Disability advocate and policy advisor Jaci Armstrong has joined the board of Accessible Arts as a director.

Ms Armstrong has extensive experience in the disability, government and health sectors including positions with NSW and Federal MPs and at KPMG in Sydney.

Ms Armstrong has also served as National Policy Advisor for Guide Dogs Australia (GDA) where she led strategy and engagement with government and industry bodies. Ms Armstrong also represented GDA on blindness sector peak bodies Vision2020 Australia and Blind Citizens Australia, and was one of four Australian delegates to the World Blind Union.

Ms Armstrong also has substantial governance experience and currently serves on the boards of People with Disability Australia and HireUp. Ms Armstrong is also a former chairperson of Riding for the Disabled.

Ms Armstrong has extensive lived experience of disability. Having had significant vision loss since birth, she has benefited from having a Guide Dog as her primary mobility aid for over 20 years. Further understanding of the importance of accessible design, inclusive practices and attitudes has been reinforced by observing the experiences of her twin sister who has cerebral palsy.

As an Accessible Arts board director, Ms Armstrong joins a distinguished group of arts and creative industry leaders from a range of professional backgrounds who are committed to equity and excellence for arts practitioners and audiences with disability.

Ms Armstrong: “I’m passionate about achieving equitable access, inclusion and genuine choice across all facets of life for people with disability. Accessible Arts is a wonderful organisation that works hard to advance the rights of and opportunities for arts practitioners and audiences who live with disability or who are Deaf. I’m looking forward to working with the Accessible Arts team and my fellow board members to help make arts and culture in NSW more accessible and inclusive.”

Accessible Arts Chairperson Emeritus Professor Sharman Pretty: “We’re delighted to welcome Jaci to the Accessible Arts board. Jaci brings impressive skills, talents and networks as an advocate and policymaker. We look forward to her acumen and insights shaping the direction of Accessible Arts into the future.”

ENDS

 Contact: Michael Badorrek | Marketing Manager | +61 0431 594 007 | marketing@aarts.net.au