
In conversation with Michelle Moss – Chief Executive Officer, Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN)
Keynote Speakers:
- Debbie Platz APM, Queensland Human Rights Commissioner
- Dr Scott Avery, Professor of Indigenous Disability Health and Wellbeing in the School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney
Disability Reforms Panel Discussion:
Explore the next phase of disability reform and the collective leadership required to create systems that enable people with disability to genuinely experience Access All Areas.
- Desmond Lee – State Manager, Queensland, National Disability Insurance Agency
- Hope Peisley – Deputy Director General, Strategy, Policy and Legislation, Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety
- Anthea Long – First Assistant Secretary, NDIS Sustainability Taskforce
- Brendon Buckley – Assistant Secretary, Transport Accessibility and Future Fuels Branch, International Aviation, Technology and Services Division, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts
Brisbane 2032 Games - Social and economic impact Panel Discussion
Explore how the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games can create a lasting social and economic legacy for people with disability beyond the Games themselves.
The panel will examine how governments, business, industry and communities can work together to ensure Brisbane 2032 becomes a catalyst for long-term change in accessibility, employment, tourism, housing, community participation, innovation and inclusive economic growth.
- Dominique Lamb – Director of Community Affairs to the President, Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Organising Committee
- Councillor Vicki Howard – Civic Cabinet Chair for Community and the Arts and Councillor for Central Ward, Brisbane City Council
- Katie Kelly OAM PLY– Accessibility and Inclusion Manager, Olympic and Paralympic Games Office, Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games
- Alexandra Sloane – Vice President, Integrated Marketing and Communications, Australasia, Mastercard
- Suzanne Edwards – Accessibility Standards Lead, Airbnb
Accessible and Inclusive Transport Panel Discussion
Explore how Queensland’s transport network, across aviation, planning, technology and infrastructure, can be reimagined so Queenslanders with disability can travel confidently, independently and with dignity, now and beyond 2032.
- Prudence Betros – People Manager, Engineering & Maintenance, Integrated Operations & Workforce Planning, Virgin
- Dr Kali Marnane – Associate Director, City Design Strategy and Policy, Urbis, with Daniel Quan – Associate Director, Transport Planning, Urbis – Games Readiness Report
- Santiago Velasquez – Hailo Founder and CEO, EyeSyght and Hailo
- Alex Bubke – Manager, Technical Accessibility, Accessible Transport Network, Department of Transport and Main Roads
This online event will be held on an interactive platform, where you will have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with other attendees, whilst watching a live feed of the presentation.
Date: Friday, 11 September 2026.
Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm.
Where: Online – Link sent closer to the Conference
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Maranoa Regional Council
Panel discussion
Dee Schafer – Regional Sport and Recreation Officer
Maricris Bracamonte – Community Support Officer
Jane Fenton – Local Development Officer – Mitchell
Garnet Radford
Manager Economic Development, Balonne Shire Council
Garnet Radford is the Manager Economic Development for Balonne Shire Council based in St George Queensland – 500km west of Brisbane. He has more than 20 years of experience in the field of economic development in Australia and Canada assisting small business start-ups, expansions, and industry trade and investment.
Click here to read more about Garnet Radford
Agriculture has always been a big part of his life as he grew up on mixed grain and cattle farm in Central Manitoba, Canada. He envisions significant opportunity in agriculture, agtech, agbiotech, bush foods, nutraceuticals and agricultural education for rural Queensland. Garnet is the Managing Director of Arrivé Investment Development Corporation Asia Pacific and holds a degree in Economics and Business Administration from Brandon University and certified in Economic Development through the University of Waterloo and EDAC Canada.
Christina Waldron
Mental Health and Community Support Services – Roma and St George, Stride
Stride supports people living with mild to moderate mental health issues to manage their social and emotional wellbeing in the community. In 2025, Stride also added Universal Aftercare, a peer-led program supporting people experiencing suicidal crisis or following a suicide attempt.
Click here to read more about Christina Waldron
Christina has had an interesting pathway that led her to working in mental health. After arriving in Australia as a backpacker nearly 40 years ago, she met her husband and settled in Roma.
When her sons started school, Christina returned to work as a Disability Support Worker with a local disability employment provider. This sparked a lifelong passion for the sector, where she spent much of her career in various roles.
In 2014, Christina joined Aftercare as Coordinator of a newly funded community-managed mental health program. She has continued with the organisation through its rebrand to Stride in 2019 and has now worked in the service for more than 11 years.
Helen Wassman
Executive Director Allied Health, South West Hospital and Health Service (Queensland Government)
Helen joined the South West Hospital and Health Service Executive Leadership Team (ELT) in 2020, bringing more than 30 years of clinical expertise as a senior Occupational Therapist, and extensive senior management experience across acute, sub acute, and community healthcare settings. This breadth of operational and strategic leadership has equipped her with a deep understanding of service delivery and system performance across the full continuum of care.
Click here to read more about Helen Wassman
A highly accomplished and forward thinking healthcare leader, Helen has a strong track record in developing, implementing, and sustaining innovative models of care. She is recognised for her commitment to healthcare improvement, research, evidence informed practice, and her dedication to improving access and outcomes for patients, families, and communities across the South West.
As Executive Director of Allied Health, Helen oversees a diverse and strategically significant portfolio, including:
- Domestic and Family Violence Program
- Health Promotion, including Healthy Communities and HOPE programs
- Telehealth and Virtual Connected Care
- Allied Health Interprofessional Clinical Education and Training
- Allied Health Workforce Planning
In addition to these responsibilities, Helen is the Allied Health Professional Lead, providing strategic leadership, professional governance, and workforce direction for the Allied Health workforce across the region.