Meet Our Speakers

Chelsea Pottenger is a leading authority in mental health and mindfulness, dedicated to empowering individuals to thrive—an essential skill for those working in the disability and mental health sectors.

As a psychology postgraduate, international speaker, and author of The Mindful High Performer, Chelsea combines scientific insights with practical strategies to help you manage stress, build resilience, and maintain your wellbeing while supporting others.

Chelsea's session will provide valuable tools to help you stay focused, energised, and at your best for both yourself and the people you support.

Anthony Laye is a human behaviour and communication expert who has helped thousands of professionals build trust, confidence, and stronger connections—skills that are crucial for support workers.

As a sought-after corporate speaker and trainer, Anthony specialises in teaching practical communication strategies that enhance relationships, de-escalate conflicts, and foster deeper connections with clients, families, and colleagues.

Anthony's engaging session will equip you with the confidence and clarity to navigate even the most challenging conversations with ease.

Dr Brent Hayward is a Registered Nurse, Credentialed Mental Health Nurse, and Registered Disability Practitioner with deep experience supporting children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, particularly those with severe and complex needs. His work spans sexual health, homeless outreach, education, supported accommodation, and government roles regulating disability services and leading behaviour support policy.

Brent has worked closely with direct support teams across health and disability settings, bringing both clinical insight and practical understanding. He is passionate about improving support outcomes through evidence-informed practice, and continues to mentor others working in complex disability and mental health environments.

Francisco is the Director of The CALMER Approach Limited and a Neurobehavioural Support Practitioner. He developed The CALMER® Approach model. He has over 24 years working in the disability sector. Qualifications include BEd.(Habilitation); PBS (IABA), Person-Centred Active Support facilitator.

He also has been presenting the model nationally and internationally, including Australian Society for Intellectual Disability, Australian Association for Special Education and more.

Bridget is an experienced Behaviour Support Practitioner and Clinical Supervisor with extensive experience in supporting individuals across the lifespan, particularly those with complex needs and co-occurring conditions. Bridget's expertise is shaped by her professional background and her personal experience as a neurodivergent mother, which has driven her passion for advocating for better support in the field. 

Dr Caroline Foreman is a Consultant Physician who specialises in Clinical immunology and Allergy. As the Medical Director of the MedicAlert Foundation she provides clinical oversight and guidance to the Member Services team and the Foundation to ensure the organisation maintains its high clinical standards. 

With over 50 years’ experience in the disability field, Kevin Stone has worked relentlessly to improve the lives of people with disability, as an advocate, an educator, and an author.

Kevin is the father of four adult children, three of whom have disabilities, and one of whom is recently deceased. He served as the founding CEO of VALID – Victoria’s leading
advocacy organisation for people with intellectual disability - from 1988 to 2021. He was also the long-serving Chair of Inclusion Australia – the national peak body for people with
intellectual disability. He is the director of The Empowering Advocacy Method (TEAM), a training and development service for people with a disability, their families and supporters. He is the author of numerous professional training manuals and several novels. In 2019 he
was awarded the Australia Medal.

Manager of Complex Behaviour Support at Multicap, leading a specialised team that provides targeted interventions for individuals with high and complex behaviours. A Certified Behaviour Analyst, Kimberley holds a Master’s degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis and has a strong focus on forensic cohorts, complex behavioural presentations, and community-based support. With over seven years of experience in Positive Behaviour Support. Expertise in providing evidence-based interventions to improve QOL 

Trent Carberry is the Group Research Lead for Multicap. Mr Carberry is also an Adjunct Fellow within the School of Education, University of Queensland, and through this role, he has been involved in several disability-centric research projects, including studies on disability (direct) support worker wellbeing, and positive behaviour support practices for people with intellectual disability. He has a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Honours - Psychology) from QUT and his previous research experience involves working with a wide range of participants within the QUT Vision and Driving team, investigating pedestrian visibility and older drivers with eye disease.

Anjini Sharma is a dedicated professional with over nine years’ experience in the disability and community care sector. Beginning her career as a support worker, she progressed into training and case management roles, supporting both clients and workforce development.

For the past six years, Anjini has been the Director of South Pacific Care, where she leads with a focus on quality, dignity, and person-centred support. She continues to work as a Senior Support Worker with Alliance Nursing, ensuring her leadership remains grounded in frontline practice and the lived experience of those receiving care.

Dr Susan Pearce has worked in project management across the health, mining and community sectors across Australia. She specialises in facilitation, communication and planning to help individuals, companies and teams to reach their timeframes and targets.

Susan is the CEO of the Australian General Practice network, an NFP advocating for general practice and managed the expansion of the Safe & Found program at MedicAlert.

Jess is a values-led CEO and Non-Executive Director with a passion for leading purpose-driven organisations through change. With years of experience across government, business, and community services, he brings a practical, future-focused perspective to the challenges facing the support coordination sector today.

Jess is deeply invested in helping providers navigate uncertainty - especially as policies and systems continue to shift. He’s known for his ability to cut through complexity, build strong stakeholder relationships, and guide teams with clarity and purpose. Whether he’s working with government, sitting on a board, or speaking at events, Jess brings energy, insight, and a genuine commitment to better outcomes for both providers and participants.

Renee is the founder of Blossom Consultants and brings almost 20 years of knowledge and experience in the community and human services sector. She partners with purpose-driven NDIS providers and professionals, offering authentic, practical support through consulting, coaching, and mentoring. 

With deep expertise in quality, participant experience, stakeholder engagement, and service design, Renee helps providers elevate and strengthen their services, navigate challenges with fresh thinking, and embed reflective, values-led practice. Her work also includes supporting providers to use participant and stakeholder insights meaningfully, alongside strategy and vision, to deliver impactful, resilient services across the NDIS space.