Dr Louise Byrne has multiple, first-hand, life-changing adverse experiences which have had a profound impact on her life. Over the last 21 years Louise has worked in a broad variety of designated Lived and Living Experience roles. Louise’s seminal 16-year program of research has supported the growth in understanding, awareness and development of Lived Experience workforces, nationally and internationally, and helps shape the perspective of lived experience work as a respected, credible, evidence-based discipline. Louise’s work as a strategic consultant, trainer and thought leader on the role and benefit of lived experience workforces assists meaningful implementation of the research findings and promotes an evidence informed approach to Lived Experience workforce development.

Donna Crompton is a passionate advocate for inclusive practices within the NDIS landscape. With extensive experience in disability services, she leads initiatives empowering individuals with disabilities to achieve their goals. Donna fosters collaboration between stakeholders and enhances service delivery, ensuring that voices of people with disabilities are heard and valued. Her commitment to systemic change drives her work in the NDIS reform space.

For over 15 years, Giancarlo de Vera has worked across community services, government, and not-for-profit sectors, both within Australia and internationally. Before joining BEING as CEO, Giancarlo worked at People with Disability Australia, most recently as Senior Manager of Policy. Giancarlo’s career demonstrates a strong commitment to advocacy, equality, and systemic change, particularly in the realms of mental health and disability. As a proud LGBTIQA+ and non-binary human rights advocate from a culturally and racially marginalised background, and with lived experience of psychosocial disability, Giancarlo embodies BEING’s mission of representing the voice of the diverse range of NSW mental health consumers.

Mark has over 25 years’ experience working across the private, public and community sectors. Mark is the CEO of the Speak Out Association of Tasmania Inc (Speak Out) which is the longest serving advocacy organisation in Tasmania for people with intellectual disability. Mark feels passionately about the promotion and protection of human rights and has spent much of his career advocating for improved human rights protections, particularly in relation to Youth Justice, Addictions and Disability sectors. Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts with Professional Honours in Public Sector Leadership and Management and is a graduate of the Tasmanian Leaders Program (2008).