Women with Disabilities ACT is made up of a wonderful team of staff, our Board of Directors, and our Policy Advisory Committee.
We are a Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO) which means we are led and governed by people with disabilities.
WWDACT Staff
Kat Reed
(they/them/theirs)
Chief Executive Officer
Kat has been a local queer and disability advocate & community builder in the ACT for the last eight years. They are currently the CEO of Women With Disabilities ACT and a Board Director of Women With Disabilities Australia and of Youth Coalition of the ACT. Kat was recently awarded 2021 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year and one of Out for Australia’s 30 Under 30 for 2021.
Their activism and community building work spans many different intersections. Since the age of 17, they have advocated for the rights of people of colour, queer youth, trans and non-binary people and people with disabilities. They’ve held positions of leadership in both local and national organisations including the ANU Students’ Association and led the Australian Queer Students’ Network as the National Co-Convenor. Kat was a Council member on the ACT LGBTIQ+ Ministerial Advisory Council and advised on issues affecting queer youth from 2015-2018.
Kat is also a political performance artist and through their arts persona they recently finished work on Australia’s very first all trans and gender diverse original musical titled Lost in Transit with a cast of six local trans and gender diverse artists.
Pippa
(they/them)
Senior Policy Officer
Pippa is the Policy Officer at WWDACT, and is responsible for policy research, submissions to inquiries and consultations, and convening the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC).
They are passionate about the rights of women and non-binary people with disabilities and are particularly interested in violence prevention, education access and policy co-design. Through their work they aim to highlight the voices of their peers in the disability community through research, storytelling, data collection and community building.
Their previous experience is in government and policy, and they hold a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Sociology and a Bachelor of Applied Data Analytics from the Australian National University.
From 2024-2025 Pippa was a member of the ACT Youth Advisory Council, and they currently sit on the National Disability Data Asset Ethical Oversight Panel.
Outside of WWDACT Pippa is a keen classical violist and folk musician, and they enjoy building their collection of silly instruments which currently includes an otamatone, melodica and kazoo.
Beatrice
(they/them)
Engagement Program Manager
Beatrice is the Engagement Program Manager at WWDACT, and is responsible for running the community engagement team and running our community engagement programs and events, especially WWDACT’s current large peer support and upskilling project called ‘Our Autonomy’. Their previous experience involves community campaign work, running community events and spaces, campaign work around climate change, education rights, refugee rights and more.
They are currently studying a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Gender studies) and a Bachelor of Visual Arts (majoring in sculpture) at ANU. They are passionate about the rights of everyone, building the confidence and agency of individuals and communities.
Rosemary
(she/her)
Workshop Coordinator
Hello! I’m the project officer at WWDACT. I have been working in the community sector for 20 years in the areas of disability, mental health, drug and alcohol, and homelessness.
I’m passionate about human rights, diversity, and gender-based issues.
I enjoy coffee and tea, cooking, pets, and collecting memes.
If I could have any superpower, I would like to be able to teleport (to tropical islands, exotic places, and interstate medical appointments).
Remi
(they/them)
Community Facilitator
Remi is one of your community facilitators here at WWDACT! They are passionate about disability justice, workers’ rights, visual arts, and community building.
Their background includes experience working in a variety of creative and community settings around education rights, transgender rights and transgender joy.
They have a diploma in visual arts from the Canberra Institute of Technology and are currently undergoing a Bachelor of Visual Arts with a major in printmedia and drawing and a minor in gender studies at the Australian National University.
Remi is excited about collaboratively cultivating spaces where community can feel seen, heard and supported! So, if you have any event suggestions please email community@wwdact.org.au
Lì
(they/them)
Community Facilitator
Lì is deeply passionate about advocating for transgender rights, disability rights for women and gender diverse people, and standing up and speaking out with their fellow people of colour. With extensive experience in peer facilitation and event planning, they are passionate about mobilizing the community and driving change.
Lì has been instrumental in organizing grassroots movements and collaborating with various organizations to create inclusive spaces and policies. Their commitment to intersectionality ensures that the voices of people of colour, transgender, gender diverse, and women with disabilities are not only heard but prioritized in social justice efforts.
Lì feels at home whether guiding a creative workshop or building strategies for community inclusion. Lì is proud to contribute to the WWDACT team, creating a space for social growth, uniting people with diverse experience and making significant strides toward equity and empowerment for all.
Kyla
(they/them)
Community Facilitator
Hi, my name’s Kyla! and I am one of the new community facilitators!
I think it’s essential that we have access to spaces that empower and foster agency within our communities. That’s why I am so excited to join you all on the our autonomy project journey.
Before starting at WWDACT, I worked at the ANU Student Union doing peer work, support, and mutual aid in the Brian Kenyon Student Space. Alongside this, I have been involved in activism around Queer rights, Palestinian Liberation, Workers Rights and Environmental justice through student organising and working groups at ANU.
Some fun facts about me:
- I am a huge fan of being outside, but don’t like the feeling of the sun on my skin!
- I love loud experimental music, but can’t stand the disorganized noise of shopping centers!
- I am fascinated by all things to do with creative expression and love to share random facts about animals.
Susanne
(she/her)
Bookkeeper
I really enjoy my work as a qualified CPA Financial Professional doing the utmost for all organisations being large and small over thirty years. It has included all aspects of Budgeting/Management Reporting, System Upgrades, Cash Management of Investments/Borrowings and Risk/Compliance. I thrive in doing my job well with a high degree of honesty and integrity and in understanding and explaining in clear details over various areas. I am a dedicated animal lover and family time, and appreciation of art and music.
Natalie
(she/her)
Operations Assistant
As WWDACT’s Operations Assistant, Natalie is responsible for day to day administration and operations within the organisation. She completed her Bachelor of Psychological Science with Honours at SCU in 2024, before moving to Canberra to pursue a career where she could make a positive difference in the lives of women, LGBTQIA+, and disabled people. She is passionate about advocating for trans & disability justice, anti-racism, and building community.
Before starting at WWDACT, she volunteered in a range of community organisations, from telephone counselling at Lifeline to running grassroots motorsport events with a focus on junior driver skills development.
Outside work, Natalie loves heading out to metal & pop punk gigs, racing cars, and gaming – particularly playing D&D & sim racing with friends.
Alexandra
(she/her)
LGBTIQA+ Project Coordinator
Alexandra has recently joined WWDACT as a project coordinator to deliver a program of activities designed with, and for SBLGBTIQA+ people with disability in the region.
She graduated from the ANU with a Bachelor of Arts (double-majoring in philosophy), a Bachelor of Laws and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice. In a strange twist her parents could never have anticipated, her arts degree has probably been the most useful professionally.
Alexandra has an eclectic professional background – everything from editing CSIRO research papers to delivering live fish – and sees herself as a bit of a ‘Jill of all trades.’ Her most recent professional experience was in the federal public service, and included legal administration, project management, procurement and financial management, and supporting the APS’ senior executive and statutory boards.
Alexandra is a proud transgender woman, and a committed SBLGBTIQA+ advocate with a focus on advocacy and activism work for the trans and gender diverse community. As an activist she is a committed and active unionist, has volunteered with the Trans Justice Movement since it began, and is the founder of Trans Justice Canberra; a grassroots group promoting the thriving of trans people locally.
Her experiences advocating for her community have impressed on her the importance of intersectionality, in particular ensuring that the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, and neurodivergent people are centred in her activism.
In her free time she enjoys spending time with her partner and their dog, gardening, making weird arts and craft, baking, tattoos, and she is an avid amateur pole dancer.
Holly
(she/they)
Policy & Project Officer
Holly is the Policy and Project Officer at WWDACT.
She is passionate about disability justice, sexual and reproductive rights, LGBTIQA+ inclusion, and addressing the systemic barriers that impact disabled people across health, policy, and community systems. Her work is grounded in human rights, accessibility, and the importance of centring lived experience in driving meaningful change.
Holly holds postgraduate qualifications in Psychology and Sexology, and brings experience across policy and advocacy-adjacent work, community education, disability support, and research focused on stigma and inclusion. Alongside her role at WWDACT, she also works in sexuality and relationships education and has supported neurodivergent and disabled people in both community and one-to-one contexts.
She is particularly interested in improving accessibility in systems and services, and in strengthening trauma-informed, inclusive approaches that reflect the real experiences of people at the intersections of disability, gender, neurodivergence, and sexuality.
Outside of work, Holly enjoys long-form writing projects, research rabbit holes, and spending time in nature.
Amy
(she/her)
Neurodivergent Parent Group Facilitator
WWDACT Board of Directors
Suzanne Gearing
Chair
Suzanne Gearing offers extensive NFP and peak body leadership experience. Currently the CEO for Physical Disability Australia, she excels at building trust-based relationships and fostering collaborative partnerships, turning ambitious visions into structured, outcomes-focused initiatives. Suzanne brings to WWDACT expertise in sustainable growth, income diversification and financial stewardship, all grounded in a people-centered, high-performance culture.
In her spare time Suzanne runs a small farm and is founding partner of fledgling social enterprise “Forgotten Voices Australia”, giving voice to the homeless. She is on the Advisory Panel of Dial-a-Mate Mental Health Support Services, is a volunteer mentor across a number of programs and has received awards in leadership and business excellence.
Ariah Holmes
Deputy Chair
Ariah has over a decade of experience in the not-for-profit sector and has expertise in a range of areas including organisational and sector capability building, inclusion, volunteer management, lived-experience co-design and community engagement.
Before transitioning into the community sector, Ariah studied Nursing & Midwifery. Their passion for health, mental health and family services, combined with expertise in organisational governance made Women With Disabilities ACT the perfect fit.
Ariah has a passion for empowering the voices of marginalised individuals, data analysis, and impact measurement.
With a Diploma of Leadership and Management, for which Ariah was recognised as the 2024 ACT Trainee of the Year, they are proud to identify as a woman with disability.
Ariah leads sector development at Volunteering ACT, supporting hundreds of not-for-profit organisations to build healthy, safe and sustainable volunteer programs.
They are an avid volunteer themselves in frontline community services and also serve in other board and volunteer leadership roles.
Andrea-McCarron Benson
(she/her)
Secretary & Director
Andrea McCarron‑Benson is a governance specialist whose work sits at the intersection of inclusive governance, AI governance and women’s leadership. She leads a specialist governance advisory practice supporting boards, CEOs and senior leaders to strengthen decision‑making, build psychologically safe cultures and navigate complexity with clarity and integrity.
Andrea brings more than two decades of experience across higher education, private, community and purpose‑driven sectors. Her career includes senior roles in policy, governance and organisational capability, where she has led major reform programs, built governance systems for complex organisations, and advised executives navigating emerging technology and risk.
She partners with women‑led and purpose‑driven organisations to design contemporary governance frameworks, strengthen board culture and accountability, and build organisational resilience in rapidly changing environments.
Andrea serves as Secretary and Independent Non‑Executive Director on the Board of Women With Disabilities ACT, and is a member of the Governance Committee.
Kelly Midgley
Director
Kelly Midgley joined the WWDACT Board in early 2026 and brings over a decade of experience working with Government to design and deliver a range of national policy reforms. Kelly’s current role is to steward implementation of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2021-2031 with a particular focus on eliminating systemic racism. Most recently, Kelly has joined Forgotten Voices Australia—a newly established social enterprise amplifying the voices of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness—as its Chief Executive Officer.
A passionate advocate for intersectional equity and inclusion, Kelly is known for her ability to build and foster strong, trust-based partnerships across diverse sectors, lived experiences and perspectives. Kelly brings to WWDACT a diversity of skills, including enterprise risk management, financial stewardship, commercial and governance acumen and ethical leadership—anchored by her own lived experience of disability.
Kelly is deeply committed to breaking down the systemic barriers faced by women, non-binary and gender diverse people with disability.
Louise Vella Jurd
Director
Louise’s experience of ADHD provides untapped energy towards opportunities for healthcare, education Reform and solutions for service provision challenges. She values evolving Diverse Inclusivity towards an empowering recovery focus. She has 20+ years of Australian Health Professional Registration Agency registration and frontline advocacy in healthcare. She is currently studying a postgraduate Psychology Honours degree and a Master’s of Science in Medicine (Trauma Informed Psychotherapy) via Sydney University and Westmead Hospital’s Complex Traumatic Disorders Unit.
Louise has a strong commitment to Human Rights and social justice advocacy. This has been recognised in Appointment by Human Rights Commission and communications specialisation consultancy for Best Practise. Concurrently she is Senate appointed Ministerial Advisory Council for Veterans and their Families, understanding care complexities. As well as supporting disadvantaged people through mentoring in mental health and wellbeing. She has had long-term involvement in strategic Royal Commission submissions, and management of International online forums, coordinating providing complex psychological support.
Louise has committed to understanding trans-generational trauma, trauma informed Forensicare, complex grief and loss, and models of healing and wellbeing, neuroplasticity, neurodiversity, and interpersonal neurobiology. As well as safer families via safer connections, public safety education, health, culture, and welfare, and advocacy.
Diana Malik
Director
Diana Malik is an executive in the public sector with extensive experience in governance, risk, compliance, policy, and finance across complex ICT environments. Her leadership career spans both the public and financial services sectors, where she has strengthened organisational capability, accountability, and strategic decision‑making.
Before joining the public sector, Diana built her career in the banking and financial industry, serving as a Senior Executive and Branch Manager in Banking Operations. With this background, she combines strong commercial acumen with deep public-sector expertise to deliver practical, sustainable outcomes.
Diana holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Business, professional certifications in financial planning, financial management, and financial services, and multiple ICT qualifications. She is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Diana has completed AI Strategy and Governance at the Wharton School and Executive Education in Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, further strengthening her capability in contemporary governance and ethical technology leadership.
She is the Board Director and Treasurer, providing leadership in governance, financial stewardship, and long‑term organisational strategy. Diana also serves on the committee of a women’s legal organisation and is committed to advocacy, inclusion, and amplifying the voices of women with disabilities, reflecting her belief in leadership that supports both systems and community.
Lyn Wu
Director
Lyn Wu is a qualified social worker with lived experience, a policy adviser, and an experienced project manager. She has over a decade of frontline experience supporting women and children from diverse backgrounds living with disability, particularly those with intellectual disabilities.
In her previous role, Lyn led a national project that trained more than 15,000 frontline workers across Australia to strengthen their understanding of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and to build capacity in working with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people with disability and their carers. She has also served as an advisory committee member with several government and non-government organisations, including the NDIS CALD Strategy, and was selected as the Australian delegate to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP17).
Before transitioning to social work, Lyn worked in the media industry as a photojournalist and documentary assistant producer. Her work included reporting on major earthquake disasters and documenting the lives of left-behind children in remote regions—experiences that deepened her empathy and lifelong commitment to social justice.
Lyn has a strong commitment to ethical leadership, inclusion, and amplifying lived experience in policy and governance.
Jay Moran
Director
WWDACT Policy Advisory Committee
Sarah Fisher
Alex Naunton
Tabitha Gerstenberg
Taryn Lee
Lauren Cannell
Robyn Davis