Presentations

Professor Alastair McEwin AM is an Australian disability and human rights advocate with extensive experience across the private, government, and not-for-profit sectors. Born profoundly deaf, he has held senior roles including Australia’s Disability Discrimination Commissioner and a Royal Commissioner with the Disability Royal Commission. He has also worked as CEO of People with Disability Australia and Executive Director of Community Legal Centres NSW. In 2019, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to people with disability.

He is a Professor of Practice in Disability at UNSW Sydney and a Senior Fellow with the Grattan Institute.  Other roles include Independent Chairperson of the Advisory Committee for the Centre for Inclusive Employment, member of the Australia Post Stakeholder Council, and board member of The Achieve Foundation.

John Burn led the conceptualisation of Disability Employment Investments in April 2024 and was appointed as CEO in July 2024.

Prior to DEInvestments, John worked with Many Rivers Microfinance for 14 years, including 9 years as Managing Director and CEO. John’s background is in banking with 21 years at Commonwealth Bank, starting as a graduate and finishing as Executive General Manager, Group Strategic Initiatives. John holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration (Executive).