Christina Ryan
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
6K followers
500+ connections
About
In early 2016 I took one of the most radical steps in my long career of activism and change making: I put the two words disability and leadership into the same sentence. My next step was founding the Disability Leadership Institute.
I didn’t realise then how radical this was, but it seems talking about disability and leadership together is a game changer in reaching equality for disabled people.
Now governments and major corporations are using “disability leadership.” Why does this matter? Because it means they are remembering that disabled people exist, and that we do leadership. It reminds them that we should be in decision making rooms as executives and board members.
Now I am a gardener of leaders, sharing my experience and leadership knowledge with disability leaders all over the planet. The disability community has never had a consistent, ongoing, place for professional development, leadership training and coaching. The absence of specialist leadership development, understanding the disability experience, has left disability leaders out in the cold battling mainstream and ableist environments. Often alone.
The Disability Leadership Institute has now become a global community of disability leaders, supporting each other through a community of practice and member groups. Our major program The Future Shapers is the first program anywhere to weave the disability experience into mainstream leadership development. We embrace disability as an asset in how we do leadership.
Now as a specialist leadership coach, I am using decades of expertise built through frontline disability rights activism, community sector management, systemic advocacy, working at the United Nations, and mentoring.
Recently, I’ve been developing the emerging field of disability leadership. Building greater understanding of how disabled people do leadership, the unique experiences of disability leaders in mainstream workplaces, and what that means for building diversity and providing professional development and support.
Achieving equality is about being in decision making rooms. Its time disability leaders are recognised, time to support the emerging field of disability leadership; time to change the way leadership is understood.
Looking for disability leadership development or support for your disability workforce? You are welcome to DM me for a chat about how we can work together or check out my regular articles here on LinkedIn.
Articles by Christina
Experience
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Education
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Intensive course in using CEDAW at the United Nations. Undertaken as part of the Australian NGO delegation
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Intensive course in human resources and management for community sector managers.
Licenses & Certifications
Volunteer Experience
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Board member, then Chair (April 2009 to March 2011)
Canberra Rape Crisis Centre
- 2 years 5 months
Social Services
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Consultant - Disability Action Plan, then Access Coordinator
National Folk Festival
- 3 years 10 months
Arts and Culture
I developed, and assisted in the implementation, of an Access Action Plan for the National Folk Festival.
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Member - Joint Community Government Reference Group (representing the Women's Advisory Council)
ACT Government
- 2 years
Social Services
The JCGRG oversaw the development of new community sector funding agreements, provided a reference group for the Canberra Social Plan, and maintained a monitoring and development role for the Social Compact and the Poverty Task Force Report outcomes. It also played a role in establishing the Community Inclusion Board.
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Member - Representative of Women with Disabilities ACT
Ministerial Advisory Council on Women (ACT)
- 2 years 5 months
Human Rights
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Discussion Leader
Women’s History Month
- 2 years 1 month
Human Rights
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Board member, then President from July 2003 to February 2004
Sexual Health & Family Planning ACT
- 1 year 8 months
Social Services
The Board of SHFPACT Inc. was also the Board of Reproductive Healthcare Services Comp. Ltd, with the requisite ASIC oversight, until its takeover by Marie Stopes International.
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member - National Executive Committee
Women with Disabilities Australia
- 1 year 2 months
Human Rights
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Member - Management Committee
Havelock Housing Association
- 3 months
Social Services
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Working Group Convenor/Leader - Institutional Mechanisms for the Advancement of Women
Beijing plus 5 sub regional preparatory conference
- Present 25 years 3 months
Human Rights
The Pacific sub-region conference prepared for the United Nations Beijing plus 5 conference in New York, June 2000. Attendees came from all over Australia and the South Pacific, and included Government representatives from Pacific Island states, representatives of many national and local women’s NGOs, State Government service representatives, and many Indigenous women.
I also coordinated the endorsements process following the conference. -
Executive Officer
Women's Constitutional Convention
- 6 months
Civil Rights and Social Action
I initiated the development of the convention including bringing together the steering committee, and was responsible for all day to day facets of organisation including managing the large volunteer staff. I was responsible for most media liaison and the supervision of inquiries. The position involved political negotiation as the convention was a non-partisan and non-position event, which attracted players from all aspects of the republican debate. The Executive Officer position included…
I initiated the development of the convention including bringing together the steering committee, and was responsible for all day to day facets of organisation including managing the large volunteer staff. I was responsible for most media liaison and the supervision of inquiries. The position involved political negotiation as the convention was a non-partisan and non-position event, which attracted players from all aspects of the republican debate. The Executive Officer position included responsibility for publicity, office management, and time management. The position also involved major communications network development and servicing of the website.
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Steering committee member
Women with Disabilities ACT
- 18 years 7 months
Human Rights
The long standing WWDACT steering committee undertook many representative roles, projects and advisory consultancies. More recently WWDACT received ACT government funding and was auspiced by the Women's Centre for Health Mattters. With incorporation the steering committee has become the inaugural board.
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Board member
Women with Disabilities ACT
- 1 year 4 months
Human Rights
WWDACT has now incorporated after 20 years of unincorporated work and being auspiced. The steering committee has become the inaugural board.
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Ambassador
Australian Centre for Leadership for Women
- Present 6 years 9 months
Human Rights
http://www.leadershipforwomen.com.au/home/about/ambassadors
Honors & Awards
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Finalist
Telstra Business Awards
ACT Finalist in the Emerging and Energised Category.
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2017 Westpac Social Change Fellowship
Westpac Foundation
undertaking the following:
1. develop networks of key influencers to build disability leadership
2. examine current leading practice in leadership training
3. connect with disability specialists to increase leadership diversity -
Winner - Lifetime Achievement in Inclusion
ACT Chief Minister's Inclusion Awards 2015
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Finalist
Telstra Businesswomen's Awards
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100 Women of Canberra
Centenary of Canberra
Languages
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English
Native or bilingual proficiency
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