Advisory Council biographies

Jane Spring AM (New South Wales)

Jane is Chair, Australian Disability Strategy Advisory Council, Chair, Disability Council New South Wales (NSW), Chair, Sydney University Sport and Fitness and Director of Royal Rehab, and Venues NSW. Jane is a Vice President of the Institute of Public Administration NSW and Member of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Office of Sport in NSW. Jane is NSW Co Chapter Leader of the Minerva Network.

Jane has previously held non-executive roles at the University of Sydney Senate, Western Sydney Local Health District, Venues NSW, Paraplegic Benefit Fund, Wheelchair Sports Australia, and the Combat Sports Authority. Recent executive roles include Assistant Commissioner NSW Public Service Commission and Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jobs for NSW.

Jane is passionate about sport and highlights of her career include six years at the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and a stint as CEO of the NSW Institute of Sport.

Jane is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration and the University of Sydney. Jane is a member of Chief Executive Women. Jane holds a Master of Public Administration, Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from the University of Sydney.

Jane has over 30 years’ lived experience of paraplegia following a car accident in 1990.

Seriako Stephen (Queensland)

Seriako (Seri) Stephen was born in the Torres Strait and is a descendant of the Ugaram Le from the Magaran Tribe.

Seriako was born with Cerebral Palsy due to a traumatic birth. His family were unable to raise him, leading to Seriako being Island Adopted to a family in Cairns with a lot of experience raising children with various disabilities. Seriako considers his adopted family as his biggest inspiration, who always supported him, treated him no differently to anyone else and pushed him to achieve anything he put his mind to.

Seriako is a proud Indigenous person, whose motivation in life is to speak up for everyone, whether Indigenous or not, and be a voice for those who can’t speak up for themselves.

Seriako sits on the board of the First Peoples Disability Network Australia (FPDN). He was the first Torres Strait Islander with disability to be invited to Parliament House at 18 years of age and was a finalist in the Disability Rights Young Leadership category at the 2009 National Disability Awards. Seriako was also invited to speak at the United Nations as part of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2019 conference on the inclusion of Indigenous persons with disability in society through participation in cultural life.

Akii Ngo (Victoria)

Akii (they/them) is an international multi-award-winning disability, gender equity advocate and family, domestic, intimate partner and sexual violence survivor-activist, trainer and educator. Akii is fiercely dedicated to and deeply passionate about human rights, accessibility, intersectionality, inclusion, advocacy, non-tokenistic representation and all aspects of co-design. They are a proudly multiply disabled, multiply-neurodivergent (Autistic, ADHD & Complex-PTSD), gender-diverse transgender non-binary and Queer/LGBTIQA+ person of colour (POC), from a refugee, culturally, racially and marginalised (CARM) non-English speaking background. Akii lives with numerous complex chronic illnesses, debilitating constant chronic pain and has several degenerative physical and neurological disabilities.

Akii is an experienced subject matter expert consultant, facilitator, writer, professional keynote presenter and an internationally published & represented model pushing to improve disabled, neurodivergent, LGBTIQA+, mobility aid, POC and intersectional representation in the mainstream, media, beauty and fashion industries. Recently, Akii worked as the inaugural Sydney WorldPride 2023 Accessibility (Diversity & Inclusion) Manager and concurrently, as a Senior Co-design & Engagement Advisor for the NDIA, leading and focusing on the NDIS LGBTIQASB+ strategy and LGBTIQASB+ - affirming practices. Akii now presently works a full-time role at one of Victoria’s most diverse universities as the Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (EIB) Lead, is a National Sessional Violence Prevention Trainer at No To Violence and sits on numerous councils and advisory committees throughout Australia.

Uncle Wilfred Prince (Queensland)

Uncle Willie Prince’s life is a testament to resilience and the power of self-discovery. He was born on the Aboriginal mission of Cherbourg in Wakka Wakka country and has a spiritual connection to the Kalkadoon peoples of Mt Isa. Uncle Willie faced the challenges of being part of the Stolen Generation - a painful period in Australian history when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were forcibly removed from their families and communities. He was born with a disability in the 1960’s, a time where Indigenous people were not recognised as Australian Citizens and were considered property of the government. He was displaced at the age of two when he was removed from country and community and placed in institution care.

Despite the difficult circumstances, Uncle Willie’s determination and curiosity inspired him to seek answers about his identity and culture. As he grew older, he began asking questions, determined to reclaim his identify and connection to his roots. Raised within the systems of institutional and government care, away from his family, people and community, he embarked on a journey of self-discovery. Along the way, he received support from various individuals who helped him navigate this challenging pathway.

One significant turning point in Uncle Willie’s life was his opportunity to learn more about his life. There, he delved into learning more about his background and where he came from. Conversations with other Indigenous people with disabilities further enriched his understanding. Uncle Willie’s story is a powerful testament of resilience, the importance of cultural identity, and the strength that comes from reclaiming one’s voice. His experience serves as a reminder of the need to listen to and honour the stories of those who have faced adversity and triumphed against all odds.

Uncle Willie was one of the inaugural members of the Disability Council of Queensland 1999-2001

Award: Centenary of Federation of Australia

Current: An Elder of the Murri Court in Queensland

Dr. Keran Howe OAM, GAICD (Victoria)

Keran has a social work background and lived experience of disability. She has been a leader in health and disability over many years advising national and state governments on policy reform related to women’s health, violence prevention and the rights of people with disabilities.

A Churchill Fellow, Keran has Chaired the Victorian Disability Advisory Council and Women with Disabilities Australia and Co-Chaired the National Disability and Carers Advisory Council.

Her professional roles included Manager, Women’s Social Support Services, Royal Women’s Hospital and Executive Director, Women with Disabilities Victoria.

Keran has been awarded an honorary doctorate, a Centenary Medal, the Lesley Hall Lifetime Achievement Award and the Order of Australia Medal for her work on behalf of people with disabilities and has been inducted to the Victorian Honour Roll for Women.

Keran continues to work for the human rights of people with disability as an advisor in related areas and is an Independent Director, National Disability Research Partnership, and a member of the Disability Innovations Institute (UNSW) Advisory Council and the Spinal Cord Injuries Association Clinical Governance Committee.

The appointment of new state and territory representatives is currently in process.

Helen McDevitt, Public Service Medal (PSM), Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)

Helen is Chair of the ACT Disability, Aged and Carers Advocacy Service and is on the Board of the Older Person’s Advocacy Network. Before this, Helen was a senior Australian Public Servant and has extensive experience in social policy and Commonwealth and State relations.

Helen played a key role in the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme, led social policy in the department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and supported the Government’s Social Inclusion Not-For-Profit sector agendas. Helen brings leadership, management and negotiation skills, and extensive experience in policy reform and delivery.

Helen’s earlier career was in the community sector working in regional development, education and youth services. She has a particular passion for supporting and improving the lives of people with disability and young people through promoting their social inclusion, education and workforce participation.

Helen is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2020.