Creating inclusive and accessible workplaces

Dean Barton-Smith AM OLY FIML has had Chief Executive Officer roles at Deaf Children Australia, Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council, LINK Community Transport, and the Australian Association of Practice Managers which resulted in substantial organisational improvements, stakeholder partnerships, and strategic outcomes.

Dean is renowned for transformative leadership and effective stakeholder management. His strong belief in delivering a people-centric co-designed accessible approach, coupled with a unique blend of marketing expertise and strategic thinking, consistently drives exceptional outcomes.

Having competed at the highest sporting echelons in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games in Decathlon, Dean applies similar methodologies for high-performance outcomes in his professional, academic, and non-executive directorship careers.

Dean is poised to contribute significantly to organisations seeking transformative evolutionary leadership, strategic growth, strong governance and impactful stakeholder engagement.

Kathy Rimmer is the founder of Yin Yang Consultancy, established in 2013 following an extensive career of over 20 years in corporate finance and more than 35 years of dedicated community service.

As a seasoned training facilitator with 20+ years of experience, Kathy has taught Diploma level courses in Business, Leadership, and Management. She has also managed compliance training for a workforce of 450 individuals, culminating in the development of a bespoke eLearning programme. Kathy’s expertise extends to personality profiling tools such as Myers Briggs® (Bronze Level practitioner) and DISC ADVANCED®, helping clients establish and utilise effective systems, processes, and mindsets for sustained success.

In 2012/13, Kathy faced a life-altering diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, which transformed her perspective on integrating health and well-being into the workplace. Her personal experience equips her with unique insights on how managers can support themselves and their teams through major health challenges.

She understands the criticality of maintaining balance between corporate and personal life, advocating for physical and mental well-being. Through Yin Yang Consultancy, she empowers people to redefine FEAR as 'Face Everything and Rise' as a TEAM 'Together Everyone Achieves More' mindset.

Jeramy Hope is the Chief Executive Officer of the SDA Alliance. With over 25 years of experience in the disability sector, he has led teams through complex reform, project management, quality improvement, governance reviews, risk management, and stakeholder engagement. Jeramy has implemented significant sector reform and complex change management projects for disability providers across NSW and Queensland.

He brings together expertise in the not-for-profit sector (disability, aged, and youth sectors) and business acumen. Jeramy holds an MBA and is a Certified Practicing & Chartered Manager—Fellow (CPMgr CMgr FIML) of the Institute of Managers & Leaders. His practical experience includes leadership, advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and working alongside government regulators like the NDIS.

Jeramy lives with a disability himself and is a carer of a child with a disability, which gives him a unique and valuable perspective in his role as CEO for the SDA Alliance. The SDA Alliance is a peak body focusing on systemic advocacy in the disability housing space. Jeramy also has a broad understanding of the human rights issues relevant to people with disability and serves as a non-executive director of several non-profit disability organisations.