Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) is delighted to announce the appointment of Sophie Cusworth (she/her) as our Chief Executive Officer. Through an open recruitment process involving a number of high-calibre candidates, Sophie showcased her strategic vision for the organisation and demonstrated her drive and commitment to WWDA’s mission and values.
WWDA represents women, girls, and gender-diverse people with disabilities across Australia. We empower women, girls and gender-diverse people to live fulfilling lives by advocating for their rights, safety, and overall well-being. Our organisation focuses on eliminating discrimination and violence, fostering an inclusive society where all can thrive. We engage in diverse projects and initiatives, including policy and advocacy, community education, and capacity-building programs, all aimed at advancing the rights of women and gender-diverse people with disabilities.
With nearly a decade of experience as a dedicated advocate for gender equality, and a passion for disability rights, Sophie is uniquely positioned to lead our organisation into its next chapter. She is a woman with multiple disabilities and has a strong commitment to WWDA’s intersectional feminist and human rights-based framework. With experience in policy development and community engagement, Sophie is committed to ensuring that the voices of women, girls and gender-diverse people with disabilities are central to public decision-making.
Sophie is a qualified lawyer with a specialisation in employment, safety and discrimination, and an academic background in Gender Studies. Previously, Sophie has led the organisation’s policy work as the Senior Manager of Policy and Advocacy. Since stepping in as Acting CEO in January 2024, Sophie has continued this leadership across numerous advocacy initiatives promoting the rights of women, girls and gender diverse people with disabilities in Australia. This has included in relation to all forms of gender-based violence, implementation of Australia’s international human rights obligations, and NDIS reforms. Her work has also seen the establishment of new membership engagement mechanisms, to ensure that the voices of WWDA’s community are elevated across all areas of reform.
Under Sophie’s leadership, WWDA will continue its critical advocacy across the organisation’s policy priority areas, including in relation to the right to be free from violence and abuse, the right to decision-making and participation, and sexual and reproductive rights. This will include increasing opportunities for membership engagement and consultation, and growing WWDA’s policy team to further strengthen our impact. Sophie is also deeply committed to collaboration across sectors to promote the rights of women, girls and gender-diverse people with disabilities. She has led a number of collaborative initiatives, bringing together key organisations across the disability, gender equality and women’s safety sectors, and looks forward to broadening WWDA’s impact through further collaborative efforts.
Please join me in congratulating Sophie on her appointment as our new CEO. I am confident that her leadership will empower us to continue our crucial work. Together, we will continue to drive meaningful change for women, girls and gender-diverse people with disabilities.
Karin Swift
WWDA President
