We’re excited to be providing stimulating and challenging presentations, panels and breakout sessions, with exhibitors and event partners to support your organisation.  

Monday, 15 June 2026

Welcome Reception

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Welcome Reception

Tuesday, 16 June 2026

Conference Day 1

7:00 am – 7:45 am

Yoga – sponsored by Populi

8:00 am – 9:00 am

Registration

9:00 am – 9:10 am

Welcome to Country

9:10 am – 9:30 am

Welcome

Wayne Herbert – Director of Progress and Property, LEAD Disability Services

Elly Desmarchelier – Speaker, writer, event facilitator and disability rights advocate

9:30 am – 10:00 am

Minister’s Address

Minister Tanya Plibersek – Minister for Social Services of Australia

10:00 am – 10:30 am

Address

Michael Lye – Secretary, Department of Social Services

10:30 am – 10:50 am

Morning Tea

10:50 am – 11:00 am

The case for reforming the Disability Support Pension

Matt Wright – Partner, Deloitte Access Economics

11:00 am – 11:10 am

What’s it like to deal with the DSP?

Damien Porter – Disability Advocate, Freelance Consultant, and Co-Host of the Ability Podcast

11:10 am – 12:00 pm

Panel Session: The case for reforming the Disability Support Pension

Michael Lye – Secretary, Department of Social Services

Matt Wright – Partner, Deloitte Access Economics

John Burn – Chief Executive Officer, DEInvestments

Damien Porter – Disability Advocate, Freelance Consultant, and Co-Host of the Ability Podcast

Catherine McAlpine – Inclusion Australia

12:00 pm – 12:30 pm

Transforming the Disability Employment Ecosystem

Peter Bacon – Chief Executive Officer, Disability Employment Australia

12:30 pm – 1:00 pm

How Shifting Economic Trends Are Shaping Work

Callam Pickering – APAC Senior Economist, Indeed

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Lunch

2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

William Magarey Room

BREAKOUT ROOM 1 – Neuro inclusion

Master of Ceremonies: Elly DeMarschlier

2:00 pm – 2:20 pm

“No One Sees the Effort”: The Hidden Cost of Identity Management for Neurodivergent Staff

Aron Mercer – Adjunct Industry Fellow | PhD Candidate | Griffith University, Griffith University

2:20 pm – 2:40 pm

Neurodiverse Safe Work: More Than Noise Cancelling Headphones

Catherine Lee – Director & Founder, The Neurodiverse Safe Work Initiative

2:40 pm – 3:00 pm

Building Employer Capability for Neuro inclusive Workplaces: Translating Evidence into Practice

Alex Lazarus-Priestley – Chief Change Officer, Amaze

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Panel Discussion: Neuro-inclusion

Elly Desmarchelier – Speaker, writer, event facilitator and disability rights advocate

Aron Mercer – Adjunct Industry Fellow | PhD Candidate | Griffith University, Griffith University

Catherine Lee – Director & Founder, The Neurodiverse Safe Work Initiative

Alex Lazarus-Priestley – Chief Change Officer, Amaze

John Halbert Room

BREAKOUT ROOM 2 – Evidence to Practice – Developing Sustainable Jobs for People with Disability

Dr Simone Casey – Principal Research Fellow, Evidence, Centre for Inclusive Employment, (CSI Swinburne)

Jo Ingold –

Dr Elaine Nash – Flinders University & Swinburne University

Dr Shae Wissell – Director, re:think dyslexia

Dr June Alexander – Lecturer, Flinders University

Suite 1

BREAKOUT ROOM 3 – Co Designing the Future

Master of Ceremonies: Simon Rowberry (DEA)

2:00 pm – 2:45 pm

Report on DEA Members NDIS Co design Project

Renae Hartmann – Disability Employment Australia

Simon Rowberry – Deputy CEO, Disability Employment Australia

2:45 pm – 3:30 pm

Co-design re Fundamentals for Jobseekers

Dan Gavin – National Manager – Disability Employment, genU Training

3:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Afternoon Tea

4:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Presentation of Blended Transitions Findings

Ann Nevile – Hon Associate Professor, ANU

4:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Interview with 2025 DEA Hall of Fame honouree

Prof Alastair McEwin AM – Disability and human rights advocate

Sally Karandrews – IEA Policy Manager, Disability Employment Australia

6:30 pm – 10:30 pm

Gala Dinner
Including Hall of Fame Ceremony and DEA Awards presentations

Wednesday, 17 June 2026

Conference Day 2

8:00 am – 9:00 am

Registration

9:00 am – 9:10 am

Welcome & Acknowledgement of Country

Wayne Herbert – Director of Progress and Property, LEAD Disability Services

Elly Desmarchelier – Speaker, writer, event facilitator and disability rights advocate

9:10 am – 9:35 am

From Best Kept Secret to National System: Embedding Supported Employment at Scale

Laura Davis – Chief Executive Officer, British Association of Supported Employment

9:35 am – 10:15 am

Panel – how could the Supported Employment Quality Framework apply to Australia?

Peter Bacon – Chief Executive Officer, Disability Employment Australia

Dr June Alexander – Lecturer, Flinders University

Laura Davis – Chief Executive Officer, British Association of Supported Employment

Dr Jenny Crosbie – Principal Industry Fellow, Centre for Social Impact, Swinburne University

10:15 am – 11:00 am

Lightning Panel Session: Providers on Inclusion

11:00 am – 11:30 am

Morning Tea

11:30 am – 12:00 pm

Creating a ‘pull’ in disability employment: a focus on the demand side

John Burn – Chief Executive Officer, DEInvestments

12:00 pm – 12:50 pm

Panel session: Future developments on the ‘demand side’

Prof Alastair McEwin AM – Disability and human rights advocate

John Burn – Chief Executive Officer, DEInvestments

Amanda Belz – Impact and Inclusion Manager, McDonald’s Australia

Don Intine – Programmed

Amy Whalley – Chief Executive Officer, Australian Disability Network

12:50 pm – 1:45 pm

Lunch

1:45 pm – 3:15 pm

William Magarey Room

BREAKOUT ROOM 1 – Getting Engagement Right

Master of Ceremonies: TBC

1:45 pm – 2:05 pm

The Evidence and Practice Settings for Relationship Building in Case-Managed Employment Assistance

Dr George Giuliani – Independent Consultant, Senior Facilitator with Prospert

2:05 pm – 2:25 pm

Supporting People with Mental Health Conditions: The Three Legged Stool for Successful Employment

Shannon Lang – Director, WISE IDEA, WISE

Ms Jessie Martins – State Manager, Inclusive Employment Australia, WISE, WISE, Australia

2:25 pm – 2:45 pm

Meaningful Engagement – Perspectives from Lived Experience

Adjunct Professor Ingrid Ozols AM – Director, Mental Health At Work (mh@work)

2:45 pm – 3:15 pm

Panel Discussion: Getting Engagement Right

Dr George Giuliani – Independent Consultant, Senior Facilitator with Prospert

Shannon Lang – Director, WISE IDEA, WISE

Jessie Martins – State Manager, Inclusive Employment Australia, WISE

Adjunct Professor Ingrid Ozols AM – Director, Mental Health At Work (mh@work)

John Halbert Room

BREAKOUT ROOM 2 – Reframing the Problem of Disability Employment to Enable Practice Improvement

Dr Michael Healy – Research Fellow, Knowledge Mobilisation Lead, Swinburne University

A/Prof Sue Olney – Associate Professor, University of Melbourne

Dr Sam Cooms – Senior Lecturer, University of Queensland

Suite 1

BREAKOUT ROOM 3 – Perspectives for Providers

Master of Ceremonies: Wayne Herbert

1:45 pm – 2:15 pm

The Supported Employment Quality Framework Model in Practice

Nerise Oldfield-Thompson –

2:15 pm – 2:45 pm

Getting More Employers to the Table Through Great Leadership

Paul Diviny – Founder and CEO, Prospert

2:45 pm – 3:15 pm

Turning Compliance into a Competitive Advantage

Graeme Gemmell – Recite Me

3:20 pm – 3:30 pm

Conference Summary

Wayne Herbert – Director of Progress and Property, LEAD Disability Services

Elly Desmarchelier – Speaker, writer, event facilitator and disability rights advocate

3:30 pm – 3:35 pm

Conference Wrap Up

Mat McIntyre – Chair, Disability Employment Australia

3:35 pm – 4:00 pm

Afternoon Tea

4:00 pm

Conference Close

For program information, please contact Peter Bacon, 03 9012 6000 peter.bacon@disabilityemployment.org.au

Registrations now open!

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