Presentations

Elly Desmarchelier is a disability advocate, writer, and movement builder whose work exists at the crossroads of policy, lived experience, and the kind of systemic change that actually sticks.

Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at birth and with ADHD, Autism, and CPTSD in her late twenties, Elly knows first-hand what it means to navigate systems that were never built with you in mind — and what it takes to change them from the inside out.

She has worked within the NDIS, advised the Office of the Prime Minister, and taken her advocacy to the floor of the United Nations in New York. As a lead voice in the Defend Our NDIS campaign, she has helped shape the national conversation on disability rights — appearing on ABC Q+A, at the Sydney Opera House, and in venues that once would have barely registered disabled voices as worth amplifying.

Elly’s work is defined by a simple conviction: that disabled people don’t just deserve a seat at the table — they should be setting the agenda. In the disability employment space, this means asking harder questions. Not just how many disabled people are employed, but whether those jobs are good ones. Whether workplaces are actually built for us. Whether the sector itself is disability-led.

She brings that same directness to everything she does — including this stage.

Elly is based in Brisbane with her very important Labrador, Spencer Joe Biden.

Michael Lye commenced as Secretary of the Department of Social Services in December 2024. He is responsible for policy and program delivery under the outcome areas of social security, families and communities and disability employment services Michael was previously Deputy Secretary responsible for Ageing and Aged Care at the Department of Health, from December 2019 to December 2024. Prior to joining Health, Michael was the Deputy Secretary responsible for disability and carers policy at the Department of Social Services, where his responsibilities included disability and carers policy and programs, the National Disability Strategy, the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Disability Employment Services. Michael has a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Psychology and a Master of Social Welfare Administration and Planning, both of which are from the University of Queensland.

Matt is the Managing Partner of Deloitte Access Economics. In his parallel advisory role he is recognised for 15+ years of leadership in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of some of Australia’s most significant and contemporary education, training and labour market assistance initiatives. This includes over a decade advising governments on methods to better engage and support individuals with disability across the labour market and skills system.

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).

Catherine McAlpine is the Executive Director, Sector and Development at Inclusion Australia, the national representative organisation for people with an intellectual disability and their families.

Catherine is a respected leader in the disability community, as the previous CEO of inclusion Australia and with other senior roles in state and national advocacy and not-for-profit disability organisations. Her focus is on supporting the rights and empowerment of people with intellectual disability and their families. She has spoken as a witness at several Disability Royal Commission hearings on employment and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Catherine has a track record of collaboration and innovation to increase the inclusion of people with a disability. This is informed by her previous roles in the corporate sector, and running a small business, which gave insight into the need to base reform around sustainable business models.