MEET OUR PEOPLE

Brendan joined the Board in April 2012. He is married to Jane with two children. Brendan has worked in the sport and recreation industry in Western Australia for over 20 years in positions with the State Government and various sporting organisations. Brendan is currently the Executive Director with Triathlon Western Australia.  In his spare time, Brendan keeps active by coaching AFL football and enjoys keeping fit.  Brendan holds a sports management degree and is a qualified company director.

Brendan has played sport all his life. He has worked professionally in sport and recreation for nearly 20 years. He envisions a true ‘sport for all’ philosophy where people have a choice to participate in their favourite sport regardless of their ability, gender, or age.

We asked Brendan what social inclusion means to him and this is what he said…

Social inclusion is about every individual regardless of their circumstances having the right and opportunity to make their own choices for an active life. It’s about every individual being an active member of society to their desired level making their own choices instead of choices made based on society’s expectations or by other individuals. I’m passionate about supporting people to find their voice, be heard, and being supported to enjoy the life they want to live.

Gemma joined the board late in 2015. Gemma has been an in-house lawyer at AECOM Australia since 2010. Prior to this, she worked as a solicitor with a boutique litigation firm, as the Associate to Justice Neville Owen at the Supreme Court of Western Australia and in the Policy Office of the Department of Premier and Cabinet. Gemma holds degrees in law and psychology and completed a Master of Business Administration in 2013.

Gemma is so proud to be a part of the work that AIG does. The Board and Management team always bring their best selves to their roles and she find the opportunities for personal connection with AIG team members and clients very rewarding.

We asked Gemma what social inclusion means to her and this is what she said…

For me, social inclusion means everyone has equal and equitable opportunity to share and live in the ‘ordinary places’ within our community. It is when groups of people are not made to feel excluded because they are deemed to require ‘special places’. I have a vision that a day will come when we can all share the same places and experiences. I’m passionate about bringing our community together by sharing and educating. While my values have always been aligned with the organisation, there were nuances to inclusion I hadn’t considered before I joined the Board. My knowledge and views about inclusion have evolved so much and continue to mature as a result of my involvement in the organisation. I now enjoy having conversations about inclusion within my own networks. I think most people in the community still have the understanding that I did when I first joined the Board. So, I’m passionate about sharing more thoughtful ideas.

Michael joined the board as an observer in 2019, and has since been nominated to the role of Treasurer in November 2020.  Currently, he is the Commercial Finance Manager at Boral Construction. Michael has previously held roles in  a broad range of industries from Mining and Engineering to grassroot start-ups. In his spare time, Michael enjoys spending as much time with his two young boys and keeping physically active, whether it’s  long distance ocean swimming or hiking new places in the state.

David joined the Board in February 2018. He has operated his own human resource management and industrial relations consultancy since 2005. Prior to this, David held similar roles in the arts and entertainment industry, primarily involved in the area of venue management operations. As well as his involvement with AIG, David is the Secretary of the WA Branch of The Lord’s Taverners Australia. He is also an active member of the ANA Rowing Club.

David is heavily committed to creating welcoming communities for everyone.

We asked David what social inclusion means to him and this is what he said…

Social inclusion means that everyone in our community having access to the places they want to go, the services that are available and the things they wish to experience. I believe that it’s important to provide the foundations to enable everyone in our community to reach their full potential.  Whether they take up the opportunities is immaterial – it’s having the choice that’s important.

Matthew is a tax partner at a big 4 accountancy firm. He has over 20 years’ experience in providing tax advice to a range of entities including not-for-profit organisations and has a Degree in Business Economics. Matthew is married with 3 children and together with his wife Jennifer plays an active role in the WA swimming community for people with disabilities. In his spare time Matthew likes to run in exotic places, is a football boundary umpire, plays wheelchair basketball and enjoys most sports.

Matthew has 3 wonderful, sporting children. One of his sons is an elite para-swimmer who happen to have cerebral palsy. This is why he is passionate about social inclusion and the inclusion of people with disability.

We asked Matthew what social inclusion means to him and this is what he said…

I believe that social inclusion is when all people, no matter their background or circumstances, are fully welcomed in the communities in which they live, work and socialise. I would like to see a day when individuals and communities look beyond differences and find and embrace the things they have in common with those that are outwardly different.

Elizabeth is an Associate Director at KPMG, advising organisations on people, culture, diversity and inclusion. She has worked across a number of industries, including police, sport, resources, retail and government, and led pro-bono work for the Male Champions of Change and the Institute of Company Directors 30% Club. She has published widely on diversity and inclusion issues and presented on these topics around Australia and at the United Nations in New York. Prior to her role with KPMG, Elizabeth worked as a solicitor for the State Solicitor’s Office and Executive Director of the UN Association of Australia. A qualified company director, Elizabeth is also a Board Member of the Stella Prize and has recently stepped down from her role as President of UN Women Australia. Her work driving change across business, government and the community sector has been recognised by the Australian Financial Review who named her as one of Australia’s 100 Women of Influence, and WA Business News, who presented her with the Professional Services Award at the 40under40 Awards.

She is proud of the people she gets to work with through her involvement with AIG. She has learnt so much from the team and the clients she is lucky enough to work with.

We asked Elizabeth what social inclusion means to her and this is what she said…

To me, social inclusion is when people from all different backgrounds and perspectives are engaged in their communities and empowered to live the life they choose. Points of difference between individuals are celebrated and everyone is empowered to make a positive impact on their community. Inclusion often feels ‘easier’ when we are in homogenous groups – but our collective power comes from the rich experience and perspective that diverse people can bring. I’m particularly passionate about working with people and organisations about how to unlock that sense of inclusion – through inclusive leadership, inclusive environments and inclusion nudges.

Melissa joined the Board in October 2013 and held the position of Treasurer for 3 years. She is a Chartered Accountant and works as a Tax Advisor at BP, having previously spent a number of years at KPMG. Melissa enjoys playing netball, travelling, spending time with family and friends; and is a passionate Fremantle Dockers supporter.

Melissa feels motivated by people who show determination and strength when faced with adversity.

We asked Melissa what social inclusion means to her and this is what she said…

Social inclusion is where everyone has the opportunity to live in and contribute to a community where they feel equal and safe, without any barriers – only enablers. I want to help break down stigmas and negative attitudes that inhibit inclusion.

Scott joined the Board in late 2019. Scott has worked as the Government Affairs Manager for Alcoa of Australia since 2018. Prior to this, Scott was deployed overseas with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to represent Australia at the United Nations in New York City. He is a lawyer by training and started his career in corporate law before working as Associate to former Justice of the High Court William Gummow AC. He holds a Bachelors of Law/Arts from the University of Western Australia. Scott enjoys cooking, spending time in Vienna with his Austrian wife and time at the beach with their Labrador, Pippa.

Reece has personal and professional experience in the disability industry. Having a life long physical disability, he has also had 13 years experience with direct care including a role at inclusion WA before being involved with supporting people moving onto the NDIS from their state funded plans.

Reece has a strong ambition to empower people with disabilities, helping and encouraging them to take control of their lives.

Reece is also a proud father and enjoys playing footy and golf in his spare time.

Tell us about yourself and how you got here.

I’m a husband, father, brother, son and mate. I like learning, and new challenges, as a result I’ve had an eclectic career. After a science degree and an ever so brief stint as a teacher, I spent eight happy years as the Director of Outreach Programs at Scitech, which involved travelling to, or working with, virtually every community in WA. I then decided on a dramatic change and took a job ‘on the terrace’ as the State Manager of the Tax Institute.  This position, while enjoyable, taught me that I probably need to care more about the work I spend so much time doing – so I was fortunate to get the job with Inclusion WA. Now they can’t get rid of me.

Can you tell us something cool about your local area

I live in Wembley. Other than how central it is and how accessible it is to the beach and the city I think the very coolest thing about it is the brilliant sense of community. I can go for a walk, or pop into the local shops and see people I know. There are street parties, suburb wide Halloween activities, regular community soccer or footy games at the park that everyone is welcome to join and so much more. It feels like a country town!

What’s something you know you do differently than most people?

I’m not sure if it’s something to be proud of but it certainly seems to be ‘different’ – I like to make up my own language by placing different emphasis and tone to standard English words. This is done mostly to either annoy or delight my sons – although they have, over time, become somewhat indifferent to my talents. So for example, in my house, rice bubbles for breakfast has become ‘Ricky Buble’ who is a less talented cousin of Michael Buble.

Pretty much the best song in the world is….

There are too many great songs, so I’m going to answer a different question. The only two songs I know all the words to, and have therefore used many times to sing my children to sleep are, somewhat inappropriately, The Gambler (by Kenny Rogers) and Me and Bobby Mcgee (Janis Joplin version).

What is your favourite way to spend a Saturday?

Early morning swim on a hot summer day, home for breakkie and a good coffee, watching (or listening to) some test cricket followed by a looong lunch with friends and family.

What is one of your favourite quotes?

My grandfather had a big influence on me. He taught me to ask, in any situation, “What’s the right thing to do, not the easy thing or the comfortable thing, the right thing”. While not exactly a quote I still try to follow that advice.

Richard considers himself a mentor, a coach,  a problem solver, and an innovator. He has a background in innovative approaches to Human Services Design, Strategic Business Development, Business Process Analysis, Disability and Mental Health Services.

Having done his undergraduate studies in Napier University on Marketing Management, and completing his Masters in Strathclyde University Glasgow in Information Management, Richard now serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Australian Inclusion Group and its companies.

We asked Richard what social inclusion means to him and this is what he said…

For me, social inclusion is about celebrating difference whilst also bringing people together based on a common interests.

What is your Nickname? 

LR

What is your role at Inclusion WA?

Finance Manager

What are your personal interests outside of work?

Road cycling, reading, cooking

What was your previous role before coming to Inclusion WA?

Senior External Auditor at Butler Settineri

What is your favourite quote?

“This is the line:

Between winning and losing

Between failure and success

Between good and great

Between dreaming and believing

Between head and heart

It is a fine line.

It challenges everything we do and

we ride it every day.”

How would your best friend describe you in 5 words?  

Easy going, determined, approachable, organised, reliable

If I had superpowers what would they be?

The ability to see the future.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be?

My parents

Tell us about yourself and how you got here.

I grew up on a farm South-East of Perth and still enjoy going down there to see my dad. At 12 I went to boarding school and other than a short stint in Melbourne, I’ve lived in Perth ever since. In the past I studied Art, Secondary Teaching and Youth Work and most of my previous jobs were working in one of those areas. I’m very passionate about working with young people and everyone having the same opportunities in life. I joined Inclusion WA as a ‘Youth Development Officer’ in 2011 and a few roles later, I am now the Individualised Services Manager of our South Hub in Cockburn. I’m not sure they will ever get rid of me here, I truly love working for Inclusion WA and I feel very lucky to have found such an awesome organisation to work for!

What’s something you know you do differently than most people?

Hopefully a lot of things… I used to only eat toast cold and I still drink coffee cold, most people find that a bit disturbing because I will have one coffee I’m drinking all day!

Pretty much the best song in the world is….

My favourite song is Ocean by John Butler. I have been a John Butler fan for a long time… I bought his first album and have been a fan ever since. I have loved watching the song evolve over the years and no matter how many times I see him perform it live it never ceases to amaze me that one man can make so much amazing music on his own. I’m always mesmerised.

What is your favourite way to spend a Saturday?

My partner and I have a property down South so my favourite way to spend a Saturday would definitely be to spend it there! I would potter around the house and garden or go to the farmers market in the morning. In the afternoon I would have dinner and drinks with family or friends, even better if it includes some live music or a bon fire!

What do you love to do in your spare time?

I love making things and creating although I definitely don’t do it enough! I like painting, wood-work, jewellery making, textiles and anything like that really. I also loved working on our house renovations. Other than that I like Sudoku and spending time outside looking for birds and wildflowers to photograph.

What is one of your favourite quotes?

“Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” – This quote is apparently incorrectly attributed to Benjamin Franklin (I have no idea who originally said it). This quote has been adopted by the Black Lives Matter campaign in the US and I feel it speaks a lot about privilege and is relevant to creating positive societal change around many human rights issues.

Born and raised in Yercaud India, Denver grew up on a tea and coffee estate before moving to Canberra, Australia at the age of 10. Having studied Public Relations, Sports Management and Marketing Communication at the University of Canberra, Denver has been able to combine his passion for sport (cricket in particular) with over 15 years of work in the community sector.

Denver has witnessed first-hand the power of sport and recreation in connecting people and is keen to share this with everyone. Denver lists sport, music, travel, family, real estate and woodwork as his pastimes.

We asked Denver what social inclusion means to him and this is what he said…

Social inclusion, for me, means that we are truly on a level playing field. Social inclusion is not highlighting ‘perceived differences’, but it is actually focused on identifying similarities and commonalities! Being included is powerful. It is a feeling of warmth and true acceptance, much more than just tolerance!

Tell us about yourself and how you got here.

My first two most important roles are being a wife and a mum. This keeps me on my toes when I’m not at work. I love my family and friends. Dogs are the coolest domestic animals ever!

I am a bit of a greenie and conservationist especially with our bush lands, native birds and animals. I love our Red Tailed Black Cockatoo’s and I am part of the conservation of the Black Cockatoo.

As far back as I can remember, I have always been involved in assisting people in some form or another. At High School I was part of our extended education program assisting disengaged students and students from our Education Support Unit to read and write. I also worked full time in an OP shop where we had a work experience pathway program with the local high school to assist students with disabilities to learn about retail. These roles lead me to working with young people with disabilities and from there I entered into work with the Disability Services Commission where I worked for 7 years. I then had the opportunity to join the Inclusion WA team in 2008.

What gifts of the hands/heart/head would you most like to share with others?

Gifts of the hands -I’m well skilled to cook up a storm and love cooking for family and friends especially around special times of years like Easter, Birthdays and Christmas. I love chucking a good party!

Gifts of the heart – I’m passionate about our environment and social justice to those who are less fortunate and believe we need to give part of ourselves to others. I’m also passionate about children being raised to be resilient and independent as possible and ensuring kids learn values in compassion, empathy to others and themselves. I’m passionate about making people laugh by my silly nature and antics. I feel it’s important to lift people up and give them confidence by my own attitude to others. I’m also passionate about travelling and seriously don’t do enough of that!

Gifts of the Head- I have a pretty strong knowledge of our wild life and I also love to learn about the where things began: such as where recipes, red wine and bourbon originated. I’m also intrigued about the history of dog breeds.

Can you tell us something cool about your local area?

I live a 10 minute drive to a very important regional park – Banyowla Regional Park, the area is known as Ellis Brook Valley. This is where the coastal plains and the Darling Scarp meet. The history of the indigenous tracks is estimated to be over 60,000 years old and is the place where they would migrate from coast to bushland with changing seasons.

What’s something you know you do differently than most people?

I have this uncanny knack in recalling conversations I have had with people by associating events and places of the day. I have a photographic memory so I don’t use a GPS.

Pretty much the best song in the world is….

I’m sorry only ONE!? Ok so I’m bringing back my Bogan girl days and have to vote that Metallica from the Black Album “Sad but True” as my number one song.

Also:

Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Under the Bridge”

Guns N Roses -“Welcome to the Jungle’

Going old school with…

Ozzy Osborne Black Sabbath – “Iron Man”

The Eagles -“Hotel California”

David Bowie – “Fame”

Going Dance…

Cypress Hill – “Insane in the Brain”

Chemical Brothers – “Hey Boy Hey Girl”

What do you love to do in your spare time?

Bush walking, watching documentaries (especially on the history of where things began) and movies (Superhero genre) and playing Sony Play Station (Lego, Marvel and Batman 2 are my faves!)

What is one of your favourite quotes?

You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching,
Love like you’ll never be hurt,
Sing like there’s nobody listening,
And live like it’s heaven on earth. – William W Purkey