Roman Ružbacký Adrian Price Kate Wilson
Tamara Seif Veema Mooniapah Jane Lewis
Vanessa Paterson Julie Burton Niveditha Balachandran
Roman Ružbacký is an experienced diversity, equity and inclusion leader who helps to create equitable, inclusive and happy workplaces. In 2024, he co-authored the Fearless DEI Practitioner and was winner of the 2024 Individual Recalibrate Gender Equity Awards.
He is a principal DEI consultant at Roman Ruzbacky & Associates, which he established in 2021, and has previously worked in the scientific research, university and the Victorian Public Sector in a number of DEI roles. He specialises in diversity data literacy, gender equity, pay equity analysis, workshop facilitation and started his career as an analytical chemist with a music major in composition.
He was the President of the Equal Employment Opportunity Network between 2017 to 2022 and a member of the AHRI and Swimming Victoria DEI Advisory Committees.
Adrian Price is an experienced diversity and inclusion consultant. Whilst having a broad range of experience in all aspects of diversity, inclusion and equity, he has specialised in the design and implementation of strategies that genuinely make workplaces more inclusive for people of diverse genders and sexualities and people with disability. He also has over 20 years of experience in roles including administrative, training, executive support and customer service with Corporate, Government and NFP organisations.
He has successfully designed and implemented an ALLY program and network for a large University, including preparing benchmark reports for the Pride in Diversity’s AWEI Index for four consecutive years. He has designed promotional materials and coordinated special event days such as Pride March, IDAHO and World AIDS Day. He is also an engaging facilitator and has run successful ALLY workshops.
Adrian is on the Equal Employment Opportunity Network management team, a group that works to promote equality and diversity in the workplace.
Adrian gives his full energy and enthusiasm – whatever the challenge – to make a difference to people’s lives.
Kate Wilson brings over 30 years of experience in social justice and education, including D&I leadership roles in three Australian universities. Her work is underpinned by social justice principles, systems thinking, deep listening and respect for others. Kate has experience working in operational and strategic roles for gender equity, disability, Indigenous advancement, LGBTIQ+, and cultural diversity, as well as Board diversity, diversity management and support for new D&I practitioners.
With the changes to the D&I landscape, and the continued impact of the pandemic on already disadvantaged groups, Kate’s focus is on having individuals and organisations emerge stronger and with a greater connection, understanding and appreciation of D&I. Focus areas include:
- leadership and management coaching (specialising in D&I)
- supporting new and existing D&I practitioners
- D&I strategic planning, workplace culture and operational reviews
- increasing Board diversity and the D&I maturity of organisations
- gender and disability audits and consultations
- unpacking D&I related workplace conflicts
Kate was awarded Life Membership of Equity Practitioners in Higher Education Australasia Inc., in December 2019.
Kate Wilson & Associates Consulting (Email Kate Wilson)
Tamara Seif (nee Duyovich)
Founding Director – Principal, Gravitas Consulting Services
MAHRI CIPD MBPsS Organisational Psychology, Accredited Life Coach; Accredited Workplace Mediator (UK)
Tamara Seif is a Founder, CEO & Principal HR & Wellness Consultant at Gravitas Consulting Services, a boutique HR and Inclusion consultancy originally founded in London, UK. Gravitas Consulting currently operates from Adelaide in South Australia, on the lands of the Kaurna people. Tamara works at the Nexus of DEI and takes pride in supporting organisations and leaders to dismantle systemic inequities and strengthening their understanding in the importance of looking after the human capital.
Tamara is a prolific social justice and Gender Equity advocate and a long standing Diversity & Inclusion and HR management Consultant, researcher and ally. She is a highly experienced HR Leadership Consultant & Workplace Wellbeing Coach, with an international portfolio and a background in Organisational Psychology and Employee Assistance Counselling. She holds an MSc in Business Psychology from City University Business School London and is also a certified Life Coach, Workplace Mediator with AHRI and CIPD certification.
She brings a highly empathetic, client-centric, evidence-based and outcome-focused approach to her work and when not at work loves getting into nature and practising Yoga and Mindfulness.
Tamara is fluent in Serbo-Croatian and is a proud parent of 25 year old PhD student. Tamara’s native language is Serbo – Croatian and she has keen interest in learning additional languages, – Turkish and Spanish.
Gravitas Consulting Services Website: (click here)
Veema Mooniapah
Veema is a passionate professional dedicating her life (paid and volunteer) to social impact, especially for and with people who are made vulnerable through circumstances beyond their control. Born and raised in Mauritius, a place known to be a melting pot of cultures and mixed legal systems (French and English) Veema has travelled extensively, embraced and experienced many cultures whilst also faced many personal and professional challenges. She has now claimed back her space and power. Veema now calls Australia home and is sharing knowledge, experience and expertise to empower people and workplaces, enabling them to bring their whole authentic self to strive and thrive, regardful of their circumstances. Often asked about her background, Veema chuckles and responds, “please ask me where I am a local from as I strongly connect to many cultures and places.”
Fitness of body, mind and spirit is important to Veema. The potential of the human mind fascinates her. Diverse communities are her extended family, contributing to their happiness, safety and sense of belonging is thus very normal to Veema.
Veema holds tertiary qualifications in the Social Sciences (Hons) and Management from Universities of Portsmouth, UK, Mauritius and Australia as well as a Master Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy and Counsellin. Highly experienced in leading evidence-informed policy and action plan development and implementation, using a whole of organization and multi-agency approach, Veema’s strength lies in bringing people of all cultures and backgrounds together to work towards identified priorities.
Veema’s wide ranging expertise in various fields includes: cultural safety; diversity, equity and inclusion; gender mainstreaming/intersectional gender equity; policing; emergency/disaster management and disaster resilience; workforce planning using human-centred design and systems thinking; health and safety; trainer on the Convention on the Rights of the Child and mental health in relation to family violence and problematic use of alcohol and drug.
Starting her career as a teacher, Veema became a police officer where she brought a culture shift in the way women and children, victims of family violence and child sexual abuse, were addressed. She has since acquired extensive experience working in not-for-profit agencies and government, including Local and State Government including regulatory body.
Veema also makes time for volunteering to agencies as board director, advisor and mentor. She has been a key contributor to an award-winning initiative – The Multicultural Emergency Management Partnership (MEMP) – Winner – 2022 Victorian Resilient Australia Award and National Resilient Australia Award led by the Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS) and Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV).
Veema is a Speaker, Published Writer. Co-authored, “Undefeated” – 90 professional migrant women, 118 stories. Veema has won awards and been an award-nominee for her work in Gender Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and developing innovative programs.
Jane Lewis
Jane Lewis facilitates engaging and compassionate AntiRacism Conversations, asserting that truth-telling about white dominance and colonialism is a white person’s responsibility. Expert collaborators with lived experience add their insights, via Jane’s powerful videos and/or as co-facilitators.
With a background in entertainment, psychology and consulting in soft skills and critical thinking, Jane spent seven years as Senior Advisor, Education, at the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. There she began her continuing collaboration with Wakaya man Professor Yin Paradies, one of Australia’s leading race scholars, now Chair in Race Relations at Deakin University.
She offers free pilot workshops for leadership groups, either face-to-face or via Zoom.
ARC AntiRacism
www.arcantiracism.com.au
www.janelewis.com.au
Email Jane Lewis
Vanessa Paterson
Principal Consultant
Checksfield Consulting
Vanessa is a highly experienced gender equality specialist having previously worked for more than 20 years in executive roles with the Federal Government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).
Her key expertise is to maximise organisational effectiveness by advising private and public sector employers on becoming industry leaders in gender equality, and to achieve compliance with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012.
During her time at WGEA she was responsible for administering and reviewing WGEA legislation, managing compliance reporting, and developing and managing leading practice programs such as the evidence-based WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation (EOCGE). During her management of these programs, the number of non-compliant employers reached a record low.
She has assisted hundreds of large and small employers across all industries to implement strategies and practices that not only resulted in them becoming compliant with federal legislation but once actioned, set them apart as industry leaders in gender equality.
Tailored services Vanessa provides to employers include:
- qualitative and quantitative research, data analysis and interpretation of results to determine the current state of gender equality and to identify opportunities to accelerate progress in areas such as pay equity, gender composition in leadership and non-traditional roles, flexible working and parental leave for women and men, and creating a culture free from sexual harassment and gender-based harassment and discrimination
- develop strategies and evidence-based action plans that are aligned with overall business goals consult with executive leadership teams to create a shared understanding of gender equality and an inclusive workplace culture
- develop Employer Statements that sit alongside and give context to an employer’s WGEA gender pay gap, published from February 2024
- advise employers on how to reach compliance with WGEA gender reporting framework incorporating an intersectionality approach, become industry leaders in gender equality and a WGEA EOCGE citation holder develop Gender Equality Action Plans and Gender Impact Assessments for Victorian defined entities complete WGEA gender equality reports and EOCGE applications.
Vanessa has a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from Macquarie University with a particular focus on organisational psychology. She has completed the Company Directors course through the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
Email Vanessa Paterson
Julie Burton
Principal – Bold and Wise Consulting
With over 17 years working with the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), Julie is one of Australia’s leading experts in workplace gender equality. She leads with a human-centric, innovative and strategic focus, using evidence-based information to develop tailored strategies for employers to be compliant with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 (Act) and achieve meaningful, sustainable change.
In addition to her experience in gender equality, Julie has a background in organisational development. She specialises in increasing organisational capability through the development of strategically aligned gender equality action plans that reflect an employer’s unique challenges. During her time with WGEA, Julie assisted and supported hundreds of employers of varying size and across multiple industries, to achieve compliance with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012. Specialising in leading practice, she has also supported many of those employers to attain the highly regarded and much sought after recognition of being a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) citation holder.
With high integrity, a pragmatic approach and a growth mindset, Julie leverages her exceptional knowledge of gender equality and best-practice to deliver positive change for clients across all industries and organisational sizes.
Areas of expertise include:
Gender Equality Compliance and Leading Practice | Strategic Planning | C-Suite Influence | Stakeholder Management | Organisational Development | Strategic Communication | Continuous Improvement | Marketing | Project & Change Management | Relationship Management | People Leadership | Coaching & Mentoring | Research | Innovation | Policy Development | Data Insights & Analysis
Email Julie Burton
Niveditha Balachandran
Is a diversity, equity and inclusion specialist with a background in international development, law and social change. She has spent her career working to advance human rights across a range of sectors.
She commenced her career as a VPS graduate in 2011, working across a range of functions across various departments, and then switched gears to study law and work in international grassroots peacebuilding internationally, across Asia, Europe, and North America.
She juggled work as a part time commercial lawyer, and working part time international peace building for a number of years. She then moved into Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work to advance human rights and meaningful outcomes for people from marginalised communities and came back to the public service in 2020.
She has led various DEI functions and teams, setting strategy through to implementation, across OD culture transformation and service delivery projects. She takes a systems thinking and intersectional approach to embedding sustainable DEI into employee experience and organisational culture design, and inclusive service delivery.
Email Niveditha