Abbey Dalton (she/her) is one of the co-founders of the Disabled Australian Lawyers Association (DALA). She currently works as an Associate in the Discrimination, Child Safety and Workplace Relations team at Moores, where she supports organisations with strategic advice, training, policy development and litigation in these areas. Prior to joining Moores, Abbey worked as a lawyer in the Human Rights team at the Victorian Government Solicitor's Office, where she advised government clients on compliance under Victoria's Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006. Abbey has a keen interest in the promotion of rights for people with disability, and was recognised with the Emerging Leaders Award at the 2022 Victorian Disability Awards, and Law Institute of Victoria President’s Award for outstanding service in 2023. 

Sonia Sawant (she/her) is a Managing Lawyer at Victoria Legal Aid (VLA), who specialises in Criminal Law.  She has worked across various teams at VLA, including the Summary and Indictable Crime teams and has also managed regional and metro offices.  Prior to joining VLA, Sonia worked at commercial/generalist firms and community legal centres.  Being a woman of colour with a hearing impairment, she is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.  She is a Co-Chair of the LIV Diversity Committee and a member of the LIV Criminal Law Committee and the VPS Women of Colour Network.

Ella Alexander (she/her) is one of the co-founders of the DALA. She is a Special Counsel at Makinson d’Apice Lawyers in Sydney where she manages the firm’s pro bono practice. Ella has previously worked in litigation at a top tier law firm and as an academic researching and teaching various topics in human rights and linguistics. She has won multiple national awards for her work, including Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year at the Women in Law Awards, Pro Bono Program of the Year at the Australian Law Awards and the 30 under 30 Award for Pro Bono. Ella is a proud disabled woman and has worked flexible part-time hours throughout her career. She particularly enjoys supporting - and learning from - disabled law students, graduates and junior lawyers.

Rebecca Johnston-Ryan (she/her) is an experienced solicitor, prosecutor and investigator who was admitted to practice in 2013.  She has a Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies) majoring in Chinese language and politics, a Bachelor of Laws, and a Master of Laws (Global Business Law). Rebecca has worked in various Victorian Government roles at Consumer Affairs Victoria, the Coroners Court of Victoria, Victoria Police, WorkSafe Victoria, and currently at Victoria Legal Aid.  She has also previously worked in the community legal sector as Night Service Director and Principal Lawyer at Fitzroy Legal Service. Rebecca also maintains her own private practice as Principal Lawyer and Director of Johnston Ryan Legal, where she provides advice and representation in family law, family violence law, criminal law, employment law, and general civil law. 

Rebecca has been actively involved in the legal profession in Victoria, having been an elected Board Member of the Law Institute of Victoria from 2021 to 2023. Rebecca was diagnosed as hard of hearing in 2013, the same year she was admitted to practice.  She wears dual hearing aids to assist her in legal practice and her day-to-day life.

Giancarlo (they/them) is a respected disability, racial justice and LGBTIQA+ human rights advocate, and is proudly a queer, non-binary intersectional leader of colour. Giancarlo is currently CEO of BEING – Mental Health Consumers, the NSW peak body for mental health consumers, and is the Senior Co-Chair of the Disability Rights Committee at Australian Lawyers for Human Rights. They sit on numerous government and social service sector boards, including as Chair of the City of Sydney's Inclusion (Disability) Panel and Treasurer of the Australian Centre for Disability Law. Giancarlo is also Ambassador for Rainbow Giving Australia and an Equality at Work Ambassador for the Australian Human Rights Commission, and previously served as an Australian Government Ambassador for International Day of People with Disability and as President of the Australian GLBTIQA+ Multicultural Council. Giancarlo has been recognised by Pro Bono Australia in their #Impact25, a publicly voted list of Australians making the most social impact in Australia and abroad, and as one of the 40 under 40 most influential Asian-Australians. 

Alannah Hill (she/her) is a final year law student at Monash University and will be a 2026 Graduate at Russell Kennedy Lawyers. She has previously worked for Russell Kennedy Lawyers as a seasonal clerk in the Workplace Relations, Employment and Safety team, and as a law clerk in the Insurance and Compensation team. During her time at Monash University she has significant involvement in the Monash Disability and Carers Committee and the Law Student Society Disability and Wellbeing team. She is a passionate advocate for creating diversity and accessible pathways for disabled law students into the legal profession.

Anna Smith is a senior employment and safety lawyer, currently working in the role of Director - Senior Corporate Counsel with Salesforce, based in Sydney, Australia.  Anna has regional responsibility across APAC in her role.  Anna was admitted to practice in New Zealand in 2011, and moved to live and work in Australia in 2015. Prior to joining Salesforce in 2021, Anna worked in house in professional services and worked in private practice in New Zealand and Australia.  

Anna was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2016 and lives with the challenges associated with MS on a daily basis. Anna is passionate about accessibility in the legal profession, and believes that education, empathy, and communication are critical to increasing participation of disabled lawyers in the legal workforce.