Blind Citizens Australia (BCA), has launched an Executive Leadership Program that is exclusively available to Australians who are blind or vision impaired, aiming to address the systemic barriers to disability leadership.
According to BCA, 1 in 7 people have a disability, but fewer than 1 in 14 of board level executives identify as a person with disability. Of those who do identifiy as a person with disability, 1 in 5 do not feel comfortable disclosing their disability to colleagues, according to a 2019 study by Ernst and Young and The Valuable.
“Whilst there is support for people with disability to participate in entry-level roles in corporate and not for profit organisations, there are very few opportunities for people with disability to take on managerial and executive positions,” BCA said in a statement.
Funded by Department of Social Services, Blind Citizens Australia’s 2021 Executive Leadership Program seeks to build the capacity and skills of leaders who are blind or vision impaired and increase the prevalence of people who are blind or vision impaired in leadership roles within the disability sector and in the broader community.
Emma Bennison, CEO of BCA, said she is passionate about developing and supporting future leaders, having experienced the challenges of disability leadership herself. As the first person with disability to be appointed as CEO of Arts Access Australia, Emma implemented an international online discussion forum for arts and cultural leaders with disability and worked with the Australia Council for the Arts to bring the Sync Leadership Program to develop the capacity of artists and arts workers with disability to Australia.
“We need more people with disability in leadership positions, influencing strategic direction and championing inclusive design. Quite simply, it makes good business sense to encourage diversity within executive teams and throughout an organisation. It should not just be an add on or a box to tick,” she said.
“That’s why we’ve developed the ELP and are committed to providing opportunities for program participants to have direct executive leadership experience. This starts within BCA itself. I will take study leave for two six-week periods which will enable two of the ELP participants to act in my role during 2021.”
The BCA Executive Leadership Program is currently training seven leaders who are blind or vision-impaired in governance, coaching, and experiential and operational leadership.
The 2021 BCA Executive Leadership Program participants are: Jane Britt, BCA National Policy Officer, Sally Aurisch, BCA General Manager – Projects and Engagement, Rikki Chaplin, BCA Policy and Advocacy Team Leader, Fiona Woods, BCA Vice President, Helen Freris, BCA Board Member and Health Services Manager at Women with Disabilities Victoria, Prue Watt, Senior Policy Officer at Safe Work Australia and member of the NSW Disability Council, and Associate Professor Linda Agnew, Head of School of Science and Technology, University of New England.
Former Paralympian and BCA Board Member Prue Watt is looking forward to the program and was attracted by the curriculum.
“This is a practical opportunity to strengthen my leadership skills and take me out of my comfort zone. I’m excited to work with and observe other leaders who are blind or vision impaired who each have incredible achievements to their name,” she said.