NDP Divisional Committee
The NDP Divisional Committee is elected by our members to provide advice in areas of strategy and policy. The Committee is made up of experienced and committed people from a range of disciplines in the disability sector.
 | Danielle Newport (NDP Committee Chair) Chief Executive Officer Activ Foundation |
Danielle's over 15 years’ experience includes various senior corporate and finance roles. Prior to her current role, she was Activ's Chief Financial Officer, General Manager of Strategy and Finance, and General Manager Strategy. Danielle is also a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), a qualified accountant (CPA) and Chartered Secretary (ACIS).
 | Abel Trindade |
Abel is a Registered Psychologist with experience in positive behaviour support, treatment of adults and children, and rehabilitation from psychological injuries. He has over 10 years' experience in the disability industry with roles that includes support worker, cluster manager, behaviour support specialist, and project officer with NGOs and ADHC. He's also previously held roles in teaching and rehabilitation.
 | Casey Gray Director Savant Therapy and Education |
Casey is the founder of 'iChoosemyplace' which seeks to overcome the barriers experienced by people with disability in choosing where to live and who to live with and in establishing mutually enjoyable non-paid relationships. Casey has lived experience of disability and has over 15 years experience in the disability sector. She has received awards for innovative practice that promotes social justice principles. Casey is a member of the NSW Council for Disability which is the official advisory body to the NSW Government. Casey seeks to "create liberation" with and for people with disability in all aspects of life, with a particular focus on quality relationships.
 | Fiona Phipps |
Fiona's 30-year career spans across different parts of the disability sector -- from early intervention, school aged support, and post-school transition to Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs) and residential facilities. She has held a variety of roles in various organisations, including service delivery and coordination, training, Early Intervention Therapist, leadership, as well as a Non-Executive Director on an NGO Board.
 | Jo Kot Training Coordinator Greystanes Disability Services |
Jo has over 13 years’ experience in the disability sector working in various roles. As a Training Coordinator at Greystanes Disability Services, she oversees the training and the professional development needs of all Greystanes employees. Previously, she worked to provide meaningful and enjoyable educational, recreational and skill-building day time activities to adults with a range of support needs as a Practice Leader and Lifestyle Educator for Greystanes.
 | Karen Burgess (FIML) |
Karen has been working in the disability sector for over 25 years, and has a lived experience of disability. She is the Founder of the NDIS Discussion Group on Facebook. Karen has worked on a number of Government consultation programs and civic projects. She previously worked with the Attorney General's Office on a digital privacy reform, promoting awareness of barriers to people with disability in terms of privacy, and getting their rights upheld.
 | Lilly Wicks Professional Services Manager Lifestart Co-operative Ltd |
Lilly has been working in the disability sector for 16 years, with a qualification and experience in Speech Pathology. As Professional Services Manager at Lifestart, she oversees policy and practice development, manages the Practice Lead Team, and has developed the student placement programs across 15 branches. Lilly is part of the Disability Workforce Education Reference Group (DWERG), and has coordinated two Health Education and Training Institute (HETI) funded projects, focused on the development of digital media in promoting student placements within the disability.
 | Patrick Vasquez Principal Consultant SUDACA Consulting |
Patrick has more than 16 years’ of sector experience in various front line and middle management roles and has extensive experience in individual and system advocacy, community development and policy work on the NDIS and related programs such as ILC. Patrick is currently the Principal Consultant of SUDACA Consulting, working with current and new NDIS providers to ensure they thrive under the NDIS.
 | Richard Mlambo |
Richard is a support worker at Scope in Victoria. He has vast experience in disability development and support. He holds a Certificate IV in Disability and an Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management. He has been a memer of NDP since February 2015. Prior to working at Scope, Richard was a media, PR and marketing professional. He holds a Masters of Communication.
The NDP Team
National Disability Practitioners' small secretariat team is made up of dedicated staff who work closely with the Committee and members.
 | Donna Blanchard |
Donna brings her extensive diversified experience across not-for-profit, public and commercial sectors to deliver NDP’s aspiration to inspire, develop and support all members of the Australian Disability workforce.
Adept at growing mutually rewarding collaborative partnerships, Donna works to promote NDP’s unique national capability to improve the lives of people with disability through the skilled endeavours of the disability workforce.
