Early Confirmed Expert Line-Up of Speakers
Sally Macindoe
Executive Counsel and Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion
Norton Rose Fulbright Australia
Sally Macindoe
Executive Counsel and Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion | Norton Rose Fulbright AustraliaSally Macindoe is Executive Counsel and former partner and past Chairman of Norton Rose Fulbright Australia. In addition to her Planning & Environment practice Sally continues to lead the strategic discussion concerning Diversity and Inclusion with the national and global executive of the firm and more broadly within the business community and legal services industry. Sally was named Diversity Leader for the Advancement of Women by the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency at their 2011 Business Achievement Awards, Female Partner of the Year at the 2012 Lawyer’s Weekly Women in the Law Awards in recognition of her leadership in the diversity area, National Australia Bank Women's Agenda Leadership Change Champion in 2013 and named in the 2013 AFR/Westpac 100 Women of Influence Award.
Kristie Cocotis
Aboriginal and Cultural Diversity Program Team Leader
Diabetes Victoria
Kristie Cocotis
Aboriginal and Cultural Diversity Program Team Leader | Diabetes VictoriaKristie Cocotis is the Aboriginal and Cultural Diversity Program Team Leader at Diabetes Victoria. Kristie has a Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science) and a Master of Public Health and has been working in health promotion with a focus on diversity and inclusion for over 12 years. She has worked in non-for-profit organisations overseas (Tonga) and interstate as well as local government. Kristie is passionate about health equity and the complex world of health literacy.
Bindy Edelman
Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion
Xero
Bindy Edelman
Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion | XeroBindy Edelman is the Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Xero, where she is responsible for the diversity and inclusion program across Australia, New Zealand, US, Canada, UK and Asia. She previously worked as the global Diversity and Inclusion Manager for WorleyParsons. Bindy started her career as an employment lawyer with a particular interest in equal opportunity and discrimination law. She has an Honours Degree in Law and a Master of Laws from Monash University.
Monita Mascitti-Meuter
Cultural Diversity Program Coordinator
St Vincent’s Melbourne
Monita Mascitti-Meuter
Cultural Diversity Program Coordinator | St Vincent’s MelbourneA cross-cultural trainer by profession, Monita has over 25 years’ experience in lecturing, teaching and training of students and clients from diverse cultural backgrounds at Australian Hospitals, Canadian and Australian Universities, Australian Language Centres, as well as Australian and North American Relocation Management Companies. Multilingual (fluent in Dutch, English and Spanish with working knowledge of French, Italian and Papiamento) she completed a BA Hons. and Master degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies at Queen’s University (Canada) as well as a Master in International Business (Swinburne University. Since 2009 she has been the Cultural Diversity Program Coordinator at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, during which time she developed foundational policies/plans, a cultural diversity events program, a language app and a comprehensive training program which covers more than 20 topics ranging from cross cultural conflict resolution management to cultural considerations at end of life as well as the impact of culture and language on pain and pain assessment. With an annual delivery of over 60 workshops as well as an online training module, cross cultural training at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne reaches nearly 2,000 staff across the health service every year.
Katie Larsen
General Manager Diversity Inclusion and Participation Inclusion Participation
Mind Australia
Katie Larsen
General Manager Diversity Inclusion and Participation Inclusion Participation | Mind AustraliaKatie is committed to contributing to better mental health outcomes for people within marginalised populations through systemic and structural change processes. She works to develop and operationalise strategies for organisational capacity, workforce development and practice that are underpinned by an understanding of cultural safety, health equity, lived experience and participation. Katie has been working in social services for more than ten years with experience in both service delivery and strategic roles across child and family welfare, family violence, homelessness and mental health. She works from a social justice and human rights perspective incorporating lived experiences of LGBTIQ+ identity and mental health supported by a Master of Social Work. She is a graduate of the National Mental Health Commission, Australian Mental Health Leaders Fellowship.
Michelle Shepperd
Transgender Community Liaison Officer
Radio Personality and LGBTIQ+ Consultant
Michelle Shepperd
Transgender Community Liaison Officer | Radio Personality and LGBTIQ+ ConsultantMichelle Sheppard “Mama Mish” is a highly respected presenter, advocate, and trainer in the gender equity space. As a transgender woman, she appreciates the difficulties within the grey created by the gender divide and not only traverses them herself, she willing takes others on the ride with her. Some of her high profile media engagements include JOY 94.9, AFL, ANZ, BMW, and Channel 9. She embodies dignity, grace and the change that is needed to make a positive difference in others’ lives, empowers women and challenges barriers to inclusion, discrimination, and harassment.
Jacqui Davis
HR Partner, Inclusion and Diversity
Mercer
Jacqui Davis
HR Partner, Inclusion and Diversity | MercerJacqui Davis is HR Partner, Diversity and Inclusion at Mercer Australia. Jacqui partners with business leaders to provide, promote and counsel for all D&I initiatives and is involved in the roll out of health and well-being programs across the region. Jacqui joined Mercer in 2012 and has worked as a Talent Acquisition Consultant and a Change Manager, prior to her current role. She is passionate about employee engagement, in particular, employers providing a welcoming and safe environment where colleagues can “bring their whole selves to work”. Jacqui is tertiary qualified with a Bachelor of Arts and Graduate Diploma of Human Resources and Employee Management from the University of Melbourne. Outside of work Jacqui enjoys watching her 11-year-old identical twin boys play soccer, walking the family dog, Fonzie, and dining out at new restaurants in her local area.
Leith Mitchell
Director, Diversity, Culture and Engagement
Organisational Transformation and Capability, Department of Education
Leith Mitchell
Director, Diversity, Culture and Engagement | Organisational Transformation and Capability, Department of EducationLeith Mitchell is an experienced Director with Asia Pacific, UK, Growth Market and Global executive roles in her 15 year Human Capital Management consulting career at two global consulting firms, leading clients through large transformational change initiatives across countries and cultures. Leith is the Director Diversity, Culture and Engagement for the Queensland Department of Education, overseeing the departments first Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Commitment Statement launched by the Director-General to be displayed in every workplace, including all schools. Prior, as Director of Mitchell Services, she facilitated executive coaching, strategy development and education sessions to boards & executive teams, as well as contracting as a Senior Associate for Diversity Partners developing Diversity & Inclusion strategy, facilitating Inclusive Leadership workshops, and conducting diversity diagnostic research for Boards and Executive teams. Leith brings unparalleled business experience to the Diversity and Inclusion agenda, as IBM’s Global Diversity Recruitment Leader developing IBM’s first global diversity recruitment strategy. Leith chaired the 2014, 2015, 2017 Women in Leadership Summit, and holds national and international roles as a speaker, writer and judge.
Dominic Taranto
Office Community Lead
Redbubble
Dominic Taranto
Office Community Lead | RedbubbleDominic Taranto is the current Office Community Lead at Redbubble Headquarters based in Melbourne Australia. He currently project manages a number of community based programs that focus on reinforcing the values of RB and demonstrate their commitment to the wellbeing of their employees. Including charity outreach, artist in residence and their Belonging strategy which is now in its third year. New to the world of Diversity & Inclusion Dominic has leveraged his many years working with the LGBTQIA+ community to apply this to his role at Redbubble.
Dr Catherine Barrett
Director
Celebrate Ageing
Dr Catherine Barrett
Director | Celebrate AgeingDr Catherine Barrett is the Director of Celebrate Ageing, a social enterprise challenging ageism and building respect for older people. Catherine was a finalist for the 2018 Australian Human Rights Medal and believes that creating real cultural change requires innovative and engaging approaches
Navanita Bhattacharya
Senior Advisor - Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman
Navanita Bhattacharya
Senior Advisor - Equality, Diversity and Inclusion | Telecommunications Industry OmbudsmanBorn in India to feminist parents and having lived and worked in many different countries, I really am a vagabond and a global citizen. After years of living overseas, I moved to Melbourne, in December 2016, with my partner and our mighty little girl, who is already a fearless feminist. It is for this reason too that I chose to contest the elections in the School Council at the Ivanhoe Primary School; volunteer with my local council whenever I am not travelling, and take my daughter along with me in events I am invited to speaks- so that my daughter, and others know and see capable women, from diverse ethnic backgrounds, in various platforms. After twenty odd years working in humanitarian aid and international development in Asia, Africa and Oceania working on gender justice in various sectors – Infrastructure, Elections, Violence against Women, I stepped out of my ‘comfort zone’ and into my newly created role in the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) as their Senior Advisor -Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. My role is to lead, guide and embed intersectional elements of diversity and strengthen inclusion across the organization and in its people, practices, policies. The EDI canvas at TIO is gradually being filled with different shades of passion, creativity and purpose, aimed at making us an Employer of Choice where all employees dare to be great, feel respected and inspired, evolve and grow and are celebrated.
Kasey Zun
Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion
Ashurst
Kasey Zun
Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion | AshurstKasey is the Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion for International law firm Ashurst, who have offices across 27 countries. Kasey is passionate supporter and advocate for equal opportunity and has used this passion throughout her career to lead cultural change within the diversity and inclusion landscape and working with leaders and organisations to create workplaces that are inclusive and celebrate the diversity of the communities in which they operate. Kasey has influenced change at Ashurst to see the launch of a number of diversity and inclusion initiatives including its 'Committed to Change' leadership program which empowers the senior leaders of Ashurst to champion diversity and inclusion within the firm. Kasey also implemented the firm's reverse mentoring program to encourage greater understanding of perspective, inclusivity and diversity across all levels as well as launching key diversity and inclusion policies and programs including Ashurst's Transitioning (Gender Affirmation) policy, Domestic and Family Violence Paid Leave policy as well as the firm's Religious and Cultural Leave Policy.
Leigh Frost
Diversity & Inclusion Lead
QSuper
Leigh Frost
Diversity & Inclusion Lead | QSuperLeigh Frost has over 15 years’ experience across a variety of industries including retail, mining and finance. She has deep expertise in recruitment, mobility, business improvement and business partnering but has found her passion in diversity and inclusion. Leading the D&I strategy at QSuper has been her most rewarding role to date, and one where she feels that she has contributed to enhancing the employee experience and the culture of the organisation. “As a parent of two returning to the workforce I was looking for purpose in my work life. I feel like I am contributing to the creation of an inclusive workplace where my children will be able to bring their whole selves to work”.