Emma Olivier is determined to move the dial on disability inclusion and see people with disability lead in every corner of our society.
Her 30-year experience in the corporate world demonstrated that people with disability are often not in leadership positions or at the tables where decisions are made.
This led her to found Twenty Percent, a disability inclusion advisory service helping organisations develop strategies and plans to improve access and inclusion.
She holds a number of other leadership roles in the community and governance settings, where she can not only advocate for disability inclusion but show firsthand that people with disability can make valuable contributions in leadership across a variety of industries.
She even has the title of being Victoria's first one-armed surf lifesaver!
But most importantly for us, Emma is a member of our Board's Audit and Risk Committee and is passionate about seeing more people with disability in leadership roles.
We asked Emma five quick-fire questions about leadership and disability.
Why is it important to have people with disability in leadership roles?
As a person with a disability, I believe we need to see disability at every table that decisions are made, especially tables of governance. We are more than 20 percent of the population – we should be and need to be in every place, including leadership.
What impact can leaders with disability have?
We are creative problem solvers – we solve problems in our everyday lives all the time. The world needs these skills now more than ever, especially in leadership, as we face the challenges of 2024 and beyond.
What are some of the challenges of living with disability?
For a long time, others have spoken for us and made decisions that impact how we sit in the world. Our contribution has been considered as low value and has often been overlooked. We are also a diverse community, and our experience of disability is as individual as we are. But the dial on disability inclusion is moving in the right direction. People with disability are more visible than ever before and our voices are starting to be listened to. Change is happening and we are at the heart of it.
What have you learnt from being in leadership roles?
Leadership is not a title; we can execute leadership from any role or position. For me, it has been learning to sit outside of my comfort zone and being comfortable with being uncomfortable. Leadership also takes courage and vulnerability. These can be hard to lean in to at times, but it gets easier with practice. The best leaders will also turn around and mentor someone behind them. Leadership is a team sport.
What advice do you have for people with disability who want to become leaders?
Look for opportunities to keep building your skills. Be confident to put yourself forward and say yes to opportunities when they present themselves. There are a number of scholarships available in many fields that are open to people with disability. Find a mentor in a field that you are interested in who can provide support as you build your leadership capabilities. The Disability Leadership Institute is also a great place to connect with other leaders and aspiring leaders with disability.
Emma is part of our 2024 International Day of People with Disability series which celebrates the theme ‘Amplifying the leadership of people with disability for an inclusive and sustainable future’. From 28 November – 3 December, we're sharing the stories of just some of our leaders living with disability and clients who are dreaming big and achieving their goals.
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