President’s report on the Diversity Practitioners Association in 2025
It gives me great pleasure to reflect on the Diversity Practitioners Associations activity in 2025.
Events
The Diversity Practitioners Association held eight events in 2025 attracting over 200 registrations collectively:
Navigating the legal landscape: key insights for DEI Practitioners with Tom Raeburn - February
Member Networking, afterwork drinks - March
Member Networking, breakfast - May
Reconciliation in a Changing World, with Vonda Malone - June
How to Future-Proof DEI: a Practitioner Workshop - July
Creating Neuro-Inclusive Workplaces: a Practical Workshop with Catherine Lee - August
Roundtable Lunch with opportunity to discuss Workplace Adjustments - September
Recognising and Rewarding Employee Networks for Sustainable Impact - November
The committee reflected on the unique value proposition we offer to members as a Queensland-based member association and made the decision to focus on more in-person event opportunities in 2025. The committee also opted to reposition networking events as roundtable discussions and offer a theme for attendees to facilitate more structured discussion. We have continued to experiment with
Special Projects
In 2025, DPA worked with Kira Hansen to update our website to ensure accessibility and improve navigation and readability. Special thanks to Emma Guest who led this work on behalf of the committee.
Thank you
Thanks goes to my fellow 2025 management committee members who passionately contributed to the success of the DPA: Emma Elder, Emma Guest, Natasha Caflish, Louise Baxter, Luke Nixon, Luke Butler and Gina Chambers. Our volunteer committee devotes time, expertise and passion in pursuit of DPA’s mission: to support individuals, organisations and practitioners actively seeking to build and sustain diverse and inclusive organisations.
Thanks in particular to Luke and Gina for their contributions in 2025 as outgoing committee members. Your perspectives and contribution has strengthened DPA and I look forward to your continued involvement with the DPA as members.
Thank you to our 2025 corporate supporters and sponsors: Kingston Human Capital and Urban Utilities. The support of our sponsors enables the DPA to continue to deliver for our members and increases the visibility of the work we do amongst a broader network of D&I advocates.
Lastly and most of all: thanks to all of the Diversity Practitioners Association members. We are a community of 80 as of November 2025, and as an association we are thrilled to see the maturity and knowledge of this community grow and observe the great work being implemented by DEI practitioners in Queensland. The collective contributions, sharing of knowledge, passion and drive sustains our community and is helping to make our world and workplaces more inclusive in increasingly complex times.
The 2026 DPA Management Committee
I’m pleased to announce the 2026 DPA Management Committee with some continuing members and some new contributors:
President – Natasha Caflisch
Secretary – Emma Guest
Treasurer – Emma Elder
VP Memberships – Mini Biti
VP Sponsorships – Louise Baxter
VP Comms – Luke Butler
VP Events – Beryl Griffin
VP Engagement - Andrea Smith
I firmly believe the DPA is strengthened by welcoming new perspectives and styles to the management committee and so it gives me a great sense of comfort as outgoing president to pass the baton to Tash as the DPA heads into it’s 10th (!) year.
As members, we all contribute to the success of the association - I encourage you all to continue to make a contribution worthy of the community you seek.
Andrea Smith
President
