Expert Disability Housing Advisory Panel

Panel members

• Karin Swift (Chair)
• Sara Shams (Deputy Chair)
• Julie Saunders
• Jasmen Youdale
• Alan Duffy
• Nigel Webb
• Jane Britt
• Dane Cross

Panel member biographies

Karin Swift

Karin is the President of Women with Disabilities Australia and a Board Member of the Community Resource Unit.

Both organisations work to support the rights and wellbeing of people with disability.

Karin has extensive experience implementing housing and homelessness policies, particularly within the context of disability.

She was part of the co-design team in the ‘My Housing Options’ project, working with QDN to create a toolkit to assist people with disability to make informed housing choices.

As the Coordinator of the Queensland Disability Housing Coalition, she also worked closely with government agencies and advocacy groups to develop policies that ensured housing solutions aligned with the 4 principles of rights, choice, control, and inclusion.

Karen’s extensive policy, housing and leadership experience make her an invaluable addition to the Expert Panel.

Sara Shams

Sara is a pharmacist, speaker, model and award-winning advocate for disability rights, diversity, and inclusion.

As a double above-knee amputee and a proud woman of colour, she is dedicated to reshaping narratives around disability, gender, and cultural identity while driving systemic change.

With expertise in healthcare, policy, and governance, Sara influences inclusive leadership, policymaking and equitable representation for culturally and linguistically diverse communities with disabilities across multiple platforms.

As a pharmacist, she excels in tailoring information for diverse audiences.

She serves on the boards of Carers Queensland and Limbs 4 Life and has been a peer support mentor for over a decade.

A dynamic speaker and experienced advocate, Sara’s expertise in policy, peer support, and representation make her a valuable voice on the Expert Panel.

Jasmen Youdale

Jasmen is a Peer Support Worker who works with people in crisis accommodation spaces, helping them to move into long-term tenancies and maintain and thrive in their accommodation.

With lived experience as a First Nations person with disability, Jasmen brings a lifetime of wisdom to her work.

Her family’s experiences navigating the housing system, personal challenges dealing with mental health and disabilities and a childhood that saw her in and out of government systems feeds her passion to help others.

Jasmen’s understanding of housing across rental and social, homeless shelters, child safety, youth residential care and boarding house settings, gives her the ability to advocate for others and a positive, open mindedness about what’s possible in each person’s housing journey.

Her commitment to championing the rights and representation of people with disabilities make Jasmen an asset to the Expert Panel.

Alan Duffy

Alan is a Board member of Nundah Community Enterprises Co-operative which creates sustainable employment and training opportunities for people with cognitive and/or psycho-social disabilities.

Alan is the President of Independent Youth Housing Organisation, a not-for-profit company providing stable housing, set up and run by people with an intellectual disability.

He is also the Vice-President of the Community Living Association, which runs a small housing project that houses people with an intellectual disability.

Alan’s understanding of how different housing organisations and systems operate, rental systems and the importance of people feeling a sense of control and security in relation to their housing will offer valuable perspectives in his role on the Expert Panel.

Nigel Webb

Nigel has been pursuing interests on behalf of people with disability for more than 35 years.

As a person living with physical disability, he has lived in institutional settings, group homes, community housing, the private rental market, public housing and is now a proud homeowner.

From 2010-2020, Nigel was elected annually as Chair of the Board of Directors of QDN and in 2015 was involved with developing the 4 key housing principles for inclusive communities of rights, choice, inclusion and control.

In his work with QDN, Nigel was one of the appointed 22 ‘Housing Champions’. Nigel was co-Chair of the National Disability and Carers Advisory Council from Aug 2018 to Nov 2019.

Nigel was an inaugural member of the Queensland Disability Advisory Council (QDAC) providing advice to the Queensland Government on its disability action plans and portfolio areas for 5 years and was reappointed to QDAC in 2022.

Nigel is also a Queensland delegate to the Australian Disability Strategy Advisory Council.

With lived experience, a career in engagement models backed by qualifications in quality management systems and disability auditing processes, Nigel brings a wealth of experience to the Expert Panel.

Julie Saunders

Julie is a policy professional in housing and has lived experience as a mother of a child with disability.

As Chair of the Queensland Housing Supply Expert Panel and a board member of Bric Housing Since 2020, Julie has a broad experience across various levels of government, the not-for-profit and private sectors.

Julie recently worked on the Game Changers report with QDN, which outlines the changes needed to support improved inclusive employment around the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

With expertise in housing policy, as a strategist and having lived experience as a carer, Julie brings a unique perspective to the Expert Panel.

Jane Britt

A not-for-profit and disability leader for over 8 years, Jane is a Disability Policy Consultant, working with for-purpose and not-for-profit organisations to deliver high-level policy consultation work. She is a Senior Consultant and Advisor for The Social Deck.

Jane is a current Non-Executive Director for Holy Cross Services and Social Futures and has held roles with:

• People with Disability Australia
• Blind Citizens Australia
• Queenslanders with Disability Network.

Throughout her policy work, Jane has contributed on a broad range of issues to the:

• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Review (lead)
• Disability Royal Commission
• Aged Care Royal Commission
• Senate inquiries
• federal and state consultations

Her contributions include:

• the NDIS
• National Disability Strategy
• state Disability Plans
• transport
• education
• employment
• banking
• housing
• community access
• civic participation
• emergency response/planning.

As a person with disability and vast professional experience, Jane brings a wealth of experience and rich perspectives to the Expert Panel.

Dane Cross

As Chief Operating Officer at Sporting Wheelies and former Senior Advisor for Access & Inclusion at Spinal Life Australia, Dane has combined his professional expertise with lived experience of quadriplegia to influence:

• housing policy
• accessibility standards
• inclusive design practices.

As an Access Consultant, he has worked extensively with governments, businesses, and communities to address accessibility challenges in the built environment, gaining firsthand insight into the barriers within the private rental market, including resistance to modifications.

Dane has personally navigated a wide range of housing systems, including:

• Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) under the NDIS
• social housing
• private rentals
• home ownership.

These experiences provide him with a deep understanding of the systemic barriers faced by people with disabilities and strengthen his ability to advocate for policies that promote accessibility, affordability, and independent living across all housing types.

His commitment to co-design and policy leadership makes him a valuable contributor to the Expert Panel.

More information

Contact the Department of Housing and Public Works at hhsdisability@housing.qld.gov.au.

Contact Queenslanders with Disability Network at qdn@qdn.org.au or phone 1300 363 783.