employment
Leaders’
register
C
hristina Ryan established the
Disability Leadership Institute
two years ago to develop,
support and promote leaders with
disabilities. The Institute has now
established Australia’s first National
Register of Disability Leaders.
Christina (pictured left) said the register
Mal said being a business owner
with disability also came with its
share of positives and challenges.
“On a practical level, due to my
disability, I spend about two to three
hours extra per day just doing the
simple things like getting dressed,
showering and toileting,” he said.
“That time would eat into my
offers a single portal for companies or sleep time, especially when travelling.
agencies wishing to engage C-suite expertise, Long days of early mornings, then the
find a new board member, engage a invites to socialise would often mean
conference speaker, or locate a media expert. I was getting by with three or four
“The register is open to all companies and agencies wishing to improve
hours’ sleep.
“Of course, the practicalities of
their diversity,” Christina said.
“The idea behind it is similar to other registers that have existed for
setting up before training sessions,
women, when companies were trying to boost gender equality and find carting gear from car to rooms,
qualified women to appoint to boards,” she said. making sure access was adequate,
“I realised there was nothing available in the disability space to do this.
and booking appropriate hotels,
At the same time, there were a remarkably large number of people saying all add another dimension to
they couldn’t find anyone with disability with the right experience for their our lives. I am fortunate to work
board or management team. within an industry that deals with
“I just thought, ‘this is ridiculous’, because there are so many people
wheelchair users all the time so
this helped overcome some of the
out there.”
Christina said not only does the register make a statement that there are
in fact leaders with disability, but the register is growing in size all the time.
“We’ve got several people being added each week,” she said.
“We’ve got people in every state and territory of Australia and across all
fields, from corporate and government, to IT, law, academia and the arts.
“The fact people can’t find a disability leader is more a reflection
negative stereotypes that others may
encounter in other industries.
“I have found that being a
wheelchair user, as well as a user
of products we represented, has
been a great thing. This has helped
on them than it is on the fact there are no disability leaders to be had – me understand the ‘ins and outs’
because clearly there are disability leaders to be had!” of products and why things an
disabilityleaders.com.au
able-bodied person may think
are small are actually a big deal.
I have also felt like I have been in
“I thrived on developing a culture,
44
“On the other hand, the constant
tune with other end users, their
on seeing staff grow in skills and decision making is relentless, needs, and what products meet
confidence, on making decisions, travelling is tiring; there’s worry about their needs. It also means that I
developing strategies, having input competition and finances, extremely have been able to talk passionately
into product developments, securing long hours, and supporting and being about products that truly have
deals, seeing risk pay off, being able there for staff through hard times. changed my life for the better.”
to be flexible with work hours, and So, it was a love-hate kind of thing, www.paralogic.com.au
travelling,” he said. but much more love than hate!” www.permobil.com.au
employment
linkonline.com.au