The DPA is a not-for-profit association for those progressing diversity and inclusion in Australian organisations.
In 2015, Darren Hooper put the call out for diversity practitioners wanting to connect to make a difference. Those who responded had one thing in common - a passion to see our organisations and communities become places where all people are valued equally.
By sharing our expertise, experiences and challenges and by creating a forum to tackle complexity, we give practitioners the ingredients to be the game changers of their organisations. As we support each other to make change in our own spheres of influence, we drive our collective purpose forward.
We are passionate, we are proactive and we are positioned to create change.
We are people making a difference.
Management Committee
Andrea Smith - President
Andrea is a passionate D&I practitioner with a career devoted to delivering people solutions in the resources and utilities sectors. Committed to maximising organisations’ relationships with their people, Andrea specialises in building ground-up strategies that deliver in the areas of diversity and inclusion, organisational culture and employee engagement. Andrea is currently leading Energy Queensland’s diversity, equity and inclusion practice, focusing on sustained cultural change to drive tangible business results.
In 2018, Andrea was awarded a Master of Strategic Organisational Development, her study focused heavily on D&I and included research on leveraging inclusion to drive diversity. Andrea was recognized as a finalist for the AHRI HR Diversity Champion award in 2018. Andrea’s driven to see the DPA connect and develop professionals to equip our community to achieve the outcomes we collectively seek.
Emma Guest - Secretary
Emma is a dedicated and experienced Diversity and Inclusion specialist with a passion for people, social justice, equity and organisational culture. Emma’s background in anthropology, sociology and organisational psychology provides a multidisciplinary approach that equips her with a comprehensive understanding of societal dynamics, human behaviour and the complex interplay between individuals and organisations. With experience working across the nonprofit, corporate and government sectors Emma thrives in supporting individuals and organisations on their inclusion journeys to achieve shared goals and drive meaningful change.
Luke Nixon - Treasurer
Luke is currently the Assistant Director for Diversity Equity and Inclusion within the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, and has a proven track record of building industry-leading Employee Resource Groups and grassroots, employee-driven inclusion initiatives.
With 15 years’ experience working in the public sector, Luke has established himself as a passionate and trusted advisor, known for his ability to drive cultural change in complex organisational environments. The recipient of the Pride in Diversity LGBTQ+ Network Leader of the Year Award 2024, and the Lord Mayor’s Award for Excellence 2017, Luke knows which organisational lever to pull in order to have the maximum impact on workplace inclusion, whether that be policy, strategy, executive engagement or grass roots employee engagement.
With a background in LGBTIQ+ workplace inclusion, Luke was previously the driving force behind Brisbane City Council’s LGBTIQ+ inclusion agenda, paving the way for Council to emerge in 2019 as the highest ranked government authority nationally for LGBTIQ+ inclusion as measured by the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI), the national benchmark for LGBTIQ+ workplace inclusion.
Emma Elder - Vice President Sponsors
Emma’s HR career has spanned a broad range of industries over 15 years, including retail, recruitment, finance and insurance, disability, government and utilities. Prior to her HR career she has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience from frontline and leadership roles in sport, fitness and hospitality. This experience fuels Emma’s passion for excellent customer service, and acknowledges that the key to this from an organisation’s perspective is employee engagement . She is passionate about helping achieve an inclusive culture and diverse workforce to drive organisational success, and more broadly an inclusive society. Emma was a founding member of the DPA and joined the committee in 2018.
Outside of the DPA Emma enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, she participates in CrossFit, Weightlifting and Touch Football, has completed a Certificate IV in Elite Athlete Wellbeing alongisde many qualifications in sport coaching and fitness.
Louise Baxter - Vice President Events
Louise is a proud queer woman who is passionate about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, human rights, and fairness especially in relation to employment opportunities and access to services. She is currently a Senior D&I Advisor within Queensland Health and has a background in mental health and community services.
This experience has given Louise a deep understand of the impact inclusion and belonging have on mental wellbeing and the flow on benefit of more inclusive communities. Louise believes everyone has a leadership role to play in building inclusion in our workplaces and society and specialises in supporting and upskilling organisations and individuals to play their part.
Outside DPA Louise is Management Committee Member for Stepping Stones Clubhouse and the Team Manager of the Australian Women’s Roller Hockey Team.
Natasha Caflisch - Vice President Memberships
Tash is a dedicated Diversity, Equity & Inclusion practitioner with a passion for breaking the cycle of employment disadvantage and promoting social mobility. With extensive experience in Project Management, Talent Acquisition and Human Resources, Tash has a keen eye for detail and a strategic mindset that she leverages to identify and create impactful initiatives that drive change and foster inclusion in the workplace.
Throughout her D,E&I career, Tash has spearheaded successful projects aimed at improving access to employment and promoting diversity, inclusion and belonging in the workplace with a specific focus supporting those with disability and First Nations peoples. Her work has included collaborating with community organisations and government agencies to create meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities within the defence, education, health, retail and mining sectors and firmly believes that diversity, equity and inclusion are essential for the growth and success of every organisation.
Tash is committed to making a positive impact and is passionate about creating a better future for the next generation.
Gina Chambers - Vice President Communications
Gina Chambers is a seasoned HR and Organisational Development professional with over 15 years of experience across various industries such as Banking, Retail, Automotive, Defence, Engineering, and Not-for-Profit. Her expertise spans across all HR operational functions and specialised areas, including culture, engagement and Diversity & Inclusion (D&I)
Throughout her career, Gina has led many high-impact HR programs including D&I annd engagement initiatives. Gina has also created and led many employee resource groups promoting inclusive workplace cultures.
Gina’s hands-on and strategic approach ensures HR strategies are tailored to business and employee needs by fostering a high-performance, positive and inclusive culture.
Gina holds a Master of Employment Relations and a Bachelor of Business in HR Management from Griffith University, along with certifications in training, rehabilitation coordination, and coaching methodologies (TMS, LSI, Neuro Coaching).
