Speakers

Joshua Bamford is an award-winning Disability Employment Advocate and the Chair of the Darling Downs Disability Employment Taskforce (DET), the first initiative of its kind within the WorkForce Australia contract. Through his advocacy, Joshua successfully lobbied to have employment for people with disabilities (PwD) listed as a priority for the WorkForce Australia Local Jobs Program, culminating in the creation of the taskforce in Q4 of 2024.

As the Human Resources Director for the M&H Ward Group, Joshua oversees seven McDonald’s restaurants across the Toowoomba and Darling Downs Region, managing a workforce of over 600 employees. Despite living with double deficit dyslexia and short-term memory loss, Joshua has leveraged these experiences to thrive in leadership roles over the past 15 years.

A passionate advocate for inclusion, Joshua developed an award-winning disability employment program that has garnered four separate awards and successfully placed over 50 individuals with disabilities into meaningful roles within McDonald’s. He is also a recognised leader in innovative recruitment programs, having established initiatives such as the Mature Age Employment Program and the First Nations Employment Program.

In addition to his contributions within McDonald’s, Joshua is a permanent member of the Local Jobs and Skills Board, where he works closely with business stakeholders to develop alternative employment programs. The board’s work is instrumental in shaping policies reported directly to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

Driven by a vision of inclusive practices that transcend tokenism, Joshua is committed to fostering meaningful opportunities and cultivating the next generation of leaders in the Australian workforce.