DRIVING
CHANGE

Keely Cat-Wells

Founder & CEO Making Space (USA)

Keely founded her first company in hospital, which later became C Talent, a talent agency that represents Disabled artists, reshaping perceptions of disability. C Talent was acquired in 2022, marking a significant milestone for disability within the creative industries. Keely is now the founder & CEO of Making Space, a talent acquisition and learning platform that develops accessible pathways to employment and career advancement through employer-backed courses for Disabled people, notably securing partnerships with NBC, Netflix and Amazon. Under the Making Space umbrella is Making Space Media, a division that creates film and TV content amplifying disabled narratives, Making Space Media securing a first-look deal with Reese Witherspoons, Hello Sunshine. Keely is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree, Presidential Leadership Scholar ’24, AdWeek Young Influential and Diana Award Winner.

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Nas Campanella

ABC National Disability Affairs Reporter

Nas Campanella is the ABC’s National Disability Affairs Reporter. Nas is totally blind and has a neurological condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) which means she can’t read Braille. After completing a Communications degree at the University of Technology Sydney, majoring in journalism she started with the ABC as a cadet. Nas has worked as a regional reporter in south eastern New South Wales and then as a triple j newsreader for seven years. In taking on this role, Nas became the first blind newsreader in the world to read and operate the studio for herself live to air. In 2020 she was appointed to the senior national Disability Affairs role.

Nas travels the world to speak at events, helping to motivate people on issues ranging from inclusive education, adaptive technology, accessible travel and the importance of empowerment and leadership for women. Now also a proud mum to her son, Nas also shares her experiences navigating motherhood as a parent with disability. As well as working in the area of policy development in Australia and across the Pacific, Nas has volunteered abroad creating disability awareness training programs for the United Nations and has held several board positions in the disability sector.

Nas is a freelance writer, MC and mentor and is an ambassador for three organisations; The Centre of Perinatal Excellence, , Motivation Australia and the Royal Institute For Deaf and Blind Children.

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Lisa Cox

Advertising consultant and disability advocate.

Lisa Cox is a TEDx speaker, author, globally published writer, internationally awarded thought leader and inclusive communications consultant. Combining her professional background in advertising and media, with a lived experience of disability, Lisa is committed to improving employment outcomes for people with a disability by empowering professionals in some of the world’s most influential industries, like film and advertising. Her solutions-focused approach is helping professionals better navigate the nuances of disability inclusion through their content and workplace practices. Lisa is the inaugural Disability Affairs Officer at Media Diversity Australia, has worked with Advertising Council Australia’s Diversity & Inclusion Taskforce and currently sits on Griffith University Inclusive Futures Engagement Council. Read more at www.lisacox.co

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Michael Theo

Actor and Voice Over Artist

Michael Theo is an aspiring actor and voice over artist. Most recently he played a leading role in the

8 part comedy series Austin (ABC/Northern Pictures), where he stars alongside Ben Miller and Sally

Phillips, as well as Gia Carides and Roy Billing. As reviewed by David Knox/TV Tonight ‘Theo nails his

scenes alongside more experienced performers, with all the required comic timing’.

Michael was also the break-out star of the ABC/Northern Pictures documentary series, Love on the

Spectrum 1 & 2. Love on the Spectrum was a heart-warming and hugely successful series which

followed Michael and other young adults on the autism spectrum as they explored the

unpredictable world of love, dating and relationships. Michael captured the hearts of viewers with

his dapper style, unintentionally hilarious one liners, big heart and warm personality. He quickly

became a fan favourite not only in Australia but around the world, and appeared on many interview

shows including his favourite, Ellen in the US. Prior to Austin, Michael made his professional acting

debut in the Emmy award-winning kids drama, HardBall, also produced by Northern Pictures for

ABC Television. He is especially keen to work on comedies, animations and other voice roles in film

and television projects and has an array of character voices up his sleeve!

A passionate animal activist, nature lover, avid railway enthusiast, Michael is a strong believer in

‘it’s our differences that make us all special’. He has used both his online platforms and widely

successful podcast, Mr A+ (DM Podcasts) to create a safe space to express & celebrate these

differences and continues to invite many fascinating people from all walks of life to come forward

and share their interesting stories with the world.

Outside of the performing world, Michael is an Ambassador for Wable (an app designed to help

neurodivergent people facilitate connections for friendship). He also works at Aspect Autism as a

consultant.

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