PWDA Board Directors Election 2025

Voting for the 2025 PWDA Board Directors Election

Voting for the 2025 PWDA Board Directors Election opens on Monday 22 September and closes on Friday 10 October 2025.

This is your chance to choose the people who will lead PWDA for the next two years.

The PWDA Board represents both the organisation and our members. Your vote is important in selecting the right people for the job, so make your voice heard.

Who is running the election?

PWDA has chosen GoVote, an independent Australian voting company to manage the election process. Freyja Tasci is the Returning Officer, this is the person who is managing the voting process at GoVote.

When does voting open and close?

• Voting opens: Monday 22 September 2025 01:00pm AEST.
• Voting closes: Friday 10 October 2025 05:00pm AEDT.

How you can vote

All current PWDA Members with voting rights can vote in the 2025 PWDA Board Directors Election.

You can vote online, by phone or by post while voting is open. Only votes successfully lodged during the voting period will be counted.

• Online: If you are registered to vote online you will receive an email from GoVote on Thursday 18 September with a link to the online voting platform. GoVote will send another email on Monday 22 September when voting opens.
• Postal: If you are registered to vote by post you will receive ballot papers in the mail.
• Phone: To vote by telephone you can call the Returning Officer on 1800 919 553. You can call during Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm.

You can only vote once, and all votes are anonymous.

For more information, see our Constitution as a PDF or Word Doc.

Who can you vote for?

There are 12 candidates running for 4 positions on the PWDA Board.

Below is the list of candidates for the PWDA Board Directors in 2025. The list is in alphabetical order (surname).  Please take a moment to read their candidate statements to help you decide who to vote for.

Questions or assistance

• Voting Support: If you need help with voting, you can call the Returning Officer, Freyja Tasci, by calling the ballot support line 1800 919 553 or email support@govote.com.au.
• PWDA: If you have any questions about your PWDA membership, you can contact us by email at pwd@pwd.org.au or call 1800 422 015 to speak with someone.

2025 Board Directors Election Candidate Statement and Photo 

Wildaliz De Jesús Arocho

A Boricua currently in Whadjuk Noongar land with a Bachelor of Environmental Science from Universidad Metropolitana, a Master of Studies in Environmental Law, Juris Doctor, and a Climate Change & Health Certificate. Wildaliz is a member of the Women’s Climate Congress and brings expertise with a neurological disability to climate conversations. She advocates for disability inclusive climate and environmental teamwork. She is also a member of MSWA’s Client Codesign and Advisory Committee. Her writing portfolio includes disability experiences with MS in the heat. She has written articles on the impacts of extreme heat for the ABC and co-authored the recent research article ‘Embodied Experiences of Thermal Injustice: Truth-Telling Through Disabilities.’ Wildaliz also loves Salsa music and calls her inclusive dance routine ‘Everybody Salsa.’ You can access more about Wildaliz through her website www.treecharge.com.au.

Jaunita Flessas

My name is Jaunita Flessas, and I’m a passionate accessibility expert and human rights advocate with over 12 years of program management and strategic leadership experience. As the founder of Empower Accessibility and director of globa11y, a social enterprise focused on training and employing disabled technologists globally, I bring a deep commitment to meaningful inclusion and systemic change. My background as Head of Technical Accessibility at Navy Federal Credit Union and active involvement in W3C Accessibility Guidelines positions me uniquely to drive impactful, evidence-based policy and advocacy at PWDA. I’m dedicated to amplifying diverse voices, expanding access to dignified employment, and pushing for systemic improvements in assistive technology availability. As a Director, my goal is to leverage PWDA’s platform to advocate fiercely for disability justice, promote sustainable solutions rooted in community needs, and enhance the organization’s global influence to ensure genuine equity and accessibility for all.

Jeramy Hope

I have been proud to stand alongside PWDA in championing the rights and voices of people with disability — from marching in the Sydney Mardi Gras with my daughter, to co-authoring position statements, participating in roundtables, and engaging directly with members and leaders. These experiences have deepened my respect for PWDA’s role as a fearless, participant-led advocate for systemic change. As CEO of the SDA Alliance and a NDIS participant, I bring both lived and professional experience to the Board. My work has centred on breaking down barriers to housing, strengthening rights, and ensuring the voices of people with disability shape policy and practice. On the PWDA Board, I want to help grow our influence, amplify member voices, and ensure our advocacy continues to create real-world change. My commitment is to a disability rights movement that is inclusive, unapologetic, and driven by lived experience.

Danielle Jones-Resnik

Danielle is a proud disability advocate, health coach, and carer with lived experience of disability. As a person with invisible and psychosocial disability, I also provide ongoing support to family members with intellectual, physical, and psychosocial disabilities, and hold a Psychology degree and Graduate Diploma of Psychology Advanced. In 2023 I took part in the Observership Program, being mentored and observing a NFP board whilst undertaking training with ACID and the Ethics centre. I am currently on the PWDA Governance Advisory Committee where I have gained insight into strategic, inclusive, and effective governance and also serve as Board Secretary for Learning for Life Autism. I am committed to amplifying the voices of people with disability, promoting equity and accessibility, and strengthening governance practices. As a Director, I aim to ensure meaningful participation in decision-making, advocate for systemic change, and support PWDA in its mission to lead with integrity, inclusion, and impact.

Kin Jin Ly

I’m a late-diagnosed AuDHD neurodivergent person with lived experience of disability, mental health illnesses, have faced challenges such as workplace bullying, and also thrived in helping social enterprises in the slums of Bangalore as well as co-founding a grassroots startup that built assistive technologies for children with disabilities. When you’ve spent most of your life trying to help others only to realise that you also need that type of support, you stop and wonder how many others have missed out. How might we change their narrative(s) for the better? We’re at a unique point in our story where we need to not only be heard, but where we need to be holding the hands of our governing bodies so that we might guide them to build a better society for us, with us. It’s time for us to stop asking and start showing up to help them do the work.

Stuart Mawbey

My name is Stuart Mawbey and I am a current Board Skills Appointed Director serving as PWDA Treasurer and have been a proud member of PWDA for over a decade. I am focused on delivering strong individual and systemic advocacy for Australians with Disability. I have an ATO, small business finance and administration background, and I am focused on rigorous, ethical, transparent financial management for PWDA members. I am a Veteran, NSW Emergency Services Volunteer, and a strong advocate for disability-inclusive disaster response. I have a strong commitment to working as a team and look forward to continuing the work we have only just started on this Board. I am a person with physical disabilities and a mental health history. I currently live in Goulburn. Having lived and worked primarily in rural, regional and remote areas of NSW and South Australia, I am committed to improving service delivery and access to Disability advocacy in regional communities.

Kevyn Morris

I’m Kevyn Morris, a Yugarra man with an ABI, physical disability, and chronic illness. With over a decade of experience in disability advocacy, I am currently serving as a director for PWDA. My first year on the board had its challenges, but my second year has been a more collaborative learning experience where I feel included in decision-making. This year we’ve made important changes to improve services and act in the best interests of PWDA staff and members, and I am committed to seeing these efforts through. My goals are to improve PWDA’s financial position by reducing dependency on government funding, enhance advocacy for people both on and off the NDIS, and continue working to improve the lives of First Nations disabled people. With a board that now has a clear vision and plan, I aim to contribute to PWDA’s ongoing success with your support.

Jarrod Sandell-Hay

I am a proud disabled man with 15 years’ experience working across Victoria and NSW in disability advocacy, systemic reform, and community leadership. During this time, I have worked with several state and federal Disabled People’s Representative Organisations (DROs), building deep insight into policy, self-determination, and structural barriers. I am currently the Vice President of the Self Manager Hub, where I help lead governance, strategy, and community engagement. My work has focused on ensuring disabled people move closer to justice, freedom and liberation through choice and control over their lives. I am standing for the PWDA Board to help ensure that our collective voice drives inclusive, rights-based change. I want to support PWDA to elevate diverse perspectives, build stronger connections with marginalised communities, and influence national reform agendas. As a Director, I will help strengthen PWDA’s leadership through disability pride, integrity, and accountability to our community.

Eva Sifis

Eva Sifis is co-creator and presenter of A New You.

A long-time disability worker and advocate, I gained head injury in 1999.  After a dedicated 20 year career in the national disability arts sector, focus has shifted to that of advocacy. An avid public speaker, I train and consult with Women with Disabilities Victoria amongst other orgs. I have a rich employment history. My advocacy presently is focussed on the neurodiverse experience affecting around 20% of the world population. I present ‘A New You’, showing online at anewyou.au and Community TV in Victoria and SA, offering insight into Neurodiverse worlds. Advocacy for the disabled of Australia is a heartfelt mission of mine. I remain dedicated to representing those who do not have outlet for their voices and to bringing our presence to necessary attention. Currently serving as Co Vice President of the Board, I wish to continue bringing about change with the exciting developments now underway for PWDA.

Kate Swaffer

As a disability activist, author, humanitarian, and PhD candidate investigating dementia as a disability, I am deeply committed to advancing the rights of all people with disabilities, including those with dementia. My lived, volunteer, and professional experience equips me with strong knowledge of the CRPD and other rights-based frameworks, along with skills in advocacy, governance, and strategic leadership. I have served on several boards, including The Bereaved Through Suicide Support Group (Inc) SA, Hillcrest Hospital, Dementia Alliance International (which I co-founded), and Alzheimer’s Disease International. I also founded and ran my own hospitality business. My qualifications include a Master of Science (Dementia), Bachelor of Psychology, Bachelor of Arts, and a Graduate Diploma in Grief Counselling. I am a retired chef and nurse and have personal experience with the NDIS as both a recipient and informal advocate. I seek to bring this breadth of knowledge and commitment to the PWDA Board.

Shazzy Tharby

I bring a strong background in mental health, neurodiversity, disability support, and advocacy, supported by my experience serving on committees with PWdWA, ACSA, and other disability-focused organisations. Through these roles, I have gained valuable insight into good governance, strategic decision-making, and community engagement. I am passionate about ensuring that all voices, especially those often marginalised, are heard and valued in decision-making processes. I am committed to advancing rights, accessibility, and accountability for people with disabilities through informed and compassionate leadership. Joining the PWDA Board excites me as an opportunity to build on my experience and contribute to systemic change. As a Director, I aim to strengthen connections with neurodivergent and mental health communities, promote culturally sensitive practices, and drive initiatives that enhance equity and support. I am dedicated to transparency, collaboration, and impactful advocacy to achieve lasting progress.

Tahlia-Rose Vanissum

As a proud Woppaburra woman with a psychosocial disability and chronic illness, I bring lived experience, national policy expertise, and a deep commitment to First Nations gender and disability justice. I’ve led work across government, community and research sectors, including at the First Peoples Disability Network, the National Disability Research Partnership, and in shaping the outcomes of the Independent NDIS Review. My leadership is grounded in community, guided by my cultural obligations to care for my community, and driven by the trust placed in me by those who’ve shared their stories of harm and hope. I’m nominating for the PWDA Board because our voices matter. I want to advance culturally responsive reform that centres those of us at the intersections of Indigeneity, race, gender, trauma and poverty. On the Board, I will advocate for transparent, rights-based governance, build pathways for emerging disabled leaders, and support PWDA’s future as a truly representative, people-led organisation.

For more information, including a director position description, visit PWDA Elections and AGM.