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2025 Recipients

National Awards for Disability Leadership

National Awards for Disability Leadership 2025 Finalists

The Recipients of 2025 National Awards for Disability Leadership are:

Summary

Lesley Hall Award for Lifetime Achievement – Damian Griffis

Rights Activism – Sarah Langston

Inclusion – George Ayoub

Innovation – Karen Hedley

Social Impact – Danielle Kutchel

Change Making – Clare Gibellini and Wayne Herbert

Arts – Fi Peel

 

Damian is speaking at a lectern, he is wearing a blue jumper and red tie he has dark hair and a short beard.
Damian Griffis – Lesley Hall Award for Lifetime Achievement
The Lesley Hall Award for Lifetime Achievement – awarded to an individual who has shown commitment to the disability rights movement and worked over time to achieve significant outcomes for disabled people.

Damian Griffis is a Worimi man and a leading advocate for the human rights of First Nations people with disability. Damian has been the longstanding central figure in the establishment of First Peoples Disability Network, recognised as the national peak in Indigenous and disability policy.

 

 

Sarah has short blond hair and is looking at us with her chin resting on her right hand. She is wearing a black top and is in front of a green coloured artwork on an easel.
Sarah Langston – Rights Activism
Rights Activism – advancing the status of disabled people by using human rights mechanisms, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Sarah Langston is a powerful disability rights advocate who founded the Australian Neurodivergent Parents Association and co-founded the Nobody Worse Off Coalition. Her leadership has defended the rights of neurodivergent people against NDIS cuts and discriminatory reforms.

 

George is sitting in a power wheelchair and wearing a green tshirt. Behind him is a Legal Aid NSW picture with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge in it.
George Ayoub – Inclusion
Inclusion – illustrating the intersectional diversity of disabled people by designing processes, systems or programs.

George has made a significant impact in advancing disability rights by founding Solution Ideas Ability Boutique, a disability-led organisation in Western Sydney. Through inclusive employment, community engagement, and advocacy, he champions equity and accessibility, ensuring diverse and intersectional disabled voices are represented and empowered in decision-making and local initiatives.

 

Karen has shoulder length dark hair and is wearing a red top and black cardigan. She is against a brown background.
Karen Hedley – Innovation
Innovation – achieving outcomes to the status of disabled people by working outside the box, developing new systems, technology or tools.

Karen Hedley, Easy Read specialist, is driving visibility of people with disability through accessible communication. As founder of The Easy Read Toolbox and co-founder of the International Easy Read Community of Practice, she’s transforming how organisations represent and engage disabled people.

 

Danielle has blonde hair and is wearing a patterned black top. She is against a background of trees in a park.
Danielle Kutchel – Social Impact
Social Impact – achieve visibility of disabled people by using mainstream or social media, or other digital interfaces.

Danielle is currently working with the ABC in a regional bureau, she uses her position to shine a light on those living with disability: highlighting positive stories as well as injustices where they occur. Her stories have led the ABC’s coverage on some issues and reached thousands of readers, normalising inclusion in mainstream media.

 

Clare has upswept short hair and is wearing large blue and white earrings and a black top. She has a big smile.
Clare Gibellini – Change Making
Change Making – achieving greater equality for disabled people by changing policy, programs, or legislation.

Clare was the Co-Chair of the Oversight Council for Australia’s first National Autism Strategy. Her work is distinguished by her leadership in climate change, disaster preparedness, and gender equality. She ensures the voices of people with disability are central in climate and emergency planning.

 

Wayne has a big smile and short dark hair with a fringe. He is wearing a blue linen material jacket.
Wayne Herbert – Change Making
Change Making – achieving greater equality for disabled people by changing policy, programs, or legislation.

Wayne is a leader of uncommon insight and social impact. His professional achievements speak volumes: he has advised government, corporate, and non-profit organisations on complex policy reform, Nationally and Internationally particularly on LGBTIQA+ and disability inclusion, employment, and equity. He is widely recognised for his ability to bridge strategic vision with practical implementation.

 

Fi is wearing a large greenish jumper with a big roll neck. They have short reddish hair and glasses.
Fi Peel – Arts
The Arts – advancing the status of disabled people through artistic expression.

Fi Peel is a disabled artist and researcher reshaping how we make and experience art. Through their performance work (in development ) “A Glimmer of Hope” and their Master’s – The Right to Creative Vulnerability, they champion universal access and celebrate disability as a powerful force for change. Fi expands opportunities for disabled artists in the ACT and further afield by building access-led creative spaces for artists and audiences, embedding co-design in major arts projects and mentoring emerging artists. Their advocacy and research continues to challenge sector standards around universal access, while their practice amplifies intersectional explorations of identity, agency and voice.

 

National Awards for Disability Leadership 2025 Finalists

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