Overview
Australia has around 1 million working-age people with significant disability, and only 27% are currently employed. Many of the 730,000 people with disabilities not working today could participate if conditions, supports and pathways were better aligned. This represents perhaps the largest labour productivity opportunity available in Australia today.
We invite you to join us for a joint session with the Disability Funders Peer Network and Jobs & Skills Funders Network (JaSFN). We are putting a spotlight on Disability Employment Investments Ltd (DEInvestments) - a new philanthropic collective focused on good employment, which translates to good wages, conditions and choice.
In this joint session, John Burn (CEO) will share DEInvestments’ approach and the program of work underway. Together, we’ll explore:
- The potential for strategic re-granting versus co-funding approaches
- The need for a structural shift in approach from employee, supply-side “push” models to employer, demand-side “pull” models in employment programs; and
- The requirement to consider people with disabilities as a significant cohort in all sector-based employment-based programs.
Online event
Details will be provided after the registration is submitted.
Date and time
Tuesday 31 March 2025
12:00pm - 1:00pm AEDT (ACT, NSW, TAS, VIC)
11:30am - 12:30pm ACST (SA)
11:00am - 12:00pm AEST (QLD)
10:30am - 11:30am ACST (NT)
9:00am - 10:00am AWST (WA)
Audience
This session is open to Philanthropy Australia funder members at the New Gen, Engage (individual/ organisation) or Impact membership levels.
If you are already a funder member of Philanthropy Australia, contact programs@philanthropy.org.au to sign up to this funders group or to learn more about the philanthropic work in this area.
Not yet a Philanthropy Australia member? Please email membership@philanthropy.org.au.
Presenter
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John Burn, CEO, Disability Employment Investments (DEInvestments)
John Burn is CEO of Disability Employment Investments, a new philanthropic collective focussed on more and better jobs for people with significant disability.
Prior to establishing DEInvestments, John worked with Many Rivers Microfinance for 14 years, including 9 years as Managing Director and CEO. John’s background is in banking with 21 years at Commonwealth Bank, starting as a graduate and finishing as Executive General Manager, Group Strategic Initiatives.
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About DEInvestments
Disability Employment Investments Ltd (DEInvestments) as a strategic re-granting organisation, has set a goal to support new jobs for 100k people with significant disabilities and better jobs for the 270k people currently working, over 10 years.
An initiating strategy “roadmap” has been set that addresses change at three levels: the societal, system-level; employer-demand driven, place-based integrated programs; and investment into individual organisations to transform and scale.
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Disability Funders Network Co-chairs
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Nick Taylor, Disability Portfolio Lead for a private philanthropic trust; Chairman, Board for Wheelchair Sports NSW
Nick Taylor is the Disability Portfolio Lead for a private philanthropic trust, and the Chairman of the Board for Wheelchair Sports NSW. A native of South Africa, Nick grew up in a sports obsessed family of four siblings.
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In 1998, just after he finished high school, Nick was involved in a serious car accident that left him paralysed from the waist down. At the time, Nick was leading his team in the South African National Basketball Championship and despite his absence from the grand final, his team would go on to win the national title in overtime. They dedicated the win to their fallen captain, who would also be named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
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Nick received a bachelor’s degree in business science in Cape Town, including spending a year on a wheelchair basketball scholarship at the University of Texas. Going from strength to strength, Nick then secured a role with a leading international management-consulting firm in Johannesburg and got back to representing South Africa, playing wheelchair basketball in both the World Championships and the Paralympics.
In 2006 Nick immigrated to Australia to build a brighter future for himself in Sydney. He became an Australian citizen and sat out of international competition in wheelchair basketball for three years so he could switch his nationality in order to represent Australia. He did so at the highest level by playing in the London Paralympics in 2012, winning a silver medal and two years later in Korea, he and his team would be crowned World Champions!
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Kirsty Nowlan, Executive Director, The Achieve Foundation
Dr Kirsty Nowlan is the Executive Director at The Achieve Foundation, leading large systems change initiatives across both international development and in Australia. She has worked across areas as diverse as ageism in Australia, child mortality and fragile and conflict-affected states. Underpinning all the roles in her career is a deep commitment to social justice. Kirsty is dedicated to making better outcomes happen for people with disability and shaping society to embrace the diversity of human experience as a strength.
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Alongside her work with The Achieve Foundation, she is on the boards of The Centre for Social Purpose – a membership organisation that works to support operational excellence in for purpose organisations – and Peacifica, an Australian-based organisation that aims to promote peace through genuine partnerships with Pacific Islanders. She holds a PhD on international law and politics and her thesis explored the evolution of new forms of power through citizen activism around international trade negotiations.
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Jobs and Skills Funders Network (JaSFN) Chair - TBC
Peer Network Lead, Disability Funders Peer Network
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Jodi Farley, Director of Engagement (SA), Philanthropy Australia
Jodi joined Philanthropy Australia with 25 years of experience working with diverse communities to create shared value across the for-purpose, government, and corporate sectors. Throughout her career, she has led projects and partnerships that deliver meaningful social impact — from strategic grants programs and large-scale fundraising events to community-driven initiatives designed in collaboration with the people they serve. |
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Known for building strong, long-term relationships, Jodi is passionate about empowering communities to grow their capacity through people-led, purpose-driven approaches that foster collaboration and connection.In her capacity as Director, Engagement (SA), Jodi nurtures strategic relationships, encourages collaboration and champions social impact across the philanthropic sector.Jodi holds a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Graduate Certificate in Social Impact. |
Peer Network Lead, Jobs and Skills Funders Network
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Brianna Kerr, Director, Knowledge and Practice, Philanthropy Australia
Brianna (Bri) Kerr is a social entrepreneur, academic, facilitator and consultant, with a decade of experience turning insight into action, knowledge into practice. After an array of early career experiences in international development – spanning work in Papua New Guinea, India, Malawi and Indonesia – Bri co-founded social enterprise Kua – an organisation dedicated to improving the livelihoods of smallholder coffee farmers in Uganda. |
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When Kua was acquired by Commonfolk, Bri stepped into the higher education space – developing and delivering social impact and sustainability courses at the Centre for Social Impact UNSW and Monash Business School.
In recent years, Bri has consulted for a range of for-purpose organisations, both independently and in partnership with Pale Blue. Notably, in 2025, she managed the She Gives National Research Project – the largest mixed-methods study into women’s giving ever undertaken in Australia.
Alongside her role at Philanthropy Australia, Bri is the doting Founder of Five Bucks and an eager Non-Executive Director of Think Forward. |
