Diversity & Disability in the Workplace

How do people living with disabilities experience their work and workplaces, and more specifically, within the legal and justice professions? What practical ways can the workplace make the profession more accessible and inclusive?

This dynamic discussion will voice lived experiences of disability in the workplace – unpacking lessons that have been learned, the challenges that remain, and the importance of legal and justice professions working towards promoting inclusivity in the workplace.

There will also be an opportunity for a Q&A with the panel, followed by catered networking.

Joining the conversation

Panel Chair

Dr Leah Williams is a Lecturer in the School of Law, Society and Criminology in the Faculty of Law and Justice at UNSW. She teaches criminal law courses across the Law and Criminology Programs, and has an interest in legal education, criminalisation, and the representation of crime and criminal justice processes in the media. Leah is legally blind and was matched with her first dog guide in 2018.

Panellists

• Kate Eastman AM SC is a leading Sydney barrister with expertise in human rights, discrimination, employment and public law. Kate has served as Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability since 2019. In 2021, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the law, human rights and professional organisations. In August 2023 she was appointed a part time Commissioner of the NSW Law Reform Commission. Kate is a UNSW alumna, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in 1990.

• Associate Professor Dr Scott Avery is a deaf and Aboriginal educator and researcher from the Worimi people. Dr Scott is an Associate Professor in Indigenous Disability and Inclusion at the School of Social Sciences, Western Sydney University, and research partner of the First Peoples Disability Network (Australia), an Indigenous Disabled Peoples Organisation. He has authored the book Culture is Inclusion (2018) based on the community-led research conducted with the Australian Indigenous disability community and is an adviser to the Australian government across the intersection of Indigenous, disability, and social policies.

• Giancarlo de Vera (they/them) is a passionate advocate for disability, multiculturalism, racial justice and LGBTIQ+ affairs. Giancarlo currently leads policy and advocacy at People with Disability Australia and is also the inaugural Secretary of the Disabled Australian Lawyers Association, Treasurer of the Australian Centre for Disability Law, and former President of the Australian GLBTI Multicultural Council. Giancarlo was named as one of the 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians of 2021 and as one of Pro Bono Australia’s Impact 25, a list recognising the social sector’s most influential people in 2022 for their significant and positive impact in Australia and overseas.
   
• TBC - Student panellist to come

This event is open to all UNSW community members as part of UNSW Diversity Week.