Meet our Speakers
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: KARNI LIDDELL
A Paralympian, world record holder, and passionate advocate, Karni Liddell has spent her life breaking barriers. Born with a neuro-muscular wasting disease, she defied the odds to become a medal-winning athlete, disability rights leader, and clinical social worker. Karni played a pivotal role in bringing the NDIS to Australia, has raised over $1 million for disability charities, and is a sought-after keynote speaker and media presenter. With her powerful storytelling, she inspires audiences to challenge limitations, embrace resilience, and drive meaningful change.
HOST: CALEB RIXON
A survivor, storyteller, and changemaker, Caleb Rixon turns adversity into inspiration. After surviving a life-altering stroke at 24, he founded Genyus Network, building a global community that empowers people impacted by stroke, brain injury, and disability. With a magnetic stage presence and infectious energy, Caleb has captivated audiences worldwide—hosting events, delivering keynotes, and reshaping conversations around inclusion and resilience. A 2025 Westpac Social Change Fellow and Occupational Therapy Australia board member, Caleb’s mission is simple: to ignite possibility, celebrate human potential, and remind us all of the power of connection. Get ready for an unforgettable experience!
MELISSA LOCKE: PAEDIATRIC PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Melissa Locke is a highly respected paediatric physiotherapist with 40 years of experience in children’s health and disability. As one of only five Fellows in paediatric physiotherapy in Australia, she leads a private practice focused on complex cases and clinical governance. A passionate advocate for improving quality of life and independence for people of all abilities, Melissa is a former Chair of the Australian Physiotherapy Council and APA, and served as Vice President of World Physiotherapy. She is dedicated to building a strong, sustainable global physiotherapy workforce and mentoring the next generation of professional leaders.
DR KATY CAYNES: SPEECH PATHOLOGIST & LECTURER
Dr Katy Caynes is a speech pathologist and lecturer at the University of Southern Queensland with extensive experience supporting infants, children, and young people with developmental disabilities. She has held senior clinical and leadership roles across disability and health services, and for over 14 years, has co-directed an interprofessional private practice. Katy is a national educator in communication and mealtime participation, particularly for children with cerebral palsy. Her PhD focused on functional communication and participation, co-authoring the Functional Communication Classification System (FCCS). Passionate about collaborative, family-centred care, Katy works to empower individuals and promote inclusive, meaningful participation.
REBECCA GLOVER – ADVOCATE, FOUNDER & INCLUSION CHAMPION
Rebecca is the founder of Ruby & Ollie’s and The Inclusion Network. With over a decade of experience, she has built Ruby & Ollie’s to provide specialised early childhood education and care for children with disabilities, particularly those whose needs exceed what mainstream services can provide. As a mum to four children, Rebecca’s experiences, especially raising her daughter Ruby, have shaped her work and fuelled her passion for advocacy. Ruby’s needs and the difficulties navigating available services have inspired Rebecca to pursue systemic change, ensuring that all children, regardless of their disabilities, receive the care they deserve.
As the director of The Inclusion Network, Rebecca now extends her expertise to support childcare directors, parents, and caregivers by providing training, mentorship, podcasts, and courses designed to enhance the inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood services. With a focus on systemic change, Rebecca advocates for better alignment between the NDIS and the Department of Education to ensure all children have access to the support they need to thrive.
FIONA LAWTON – DISABILTY ADVOCATE & SECTOR LEADER
Fiona is a highly experienced senior manager with over 25 years in the government sector, specialising in community and stakeholder engagement, safety and risk management, and training.
For more than 15 years, Fiona has been actively involved in rare disease support and advocacy, driven by her lived experience as the mother of a son with Angelman syndrome, a rare and complex neurodevelopmental disorder. She currently serves as President of the Angelman Syndrome Association Australia (ASAA) and is a member of the Disability Representative Organisation (DRO) Consortium.
Fiona is the Disability Advocacy Manager at Rare Voices Australia (RVA), the national peak body advocating for the estimated two million Australians living with rare diseases and associated disability impacts, and their families. She is also Director of her own company, Neu Pathways Australia, which provides support coordination and behaviour support services for NDIS participants with complex neurological conditions.
DIMITRA BAVEAS – SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER & FOUNDER OF MYBURROW
After nearly 20 years teaching in Queensland schools, Dimitra Baveas saw her own daughter struggle in the classroom and noticed the immediate benefits of occupational therapy. Realising the need to integrate these gains into daily learning, she sought to bridge the gap between therapy and education, fostering improvements in academic, social, and emotional development. This vision led to the creation of not just a bridge, but a “burrow” – MyBurrow®. Over the past seven years, MyBurrow® has connected Dimitra with a dynamic community of parents, therapists, clinicians, and young people with disabilities. Through this collaboration, she has witnessed firsthand the power of a shared approach in supporting children and young people.
JUSTIN BOULOS – OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST & MOBILITY SPECIALIST
Justin Boulos is a highly experienced Occupational Therapist and Seating & Mobility Specialist at ILS Kids. He is dedicated to helping children with disabilities achieve greater independence, comfort, and mobility through customised wheelchair and seating solutions in the most fun way possible.
At ILS Kids, Justin takes a client-centred approach, ensuring that every trial and assessment is more than just a clinical process. It’s a unique, memorable, and engaging experience for the child and their loved ones. Known for his out-of-the-box thinking, he tailors each solution to fit not just the child’s physical needs, but also their personality, lifestyle, and family dynamics. A strong advocate for early intervention mobility, Justin understands the profound impact that assistive technology can have in helping children keep up with their peers, explore their world, and build confidence from a young age.
JULIE TAYLOR – SENIOR ASSISTIVE TECH PROFESSIONAL
Julie Taylor is a highly experienced Senior Assistive Technology Professional – Paediatrics at ILS Kids, with over 30 years of experience working with children with disabilities. Having completed her formal education in the UK with a Bachelor of Education (Special Education), Julie has spent the past decade immersed in the Assistive Technology industry. She is passionate about creating opportunities for children to LIVE, LAUGH, and PLAY through meaningful AT solutions that spark joy, participation, and progress. Her focus is on building safe, engaging environments helps children not only access the equipment they need – but also reconnect with the confidence, curiosity, and independence that AT can unlock.
MONIQUE MITCHELSON – CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST & NEURODIVERSITY ADVOCATE
Monique is an Autistic and ADHD’er Clinical Psychologist and Co-Directory of Divergent Futures training. She works in training, consulting and private practice in Brisbane, Australia. She has consulted on the National Autism Strategy and aims to make neurodiversity affirming information and care accessible to everyone through her podcast ‘The Neurodivergent Woman Podcast’ which has over 2 million downloads. She also has co-authored ‘The Neurodivergence Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD’ (2024) which is a no.1 Bestseller in the Autism category on Amazon.
JACQUELINE DE MAMIEL – YOUNG CARER ADVOCATE
Jacqueline de Mamiel is the Young Carer Voice Lead at Little Dreamers Australia – Australia’s leading organisation supporting Young Carers. She has provided care for her two brothers with disabilities for as long as she can remember, and she also began caring for her mum when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. She uses her lived experience to raise awareness about the vital role of unpaid carers and to advocate for improved support for other Young Carers. Jacqueline balances her caring role alongside studying Politics and Chinese at the University of Melbourne.
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