This month, we welcomed our new CEO, Corene Strauss, to AND. We sat down with Corene to discuss her passion for disability inclusion, what being leader of our strong membership network means, and what she envisions for the future of AND.
AND: Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
Corene: I am a cause related professional – especially around how we can improve the lives of individuals and our communities. I love people and what we can do individually and collectively as a force for good.
AND: What motivates you to continue to build momentum for disability inclusion in Australian business?
Corene: The likelihood of living with disability increases with age. 2 in 5 people with disability are 65 years or older. It is not only the youth with disability but also our aging more mature workforce.
The research speaks for itself: workers with disability have higher rates of retention, better attendance and fewer occupational health and safety incidents than those without a disability. Why would you not embrace inclusive, equitable employment practices?
AND: What does it mean to you to now be the leader of Australia's disability inclusion member network?
Corene: I am extremely proud to join such an incredible organisation and team, to be working with so many of our committed members to build inclusive workplaces. As an employer myself I can see the opportunity that exists to provide a helping hand to those employers hesitating to embrace disability employment.
