interview
Liesl Tesch at a floorball
competition in NSW.
“I’ve had issues with the physical
prepared to trust me as a community
barriers, the structure within the representative, but they were
Parliament; with heritage architects doubtful about whether I’d be able to
telling me the building is the oldest hack it. Whether I’d be physically up
Parliament in Australia therefore you for it. That still applies,” she said.
can’t change it.
“But there shouldn’t be any
“I’ve been a CEO for 20 years but
there’s still a suspicion that you are
reason why I can’t be the politician not quite competent, that something
like everyone else who can wave their will go wrong, and you find yourself
arms and march around and not be being bypassed by people who are
put in a one metre box because I’ve not as competent.
got a wheelchair underneath me. As
“The analogy is similar to gender
the government, we must get this equality. We’ve seen competent
right for the rest of society.” women who are highly qualified
C
being bypassed by men who are
Christina Ryan, disability advocate
just a bit more comfortable for the
hristina Ryan established people around the position. And we
the Disability Leadership definitely see that in disability.
Institute to develop, support
and promote leaders with disabilities.
Canberra-based Ms Ryan has
“In some ways we’re one of the
last diversity groups to really get an
opportunity to participate as equals,
lobbied for more than 20 years for as people who have a high degree of
greater representation of people competence and a lot to contribute.
with disability.
“I think in those 20 years some
“It’s going to take some time to
tackle these misconceptions and it
things have shifted, but overall, is why I set up the Disability
there’s a still a huge shift to be Leadership Institute.”
made,” she said.
“I’d say attitude is 90 per cent
Christina Ryan, above, and Liesl Tesch
campaigning, below.
Through the Institute, Ms Ryan
is focussing on connecting leaders
“The expectation is disability
of the problem. We (people with and emerging leaders with disability leaders will emerge fully formed from
disability) are not trusted or thought with their peers, and providing somewhere, and that is what we have
of as people who work in the support through mentoring and to change. We must develop true
leadership space. leadership coaching. pathways so that we have an ongoing
“I regularly come across people
A survey conducted by the
pipeline of talent.
(without disability) who just cannot Institute of leaders with disability to consider that a person with disability ascertain their experiences, barriers supporting people to become
could be as competent, intelligent, and aspirations, illustrated a lack of leaders, to stay leaders, and to be
or experienced as they are.” any systematic approach to disability well-rounded leaders.
Ms Ryan was the first woman
who uses a wheelchair to run for any
leadership development.
“Our survey found most leaders
“The Institute is all about
“We need leaders with disability
because it will change the public
Australian Parliament (the Australian are working in isolation, having to perception of people with disabilities
Capital Territory Assembly) in 2001. use their own financial resources, as being engaged citizens. Society
and were mentoring others without will benefit enormously.”
“One of the things I found when
I ran for Parliament was people were
linkonline.com.au
anyone else to talk to,” she said.
www.disabilityleaders.com.au
interview
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