Every Australian Counts Steering Committee

Dr George Taleporos – Independent Chair

Dr George Taleporos is well known to the disability community. He has a PhD in psychology with honours in sociology and over 20 years’ experience advocating for disability rights and self-directed supports. He has been actively involved in the Every Australian Counts campaign since it was established, and was appointed as the independent chair in 2022.

He is an NDIS participant, a member of the NDIS Independent Advisory Council, a non-Executive Director of a registered NDIS provider InLife, and a board member of the Self Manager Hub. He currently works as a strategic advisor at the Summer Foundation, where he hosts and produces a podcast series about the NDIS, called ‘Reasonable and Necessary’.

Nick Avery

Nick is autistic and physically disabled, and parent of two autistic young adults.  She is the CEO of South West Autism Network (SWAN), Co-Chair of the Self Manager Hub and a Board Member of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network of Australia and New Zealand (ASAN-AUNZ).

Nick has been advocating and working in the WA disability sector since 1999, and was part of the campaign for Western Australia to move from the state-based version of the NDIS (WANDIS) and join the national scheme.  She has extensive experience in providing individual and systemic advocacy, stakeholder consultation and co-design and project management.

Described as an NDIS nerd, her priorities include ensuring that EAC hear and represent the concerns of NDIS participants and families living in regional and remote Australia, as well as those in metropolitan areas.  Nick wants to see an NDIS that is no longer a political football and media target, but a well-run, easy to understand and navigate system of support which flexibly meets the needs of NDIS participants.  A scheme which puts people with disability first.

Ross Joyce

Ross is a seasoned leader with a strong commitment to inclusion and equity, bringing extensive experience across healthcare, community services, and advocacy. As CEO of AFDO, Ross has a proven track record of driving innovation and strategic change. His previous roles include leading regional healthcare and community organisations such as Macedon Ranges & North-Western Melbourne Medicare Local, PivotWest, and Hume-Moonee Valley Regional Library Corporation, as well as co-founding UrCommunity Initiatives to address poverty and foster inclusion.

Ross also served nearly 20 years as Director and President/Chair of Annecto, promoting inclusion for people with disabilities, older Australians, veterans, and carers. His leadership is informed by personal experiences, including living with chronic pain and restricted mobility following a car accident and supporting a family member through significant mental health challenges.

Ross holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Management, a Bachelor of Business, and certifications in quality assurance and auditing. He is a Fellow of Leadership Victoria’s Williamson Leadership Program, a Certified Professional of the Australian Human Resources Institute, and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Muriel Cummins

Muriel is a value-driven leader and passionate about promoting and protecting the human rights of people living with a disability. An avid writer, she has been a strong and persistent voice in advocating for the NDIS to fulfill the promise of Australia’s disability safety net for all people who need it, including people with psychosocial, and hidden or ‘invisible’, disability.

Muriel is an advocate for ending segregated living environment and congregate care, and for creating accessible and personalised living arrangements for people with disability in our communities.

With a background in occupational therapy and public health, Muriel has skills in creating, equitable, effective, co-designed and accessible policy and systems that work for individuals and communities. In 2022, she received the Australian allied health award for Occupational Therapist of the Year, in part for contribution to working towards an equitable NDIS.

As a family member and parent, as an advocate, and as an occupational therapist, Muriel believes there has never been a more important time to shout Every Australian Counts, loud and proud!

Heidi La Paglia

Heidi La Paglia Reid (she/her) s an Autistic, disabled advocate and NDIS participant with over a decade of experience working in gender equality, disability rights and violence prevention. In this time, has represented people with disabilities on numerous committees and advisory bodies and has contributed to a number of major policy reforms, including as a member of the Oversight Council overseeing Australia’s first National Autism Strategy.

Both within and outside of her consultancy, Heidi has consistently engaged with inquiries, consultations and reforms concerning the NDIS and is grateful to have been appointed to the Every Australian Counts Steering Committee at a time when the NDIS and the disability support sector are undergoing such rapid and major changes.

As a member of the Committee and in her advocacy in general, Heidi is passionate about ensuring that the NDIS considers the impact of gender and caring responsibilities on the support needs of individuals; and ensures that there are adequate safeguards to prevent all forms of violence and discrimination.

Mei-Leng Hooi

Based in North Melbourne, Mei-Leng Hooi is a passionate advocate for disability rights, driven by personal experience and her sister’s journey with a paediatric acquired brain disorder. Mei-Leng’s engagement with the disability support system began after a life-changing accident in 2010, giving her invaluable insight into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the barriers faced by people with disabilities, especially those with ‘invisible disabilities’ like chronic pain and fibromyalgia. Her two-year case experience with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal deepened her resolve to advocate for a fairer and more inclusive system.

Professionally, Mei-Leng brings a diverse skill set with a background in Arts (Psychology), Business (Marketing), and Social Media Marketing. She currently holds committee positions with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Breast Screen Australia’s Expert Advisory. As a member of the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community, Mei-Leng is committed to ensuring equitable representation and inclusive policy reform.

Mark Pietsch

Mark Pietsch is an experienced disability rights advocate and the NSW State Director for Physical Disability Australia (PDA). With a background in policy development, campaign management, and community advocacy, Mark is committed to advancing the rights of people with disabilities and enhancing the effectiveness of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). His advocacy is shaped by his own lived experience with disability, including a musculoskeletal movement disorder, autism, and ADHD, giving him a unique understanding of the barriers faced by NDIS participants.

As the founder of Ability Links Pty Ltd, he and his team strive to help people feel heard and understood. As a disability led social enterprise that prioritises employing people with a personal connection to the disability rights movement; he and his team use innovation and out of the box solutions to help people share their story, navigate life, and champion their rights.

A strong proponent of human rights and inclusion, Mark is dedicated to ensuring that the NDIS upholds its commitments. He hopes to bring his skills in political engagement and advocacy to the Every Australian Counts (EAC) Steering Committee to further its mission of equitable and impactful disability policy reform.