The Remarkables

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are 5.5 million people living with a disability in Australia.

For Sharon Xabregas, she was born deaf and upon entering the workforce, Sharon found herself in environments that didn’t meet her needs. 

This experience inspired her to create change for future generations in the Auslan community by founding Sign Hear: a deaf-owned organisation providing support to families and individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Sign Hear partners with other businesses helping create inclusive workplaces for employees who are faced with difficulty hearing.

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Sharon Xabregas' LinkedIn

Jedess Hudson, a talented artist and descendant of the Ewamian and Western Yalanji people of North Queensland, has also established herself as a prominent female business leader and role model.

In 2023, she was honoured with the Indigenous Business Women of the Year award in Cairns. She draws on her home and elements of the land, seasons, flora and fauna to create artwork that connects to a story. Jedess wants her artwork to resonate with people, encouraging them to find personal meaning, as she feels a profound connection to her community.

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Jedess Hudson's LinkedIn

Rochelle Courtenay founded Share The Dignity in 2015 after reading an article about the 48,000 women in Australia who lacked a safe place to call home and access to sanitary products.

Since then, she has been tirelessly working to end period poverty in Australia. The advocacy group achieved a significant milestone in 2018 by helping remove the tampon tax and now, they’re striving to ensure that businesses and hospitals offer free sanitary products to their staff, aiming to eliminate the stigma associated with periods. So, how can businesses and individuals join Rochelle and Share The Dignity in their mission to end period poverty? 

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Rochelle Courtenay's LinkedIn

In this episode of The Remarkables, we chat to 10x Canoe Slalom World Champion and gold medallist Jess Fox about her achievements in Paris, how she uses social media, and what’s next on her journey.

In this episode, Abigail Forsythe, co-founder of KeepCup, chats to us about becoming a global symbol of sustainability, how the brand innovates in an increasingly eco conscious market, and the importance of understanding different market sustainability drivers and expectations.

Walk Free was founded by 2021 WA Young Australian of the Year, Grace Forrest, after

working with child sex-trafficking victims in Nepal. In 2018, the organisation successfully campaigned to implement the Australian Modern Slavery Act and produces the Global Slavery Index to inform legislation around the world on this issue. 

Walk Free uses the data collected for the Index to understand the scale of exploitation, where the findings are key to global efforts in eradicating modern slavery. So, how does Walk Free tangibly drive change with the data they collect and how can we help?

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Katharine Bryant's LinkedIn

Yalari is a not-for-profit organisation offering secondary education scholarships to Australian schools for Indigenous students.

The organisation champions the value of education and nurtures an encouraging community for students to thrive in their studies. Founders Waverley Stanley and Llew Mullins believe education is a catalyst for generational change, committed to fostering a brighter future for Indigenous Australians. In 2023, Yalari had over 249 students on scholarships, and the founders remain driven to make a difference in the lives of each student – one opportunity at a time. 

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Waverley Stanley's LinkedIn

She pursues excellence and reaches for remarkable in her training, community work and, most recently, as the new Brand Ambassador for Grant Thornton.

When she’s not on the rapids, she is studying her MBA or helping her local community by mentoring the younger generations in sport. With Paris around the corner, how does she prepare for such an event?

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Jess Fox's LinkedIn

Simon Fenech’s life took an unexpected turn for the worse after a workplace injury.

The General Manager of Fruit2Work went from having a family, home, and full-time job, to finding himself in prison, facing the daunting prospect of reintegration into society with a criminal record once completing his sentence. Today, he runs a company that helped him get his life back on track. Fruit2Work is a social enterprise offering employment opportunities to ex-offenders in fruit and milk packing for workplaces across Melbourne, Geelong, and now Brisbane. 

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Simon Fenech's LinkedIn

The Grant Thornton Foundation, headspace, and Special Olympics Australia all strive to create inclusive, supportive environments in and out of the corporate landscape.

So, what underpins their work, and how can the Grant Thornton Foundation help our charity partners continue to drive diversity, inclusion, and mental health initiatives throughout the community?

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John Picot's LinkedIn

Christina Molina's LinkedIn

Jennifer Lobb's LinkedIn

Sean Douglas' LinkedIn