Conference Keynote Speakers

DR ALLAN HAWKE AC

Highlights of Allan Hawke’s extensive public service career include: Secretary of the Departments of Veterans’ Affairs, Transport and Regional Services and Defence; and High Commissioner to New Zealand. Dr Hawke is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Public Administration, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. The Australian Financial Review’s “Boss” Magazine, named him as one of Australia’s top 30 true leaders in its inaugural list in 2001.

Dr Hawke served a three-year term as Chancellor of the ANU from 4 February 2006 and now serves on a range of public and private sector boards. He has conducted several Government enquiries, including recommending a new ACT Government structure and is involved in charitable, community and sporting organisations.

He was appointed a Companion in the Order of Australia in the 2010 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Born in Queanbeyan, he is noted for his keen sense of humour.

SUZI DUNCAN

Suzi Duncan, the creator of the Vision air hand control for pilots with lower limb disabilities, is a Commercial Pilot & Flight Instructor who herself has a disability. She is a pioneer in the world of disabled aviation and an inspiration to us all.

Suzi discovered flying gave her a sense of freedom, independence and self-belief and she vowed to make flying for people with disabilities accessible in Australia.

With the help of CASA (Civil Aviation Authority, Australia), the Royal Victoria Aero Club, Melbourne and Gippsland Aeronautics she started to develop the ‘Vision Air’ hand control to empower pilots with lower limb disabilities access to general aviation. The “Vision Air” hand control is now used in America, Canada, France, UK, and South Africa.

In 1997 Suzi received the “Nancy Bird Award”, for the most significant contribution to aviation by a woman of Australasia”. In 1998 she received a Winston Churchill Memorial Fellowship.

Currently, Suzi gives significant time to various community groups in her area. In particular she teaches art voluntarily to several groups of people with disabilities. She is also involved with facilitating art within refugee groups.

ANDREW LOCK

Andrew Lock is the most accomplished high altitude mountaineer in Australian history. He is the only Australian and just the 18th person in the world, to climb all fourteen of the world’s 8000 metre mountains, the highest peaks on earth. He is a vastly experienced Antarctic veteran and has led, trained and guided members of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions on multiple expeditions as well as commercial groups across Antarctica and the sub Antarctic.

He has survived avalanches, crevasse falls, frostbite, bivouacs at extreme altitude without equipment and witnessed friends perish. His exceptional achievements in the face of such adversity have demanded supreme levels of endurance, motivation and leadership.

In addition to his other charitable fundraising work, Andrew has twice been an Australia Day Ambassador and is an official ambassador of the Sir David Martin Foundation, the Australian Himalayan Foundation and Scouts Australia.

He holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Emergency Management) with Distinction, is the recipient of the Australian National Medal, the Australian Defence medal and he has twice been awarded the Mount Everest medal by the Government of Nepal. On the Queen’s Birthday 2011, Andrew was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.

DAVID COPLEY

David graduated from the South Australian College of Advanced Education in 1988 with a Diploma of Applied Science (Developmental Disabilities) and worked for 18 years in the disability services sector. With the support of an Indigenous Health Scholarship through the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund, he graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing in 2007. In 2009 he became the first Aboriginal person to complete a Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing. He is currently studying for a Masters of Nursing with the aim of improving Aboriginal health standards.

David says discussions around Aboriginal health have historically focused on illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. However, in 2009, Aboriginal men and women died from mental health issues at twice the rate of non-Aboriginal Australians. David now works as the Aboriginal Mental Health Clinician for General Practice Network South. He says an awareness of the complexity of Aboriginal health, cultural and socio-economic problems are essential for practitioners working with Aboriginal clients.