Our Team

Our Board

Meet the people shaping our vision and direction.

Helena Jordan

Co-Chair, M.A. Public Policy, B.A. Arts and Global Studies

Appointed to the Board in October 2021 and reappointed in November 2024. Co-Chair, Executive and Finance & Risk Committee member. Helena (she/her) is a policy advisor, currently working at Gender Equity Victoria. She has experience across government, not-for-profit and private sectors domestically and internationally.

Zoi Jahau

Co-Chair, Bachelor of Arts

Appointed to the Board in November 2024. Governance and Finance & Risk Committee member. Zoi Jahau (she/they) is a queer, multicultural person with disabilities living in Victoria. They bring a unique and intersectional perspective to their work as the Senior Advisor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Carly-Anne Myers OAM

Secretary, Bachelor of Arts, DLI, MAICD

Appointed to the Board in November 2024. Governance and Finance & Risk Committee member. Carly Myers has 23 years of experience working in the disability and women’s health sector. Carly is currently the Gender and Disability Advisor at Women’s Health Grampians.

Ashleigh Webb

Vice Chair, MIntSecLaw, BA (Pol Sci, IR)

Ashleigh is an experienced bureaucrat and Board Director with fifteen years' experience across government, not-for-profit and private sectors domestically and internationally. Her previous experiences include working across the national security and defence sector as an analyst, embed and liaison officer progressing multi-agency and multi-national reforms in key operational,

Ruvani Fernando

Treasurer, Master of Science in Accounting

Appointed to the Board in 2025, Ruvani Fernando (she/her) is also a member of the Governance Committee and Executive Committee, and serves as Chair of the Finance and Risk Committee.

Julie Dickson

Director

Julie (she/her) is a woman with a disability based in Naarm. She works at EMILY’s List Australia, supporting progressive Labor women through financial, political, and personal assistance to help them get elected to Parliament. Alongside her role, she’s completing a Graduate Certificate in Politics and Policy

Dr Jade McEwen

Director, PhD Public Policy & Social Work, Master of Disability Studies

Dr Jade McEwen (she/her) is a pracademic and implementation scientist with nearly two decades of experience spanning human rights, disability policy, and public sector reform.

Marlena Raymond

Director, Admitted to practice (2020), Juris Doctor (2018), Bachelor of Arts (2012)

Appointed to the Board in November 2022. Governance and Executive Committee member. Appointed as Co-Chair from March 2023. Marlena’s (she/her) professional experience includes disability research at The University of Melbourne and Office for the Public Advocate, legal practice in mental health and disability law at Victoria Legal Aid.

Fathia Tayib

Director

Fathia is a Senior Policy Officer working across privacy, freedom of information and responsible AI. She supports public sector agencies by developing guidance, advising on program and legislative design, and conducting policy research for consultations and parliamentary inquiries. She is dedicated to creating policy systems

Sarah Waters

Director, Master of Advanced Social Work; Bachelor of Social Work; Bachelor of Arts; Advanced Diploma Yoga Teacher Training

Appointed to the Board in November 2024. Governance and Finance & Risk Committee member. Sarah (she/her) brings over 25 years of experience as a social worker in the not for profit sector in clinical, management and senior management roles. Sarah has worked in advocacy, project management, policy development