Budi is the founder and Director of Ananda Training and Consultancy, a community advocate, and a sexual health researcher. Budi has been involved with Melbourne’s LGBTQIA+ communities for over 20 years, and has continued to use their academic knowledge, professional expertise, and lived and living experiences to advocate for intersectionality, equity, and justice. Budi is passionate about ensuring that inclusion covers all people, and is committed to influence positive change among the LGBTQIA+, ethnic, and faith communities to ensure that multicultural and multifaith LGBTQIA+ can embrace all aspects of their identities without prejudice and discrimination. Budi is a contributing author of Living and Loving in Diversity, an anthology that celebrates Australia’s multicultural and multifaith LGBTQIA+ communities.

I am a registered psychologist and clinical psychology registrar. I am passionate about providing therapy that is evidence-based yet tailored to meet unique needs, and I strive to create a nurturing and non-judgemental space in my therapy room. I work with adults, young people, and families.

Dr Bec Jackson’s middle name is literally “Joy” and she aspires to spread as much of it as possible by empowering her clients to live their best lives, with joy, purpose and meaning.

She uses the science of psychology in practical ways together with her lived organisational experience in the government and military sector, to support clients in increasing engagement and meaning in their personal and professional lives.

A demonstrated subject matter expert on professional leadership and development, a visiting fellow at the Australian War College, monthly contributor to The Leadership Review magazine, published author and speaker, Dr. Bec Jackson is highly regarded for her contributions in the fields of psychology, mental health, leadership and professional development.

From her meditation and psychology training and research she uses the science of well-being, research-based assessments and interventions to bring about greater fulfilment in the lives of those she coaches. Her extensive experience as a psychological clinician means she has a deep professional understanding of clients with co-morbid therapy needs and can provide advice and guidance on additional services that would benefit them outside the coaching space.

After experiencing my own pregnancy losses I identified a gap in terms of emotional support for couples experiencing early pregnancy loss & fertility challenges. With research, a lot of drive & determination, and a strong network I have co-founded The Pink Elephants Support Network.

At Pink Elephants, we aim to normalise pregnancy loss for the world to see to ensure no one walks the journey alone. For too long the experience has been based on a lack of research, false narratives, cultural taboos, and profound silence.

in 2021 we were successful in seeing our Leave for Loss campaign tabled in parliament for debate, after three years of lobbying. We are seeking an amendment to the Fairwork Act to see pregnancy loss listed under bereavement leave. This is not only in line with our mission but is also an incredible validation for our community that will play a role in addressing the systemic change that is required to ensure our community can access support.

I’m incredibly proud of our Workplace program it’s a truly innovative approach to create social impact and collaborate in line with ESG. Workplaces such as Westpac, PWC, Zip and CBA have adopted our program.

I’m extremely passionate about utilising research to translate into meaningful service delivery for greater social impact. I have orchestrated collaboration’s with The University of Sydney, University of Melbourne and Monash to increase the evidence to underpin our cause.

I have the ability to join the dots and connect evidence, data, revenue opportunities, and multiple stakeholders to drive systemic change with measured outcomes.

I have a strong ability to translate vision into actionable strategy. I see solutions & have an aptitude to inspire many different stakeholders to play their role in making change happen.

As a leader, I’m consistently raising awareness of the impacts of early pregnancy loss & fertility challenges. I’ve been interviewed on Ch 10, Sky News, The Daily Edition, Mammamia, Women’s Agenda, Whimn, Daily Telegraph, SBS radio & many podcasts.

Public Speaking includes presenting at multidisciplinary conferences across Australia. With the ability to present our research, lived experience & demonstrate our social impact we continue to reach new audiences and grow Pink Elephants sustainably.

I am extremely humbled to be named
– Telstra Women in Business NSW 2019 winner in The For Purpose & Social Enterprise category
– AMP Tomorrow Maker 2019
– Westpac Social Change Maker 2020.

Sue is the Chief Executive Officer of the Domestic Violence Crisis Service, she is an LGBTIQA+ community advocate as well as a passionate violence prevention and respectful relationships educator and advocate.

Sue has been working in this space and aligned violence response and primary prevention spaces for more than 18 years, having most recently worked at the Australian National University leading their Respectful Relationships Unit prior to taking her current role. She has contributed to the development of education programs including Oxford University Press program, Consent Matters and Griffith University’s MATE Bystander program.

She is currently a member of the ACT LGBTIQ+ Ministerial Advisory Council service as its Chair.

I joined the Royal Australian Air Force as an Air Surveillance Operator straight out of school after successfully completing my HSC.

I completed 9 years of ADF service over various postings including Newcastle, Tindal and Canberra before discharging to complete a Telecommunications Traineeship. This led into a full-time position with Telstra as a Field Technician in where I specialised in electromagnetic testing and PABX exchange installations.

In 2015 I was offered a position internally with Telstra under the Defence Terrestrial Communications JP2047 contract as a Facilities Coordinator. I continued under that contract in a variety of roles including Engagement Lead, Project Delivery as a Project Specialist in the Business Technology Services team and more recently as a Business Enablement Specialist. In this role I am embedded within the Project Management team specialising in Procurement, Logistics, Reporting and Change Management.

After 6 years with Telstra, 2021 brought about a change for me when I joined Leidos Australia working on Defence ICT project deliverables. I jumped at this opportunity to make a change to my environment to challenge and grow both personally and professionally.

My greatest achievement is turning my Complex PTSD from a crutch into a reminder that I am a resilient human and use it to drive my advocacy for change in the legal environment and update social policy to be more supportive of all #survivors #metoo

Izzy holds a Masters degree in International Relations from the Australian National University, where she wrote on international ethics and value regimes through an intersectional lens. She became a co-chair of the Department of Social Services’ Pride Committee and Network with a focus on institutional sustainability, local engagement and cultural self-awareness. When she isn’t advocating for LGBTQIA+ people as a Pride co-chair, she advises on policy development regarding participation and economic inclusion. After work, Izzy enjoys a relaxed homemade cocktail with her wife, or a tabletop roleplaying game with her queer found-family.

Natalie James is the Secretary of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations – commencing her role on 11 July 2022.

Natalie is a workplace relations expert with over twenty years’ experience. Prior to commencing her role as Secretary of the department, Natalie was a Partner at Deloitte Australia where she established the firm’s Workplace Integrity practice, a national practice made up of several partners and talented staff who help businesses develop data-driven, risk informed solutions to their workplace relations challenges.

Natalie was appointed as the Fair Work Ombudsman in July 2013 for a period of five years. She led the organisation’s work supporting employees and businesses understand their entitlements and obligations under the Fair Work Act 2009.

Between 2000 and 2013, Natalie held various roles in the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, including State Manager Victoria and Chief Counsel Workplace Relations. Her achievements include leading the development of workplace relations laws, including the Fair Work Act, and supporting successive governments to reform workplace relations legislation. Natalie also oversaw critical policy-based interventions in the courts, including the High Court challenge to the Work Choices laws, and provided legal and policy advice within Government.

Earlier in her career, Natalie worked in a range of roles in the Australian Public and Parliamentary Services including at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Before all that, she worked in retail and fast food through high school and university in Townsville, and held elected roles in the James Cook University Student union and in the National Union of Students.

Natalie was the Chair of the Victorian Government’s Inquiry into the On-Demand Workforce, producing a report in July 2020 which made groundbreaking recommendations about the frameworks regulating the gig economy.

She was named National Small Business Champion by the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia for 2018 for her support of small business in understanding their workplace obligations.

Natalie has a Bachelor of Arts Law (James Cook University) and a Masters in Law (Commercial – Labour Law, Australian National University). She is a Fellow of the Institute of Company Directors.

Natalie is an Adjunct Professor at Swinburne University of Technology’s Centre for the New Workforce. She co-authored Making Fair Work FlexWork: Reset, Restore, Reframe, with Swinburne University. This report is based on research about the value of flexible working and how they consider this to be a critical part of the employee value proposition.