Meet our September 2026 LeadAbility cohort

We are pleased to introduce our LeadAbility Course September 2026 cohort.

This group of 16 emerging Western Australian leaders and changemakers is committed to growing their skills, knowledge and confidence to create meaningful impact towards a more inclusive WA.

We look forward to supporting this cohort over the next three months as they strengthen their leadership capability and work collaboratively to develop their Community Projects.

Leadership WA 2026 LeadAbility – September cohort:

• Aaron Green – Strategic Project Coordinator – Disability, Neurodiversity, Chronic Illness, Murdoch University
• Anu Sharma – Carer
• Emilie McAuliffe – Community Development & Activation Officer, Shire of Chittering
• Emily Gilmore – Senior Project Officer, Youth Disability Advocacy Network (YDAN)
• Emily Sullivan – Project Coordinator, Department of Housing and Works
• Emma Chessell-Keevers – Carer
• Karla Murphy – Administration Assistant, AMG Mortgage & Lending Solutions
• Lee Hardy – Assistant State Land Officer, Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage
• Mandy Middle – Coordinator Student Support, Curtin University
• Mark Couzens – Policy Officer, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
• Melinda Rea – Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy Services Group
• Rochelle Brown – Community Engagement Facilitator, Mission Australia
• Ryan Morich – Business Intelligence Specialist, Department of Housing and Works
• Sarah Parker – Senior Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator, Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage
• Tracey Constable – Manager, Healthy Mind Menu
• Travis Berg – Volunteer

We thank the Department of Communities WA (Disability Services) for their continued support of the LeadAbility Course.

A special thank you to the Project Mentors who will generously share their knowledge and experience throughout the course to support our participants with their Community Projects:

• Nicola Brown (LeadAbility 2023)
• Emily Edgar (LeadAbility 2025)
• David Carrington (LeadAbility 2014, Rising 2015)