D. 100 // 11-20
11 // Esther Simbi: Esther is the founder and managing director of Zion Disability Services Inc. She is a refugee migrant, disability advocate and an entrepreneur, and has volunteered her time to work with people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds since 2006. www.ziondisabilityservices.org.au
12 // Courtney Welsh: Lifewith_courtney_andautism was born a few years ago in the hopes of building a community of parents raising Neurodivergent children. I share hilariously 'real' reels, cemented in empathy, and humour! My hope is to help other parents feel less alone, whilst being seen, heard & having a laugh. @lifewith_courtney_andautism
13 // Jess Otter: I love following Jess and her family. She is real, raw & authentic. She has created a community full of parents raising neurodivergent children, and her positive impact is felt far and wide across the platform. @aussieautismfamily
14 // Perform Ability: I am nominating Perform Ability because of their outstanding commitment to making the performing arts accessible and empowering for people with disabilities. Through therapy-aligned dance, singing, acting, and music lessons, Perform Ability creates an inclusive environment where participants can develop confidence, skills, and a sense of belonging. Their innovative approach not only nurtures artistic talent but also supports personal growth and well-being. By offering both in-person and live online lessons, they ensure that their programs are accessible to a wide community. Perform Ability’s dedication to inclusion, creativity, and positive impact exemplifies excellence in business performance and community contribution, making them a deserving candidate for recognition. Miranda Daisy 🌼 leads the charge and she is a true inspiration! www.performability.com.au
15 // Paul Nunnari: Paul Nunnari PSM is a Paralympian, policy leader and disability advocate whose work is reshaping how brands, agencies and production companies think about inclusion. As CEO of Inclusively Made, Paul brings decades of lived experience and deep sector expertise to the creative industries—ensuring that disability representation moves beyond awareness into meaningful action. www.inclusivelymade.com
Disability isn’t a barrier, it’s the reason they showed up differently and changed the game.
16 // Knowable.Me: Kelly Schulz is the founder and Managing Director of Knowable Me, a Melbourne-based social enterprise redefining how businesses understand and include people with disability. Through bold, data-driven research and unapologetic storytelling, she’s making the case that accessibility isn’t a side conversation—it’s core business. https://knowable.me
17 // Karan Nagrani: Diagnosed with Usher Syndrome at 11, Karan Nagrani has since lost 97% of his vision—but not his creativity or passion. Based in Melbourne, he's built a career in marketing, design, and content creation—all while blind. @that.blind.guy
18 // Ellie Rowlands: My journey into business wasn’t traditional. It was built during one of the hardest chapters of my life. After starting a 9–5 job, I had to leave just six months in due to an injury related to my disability. What followed were months of being bedridden and grappling with uncertainty, and a complete pause on everything I thought my life would look like. www.byellecreative.com.au
19 // Henry Smith: Henry is showing brands what impact of inclusion means to people with Disabilities to be part of the media and advertising ( I think you may know more about Henry then me, Simone) www.inclusivelymade.com
20 // Anne Tonkin: Anne Tonkin has the Tonkin 10/10 Bill In South Australian parliament and has set a global precedent for the first community inclusion metrics for the globe. The Bill is in draft in South Australia. Based on data, in-depth research and lived experience of 15 years with her husband in a wheel chair, Anne has spent hundreds of hours lobbying and presenting the Bill to disrupt the disability sector and remove tokenistic gestures labelled as reasonable allowances which are often unreasonable and an afterthought. Anne is fighting to support and improve the lives of 5.5 million people in Australia, their carers and families. @anne_tonkin_advocate
