Disability Leadership Institute

DLI Deputy CEO

23 January 2025 12:03 pm Leave a Comment

Position Description

Deputy CEO

Hours: 15 to 20 per week

Rate: $55.00 per hour

Location: virtual within Australia

The Disability Leadership Institute is owned and run by disabled people, and works to develop, support, and promote disability leaders. The DLI provides professional development, leadership development programs, a community of practice, a large professional network, and coaching for disability leaders. The DLI is a groundbreaking organisation at the global forefront of the new field of disability leadership.

The DLI is also the home of the Disability Leadership Oration and the National Awards for Disability Leadership.

The DLI operates within a human rights framework, particularly disability rights. We value the highly intersectional nature of the disability community. We maintain strong connections with Disabled Peoples Organisations and the disability rights movement. The Institute is not an advocacy or lobbying organisation.

The DLI is moving into a growth phase as it matures. We value innovation, good practice, and new ways of doing things. The Deputy CEO will take the lead on the growth path that the DLI is on, and on building a larger portfolio of stakeholders engaged across all of our programs and events.

The Deputy CEO is a new position working alongside the DLI CEO and ultimately reporting to her. However, while they will work closely together, the Deputy CEO will work autonomously to achieve the strategic goals of the DLI, determining their workload and priorities to suit their outcomes. The Deputy CEO will be responsible for the outward facing work of the DLI, while the CEO takes responsibility for design and delivery of the DLI’s leadership and coaching programs, and providers oversight to the DLI coaching panel.

The CEO maintains responsibility for financial systems and monitoring.

The Deputy CEO is responsible for the following outcomes:

Grow the DLI, particularly focussing on all areas of operations including membership, leadership programs, coaching, and sponsorship
A well run DLI – managing the DLI’s day to day operations (consultants, communications, membership)
Client liaison and stakeholder engagement, including sourcing and onboarding potential new stakeholders, partners and clients, both organisational and individual
A safe and welcoming membership community
Contribute to strategic oversight of the organisation, including identifying new areas of operation and goals.
An effective impact reporting framework

Selection criteria:

To be a strong contender for this position you will have:

A high degree of autonomy and an entrepreneurial outlook
Good government and corporate networks, and familiarity with working in those spaces
Experience in stakeholder engagement at a high level, including establishing and supporting partnerships. This position will be regularly engaging with CEOs, executive leadership of organisations, and senior government stakeholders.
Experience in organisation management, with a focus on marketing, communications and implementing strategic vision
A high degree of comfort in using various platforms and technology
A highly collaborative style of working
Excellent communications
A good understanding of the disability community and the diverse intersectional nature of disabled people

The DLI considers that having a disability is a genuine occupational requirement for this position under section 48 of the Discrimination Act 1991 (ACT).

*The DLI understands and supports flexible employment. Please discuss your personal requirements with us.

To express interest:

Send your response to the selection criteria to Christina Ryan, CEO Disability Leadership Institute. Please also include the names of 3 referees who know your work.

Expressions of interest close COB Friday 14 February.

DLI members in the news – August 2024

28 August 2024 11:54 am Leave a Comment

Jane Britt – For a deafblind woman like me, the NDIS changes are a blow. I fear for my future.

Cat Walker – ‘Last-minute homework vibes’: Inside Shorten’s NDIS reforms

Megan Spindler Smith – An NDIS reform bill has passed through parliament, but disability advocates want it scrapped

Mark Pietsch – SBS News

Megan Spindler Smith – PWDA Devastated by NDIS Amendment Bill Passage

Carol Taylor – Quadriplegic fashion designer axed from company she thought she ‘co-owned’

Katie Kelly – The path to the Paralympics

Disability Leadership Institute – Why employers need more data about disability in their workplace

Debbie Heron – Appointments to the Administrative Review Tribunal and Administrative Appeals Tribunal

Caroline Bowditch – Roadmap to Success – Learning Module 1, Finding Your Mentor

Katie Kelly – Aspiring Olympians get help to access top level coaching

Sarah Langston – The Deep Dive, Helping out Neurodivergent Parents through The ANPA.

Katie Kelly – New England athletes on path to Olympics

Lisa Stafford – Griffith awarded more than third of Future Fellowships

Christina Ryan – The disability royal commission demanded extensive change. Are the government responses big enough?

Megan Spindler Smith – PWDA Responds to Gov’s Disability Royal Commission Reply

Lisa Cox – ABC, Netflix, Screen NSW and Unilever partner with Bus Stop Films for the Inaugural Driving Change Summit in November

Shane Hryhorec – Travel blogger Shane Hryhorec helps wheelchair users to explore the world, but not without ‘challenges’

Christina Ryan – Government reveals response to disability RC

Akii Ngo – ‘My existence is a resistance’: Akii Ngo on non-tokenistic representation and intersectionality

Yasmine Gray – Breaking barriers: Yasmine’s journey to revolutionise accessible tourism

DLI members in the news – 7 September 2022

7 September 2022 10:41 am Leave a Comment

Caroline Bowditch – Rainbow champions revealed ahead of Sydney world pride

Christina Ryan – Don’t be too polite girls (podcast)

Claire Pullen – AWG and ADG push for greater regulation, diversity in national cultural policy

Recipients announced in the #DisabilityAwards2021

3 December 2021 3:18 am Leave a Comment

MEDIA RELEASE

3 December 2021

Recipients – National Awards for Disability Leadership

On International Day of People with Disabilities the National Awards for Disability Leadership have acknowledged the work of 7 outstanding disability leaders.

Disability leaders are working across a wide range of fields and achieving outstanding outcomes to improve the status of disabled people.

The 2021 Recipients include 2 fashion designers making inclusive and adaptive fashion, a youth activist successfully lobbying ministers, a Commonwealth public servant making significant internal change, an innovator with a passion for beach going, a leading LGBTIQ disability advocate, and a well respected author and researcher on autism. (see attached list of recipients with bios.)

“What a remarkable and outstanding illustration of the diversity of disability leadership in Australia today,” said Christina Ryan, CEO of the Disability Leadership Institute.

These Awards reflect what is important to disabled people and the ways that we are effecting change and pursuing equality for our community. They recognise outstanding achievements by individuals, or disabled people’s organisations, who have significantly contributed to advancing the status of disabled people.

The Awards are delivered across seven categories for outstanding achievement or outcomes by disabled people, reflecting the diversity of our community, and the intersectional nature of our lives, including The Arts, Change Making, Rights Activism, Innovation, Social Impact, Inclusion (for intersectional work), Lesley Hall Award for Lifetime Achievement.

The National Awards for Disability Leadership are owned and run solely by disabled people, were designed by disabled people and leading disabled peoples organisations, and all nominees, staff and judges are disabled people.

https://disabilityleaders.com.au/disability-leaders/national-awards/ #DisabilityAwards2021

https://disabilityleaders.com.au/2021-recipients/ (for photos and bios)

National Awards for Disability Leadership

2021 Recipients:

Chloe Polglaze – Rights Activism

By sharing her lived experience, she directly contributed to a significant policy change that will positively impact children with disability around Australia. Following her contributions at the Children and Young people with Disability Australia (CYDA) and Families Australia policy forum, Community Services Ministers’ met and agreed to add a fourth priority group to the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children successor plan.

Ruby Susan Mountford – Inclusion (working intersectionally)

Ruby Mountford’s contribution to LGBTIQA+ disability communities and work in community development and inclusion has involved co-authored research reports, co-designed resources for self-advocacy and employment inclusion, and developing an Accessibility Inclusion Action Plan for Thorne Harbour Health to reduce barriers and support community participation for LGBTIQA+ people with disabilities.

Shane Hryhorec – Innovation

Shane connects communities, councils, surf life savers clubs and people with disability around Australia to make over 50 Australian beaches more accessible. Shane regularly delivers beach access training and workshops, lived experience advisory, hosting community accessible beach days, organising equipment test and trials, and has created a free online accessible beach and waterway directory.

Nikki Hind – Social Impact

Nikki Hind is Australia’s first legally blind fashion designer and the Founder of her fashion Blind Grit. Nikki is also the Fashion Editor for Wb40 – Women Beyond Forty Magazine and Magazine, she is a Disability and Inclusion advisor and media consultant. As the Fashion Editor of Wb40, Nikki’s passion is to change the around inclusion of disabled people and designers in the fashion industry. Writing features on “inclusive fashion” and why representation of the disability community matters, Nikki is making a powerful impact on how disabled women see themselves, but also changing the narrative on how mainstream media represents disability and fashion.

Kimberley Congram – Change Making

Kim worked to reform & transform the inclusion network for people with disability in the Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) & the APS. She redeveloped the Celebrating Ability Network (CAN), growing membership from 0.3% to 11%. Her enthusiasm and leadership has built an environment of support & inclusivity, built trust amongst the cohort, & enhanced inclusion of people with disability & diversity.

Carol Taylor – Arts

Carol Taylor is a lawyer, award-winning artist, the world’s first quadriplegic fashion designer. In addition she is a disability advocate through both her works as a founding member of the Queensland Law Society Diverse Abilities Network and through her role as a non-Executive Director of Spinal Life Australia. Carol’s designs caught the attention of Mercedes-Benz fashion Festival Director. She was invited to design a collection of 9 pieces of adaptive clothing to open a runway event for Mercedes-Benz fashion Festival. This was a first of its kind for fashion inclusivity, it was the first time an all visible disability cast of models appeared on a national runway.

Wenn Lawson – Lesley Hall Award for Lifetime Achievement

Wenn’s impact on Australia’s Autistic community is unparalleled. He works with researchers around the world on vital topics like aging & quality of life, has written 20+ books & co-developed monotropism, a landmark person-centred theory to conceptualise autism. With generosity & wisdom he provides advice, mentors new leaders, supports families & helps ensure Autistic kids’ rights are met at school. Dr. Wenn Lawson was one of Australia’s first Autistic advocates & has educated and helped countless Autistic people, families and community members to see autism differently. Wenn is an experienced researcher, public speaker & author. He’s a proud family man & member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

#DisabilityAwards2021

Finalists announced! #DisabilityAwards2021

22 November 2021 7:54 am Leave a Comment

MEDIA RELEASE

22 November 2021

National Awards for Disability Leadership Finalists announced

An outstanding field of 19 Finalists across 7 categories is announced today in the leadup to the National Awards for Disability Leadership, to be announced on 3 December 2020, International Day for People with Disabilities.

The finalists illustrate the breadth of work undertaken by disabled people in pursuing equality and recognition for disabled people. (see attached list with bios)

The 2021 finalists feature inclusive fashion influencers, beach goers, rights activists, health advocates, LGBTIQ change makers, accessible travel specialists, public servants, and theatre producers, amongst others.

These Awards reflect what is important to disabled people and the ways that we are effecting change and pursuing equality for our community. They recognise outstanding achievements by individuals who have significantly contributed to advancing the status of disabled people.

The Awards will be delivered across seven categories for outstanding achievement or outcomes by disabled people, reflecting the diversity of our community, and the intersectional nature of our lives, including The Arts, Change Making, Rights Activism, Innovation, Social Impact, Inclusion (for intersectional work), and the Lesley Hall Award for Lifetime Achievement.

The National Awards for Disability Leadership are owned and run solely by disabled people, all nominees are disabled people and all those associated with the Awards are disabled people.

For comment: Christina Ryan, CEO Disability Leadership Institute

https://disabilityleaders.com.au/disability-leaders/national-awards/ #DisabilityAwards2021

https://disabilityleaders.com.au/2021-finalists/