FOUNDER

Prabha is a leading human rights and discrimination lawyer with over 18 years of broad experience in a variety of areas from workplace culture reform to protecting the rights of asylum seekers and refugees. Prabha founded Elevate Consulting Partners, to support and strengthen the work of organisations committed to positive social change.

Prabha is an innovative changemaker renowned for her ability to challenge the status quo and develop achievable solutions to complex systemic problems. For twelve years Prabha held various senior positions at the Australian Human Rights Commission including Director of Human Rights Law and Policy and Director of Business and Human Rights. In 2021, she was the Director of Legal for the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces. As one of Australia’s foremost experts on immigration detention law and policy, in 2014, she led the landmark National Inquiry into Children in Detention.

In 2022, she consulted to the National Music Industry Review into sexual harm, sexual harassment and systemic discrimination. Most recently Prabha consulted to the independent cultural review of EY Oceania led by Elizabeth Broderick AO.

Prabha has been involved with the development of the new positive duty to eliminate sexual harassment and sex discrimination from inception to implementation. In 2020, she was a senior legal advisor to the Respect@Work National Inquiry and helped shape the positive duty regulatory scheme. Prabha also led the development of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s new positive duty guidance material and established the Commission’s positive duty compliance and enforcement team.

In 2024, Prabha was selected by Women’s Agenda as a woman to watch in leadership.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws (honours), and a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) from the University of Adelaide.

CONSULTANT

Rachel has worked in law, gender equality and human rights for nearly 10 years, including in government, the community legal sector and non-government organisations.

Until 2022, she worked as an Investigator/Conciliator at the Australian Human Rights Commission for five years. In this role, Rachel worked extensively with the federal discrimination laws, with a particular interest in sexual harassment and sex discrimination matters under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (Sex Discrimination Act). She a deep expertise and understanding of how sexual harassment and sex discrimination play out across Australian workplaces.

Rachel has worked on cultural reviews for large organisations and institutions, and conducted substantive research with the AICD and ACSI relating to board directors’ preparedness for the new positive duty under the Sex Discrimination Act. Recent projects include conducting substantive gap analysis work in relation to organisations’ compliance with the new positive duty. This work is targeted to assist organisations in addressing sexual harassment and other unlawful conduct and creating safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces.

Rachel specialises in anti-discrimination law and policy. She has a post-graduate law degree from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) degree from RMIT University. She is admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of NSW.

SENIOR CONSULTANT - Intersectionality Lead

Dr Varina Michaels is a leading expert on intersectionality in the workplace. She holds a PhD in Intersectional Identities in the Workplace and combines this with over 12 years’ experience in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), education and HR. With a proven track record in achieving business outcomes AND driving change, Dr Michaels has developed and led impactful multimillion dollar programs shaping culture, developing inclusive leaders and breaking systemic barriers.

Dr Michaels is Executive Director of Women of Colour Australia, championing representation and inclusion in the workplace through advocacy, programs and research. She has collaborated with governments, multinational corporations, and community organisations worldwide. She has provided advice to the Australian Human Rights Commission, Australian Public Service Commission and Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA). Dr Michaels is a Founder of the National Alliance for Women of Colour Safety (NAWoCS) and sits on multiple boards and advisory committees.

Drawing from her own intersection of identities and experiences, Dr Michaels blends meaningful engagement with leaders and stakeholders to develop and execute strategies to create a fairer and more equitable society for all.

An educator at her core, Dr Varina Michaels is also Visiting Professor of IESEG School of Management, Paris shaping future (and current) changemakers to become more self-aware, inclusive and culturally intelligent leaders.

PRINCIPAL FACILITATOR

Prabha is an innovative, accomplished and results-driven leader with a strong commitment to gender justice and human rights. Prabha has extensive experience working in senior roles in the government and non-profit sectors, and has over 30 years experience as a psychologist in both clinical and organisational development roles. Prabha has led complex and diverse projects and programs which required a high level of analytical and problem-solving skills in both Australia and internationally. As CEO of the Asylum Seekers Centre (NSW), her leadership resulted in a three-fold increase donor revenue, transformation in the business model and governance systems, and strengthening of donor and stakeholder relationships. While working in Indonesia, she built organisational capacity of NGOs in the areas of strategic planning, communications and monitoring and evaluation. She is well versed in implementing change management programs.

Prabha is experienced in designing and facilitating learning in all delivery modes. Prabha leverages a unique mix of strategic and analytical expertise, to deliver highly effective strategies for the development of educational and training materials. She is committed to building understanding of human rights in individuals, communities and organisations through knowledge translation and evidence-based education, and to measure the impact to ensure programs deliver behavioural change.

Prabha holds a BA (Honours)in Psychology, University of Sydney, a Graduate Certificate in Gender Mainstreaming and Policy Analysis (Flinders University) and a Master of International Public Health (UNSW). Prabha is driven by her commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity, and a dedication to flexibility, and creativity that puts the client first .

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Katie has 20 years’ experience in workplace relations law, including the conduct of investigations, dispute resolution and training. Whilst a lawyer in private practice, Katie provided advice to clients on a wide range of strategic, regulatory and risk management issues including WHS, discrimination, bullying and harassment. Katie was also involved in representing employers in various types of employment-related litigation. Moving in-house to a government regulatory body, Katie gained further experience in conducting investigations of WHS breaches, workplace incidents and subsequent prosecutions.

Katie joined the Australian Human Rights Commission in 2010 as an Investigator & Conciliator of complaints made under federal human rights and discrimination legislation. In 2021, Katie was also part of the team that conducted the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces and produced the Set the Standard report.

Throughout her career Katie has had a passion for providing workplace relations training, with a particular focus on prevention and response strategies regarding discrimination, bullying and harassment. Katie holds a Bachelor of Laws (honours), and a Bachelor of Media/Communications from Macquarie University.

RESEARCH DIRECTOR

Grace Gardiner is a passionate researcher experienced in human rights, with a particular focus on gender justice. Grace has been involved in diverse projects addressing human rights issues, including violence against women and girls, workplace sexual harassment, human rights and climate change, disability discrimination, racial discrimination, and organisational human rights best practices. She has worked on the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Set the Standard report into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces and the Review into Sexual Harm, Sexual Harassment and Systemic Discrimination in the National Music Industry.

As an independent consultant, she has worked on projects with the Minderoo Foundation, the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, and several consultancies specialising in workplace culture and discrimination. She holds a Masters of Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Sydney and a bachelor’s degree in international studies with Honours from the University of New South Wales. Grace is also committed to making a positive impact through volunteering, and has contributed to work with organisations in Australia, France and Israel/Palestine.

HEAD OF CLIENT & STRATEGY

Sarah has held a number of senior positions in her career, including; Co-Founder, Executive, Director, Board advisor, strategy and transformation leader. She focuses on accelerating growth through innovation-centric cultures, business amplification strategies and technology enablement.

She is values driven and her creative and collaborative leadership style allows her to connect the dots across fast-paced, matrix organisations. A builder of high performance teams through enablement, empowering resilience, and fostering strong values based cultures.

A leader of broader organisational change and impact, industry recognised as a 2017 scholar of The Marketing Academy.

Sarah was previously the Head of Customer Engagement for NSW Business Chamber where she drove national business membership from 20,000 to 90,000 in two years. This resulted in helping to keep thousands of businesses afloat during covid 19 by rapidly pivoting and adapting the omni-channel engagement strategy and providing practical tools and information to impacted businesses. She was also on the inaugural Diversity & Advisory Council where she launched a 3-year culture strategy and program.

As the National Digital Marketing Leader at PwC Australia, she successfully drove digital transformation projects on the website, email platform and Employee Amplification program. Working in professional services means Sarah has a sharp focus on business results and enjoys the challenges of being creative and relevant in a B2B environment.

SPECIAL ADVISOR - GENDER PAY EQUALITY

Amy is a human rights lawyer and leading Australian expert in organisational equality and positive cultural change. Amy has worked in executive roles for Government, a Royal Commission and human rights institutions in Australia and overseas. From 2018-2022 Amy led the policy function for the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Amy has dedicated her career to law reform and institutional change working as a pro bono solicitor, policy and research leader. She is passionate about strategic advocacy and supporting employers to tackle organisational and societal challenges.

Amy’s has extensive experience conducting organisational cultural reviews, addressing sexual harassment and other harmful behaviours, promoting gender equality and creating safe, inclusive and supportive environments. Recent projects include directing the independent Cultural Review into the Victorian Adult Custodial Corrections system, leading trauma-informed victim-survivor research into sexual harassment in the Victorian judiciary, developing Victoria’s guidelines on the positive duty in the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) and consulting across several high-profile inquiries.

Amy specialises in equality and anti-discrimination law and policy, workforce cultural reform and gender pay equity. Amy holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney. Amy was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2019 allowing her to conduct international comparative research on best practice approaches to gender pay equality to close gender, ethnicity and disability pay gaps.

DIRECTOR, CLIENT SUCCESS

Vinay is a seasoned workplace relations professional with over 13 years of experience in helping businesses navigate complex HR challenges. With extensive expertise across various sectors, including; private, non-profits and local government councils, Vinay brings a wealth of knowledge to his role. He holds a degree in Business Commerce, grounding his practical experience in a strong theoretical foundation.

Throughout his career, Vinay has been instrumental in developing and implementing HR strategies with his clients that enhance workplace efficiency and compliance. His client-centric approach focuses on understanding and exceeding client expectations, ensuring tailored solutions that address their specific needs. Vinay is adept at providing services that streamline HR processes, reduce risk, and foster a safe and positive workplace culture.

Vinay has extensive experience supporting clients across; policy and procedure development, workplace audits, compliance checks, legal advice, maintaining regulatory compliance and minimising risks. He ensures clients receive the right dedicated support, tailored HR advice, and access to a wealth of resources designed to enhance workplace relations, efficiency and safety.

Vinay’s professional philosophy is rooted in continuous engagement and improvement, ensuring clients receive the best possible support, based on their needs. By integrating best practices with practical advice and strong client relationships, he drives successful HR outcomes that foster a productive, compliant and safe workplace environment where everyone can thrive.

CONSULTANT

Liz Lindberg is a seasoned legal professional and consultant specialising in sexual harassment prevention, trauma-informed practice, and human rights law. Her diverse career spans government, private and community legal sectors, with a steadfast commitment to advocating for marginalised communities and improving workplace environments through education and policy development.

With over a decade of experience as an investigator and conciliator at the Australian Human Rights Commission, Liz has adeptly managed and resolved hundreds of complaints under federal discrimination and human rights laws, including sexual harassment and sex discrimination complaints.  She played a crucial role in launching the Respect@Work Information Service, a national trauma-informed initiative addressing workplace sexual harassment.

Liz's expertise extends to conducting high-profile reviews, such as the Independent Review of Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces. Her work involved interviewing parliamentary staff about their experiences with bullying, sexual assault, and harassment, culminating in the influential Set the Standard report.

Liz is passionate about education and training. She regularly facilitates workshops on workplace sexual harassment and disability awareness, drawing on her extensive experience working with individuals from diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds.

Previously,Liz practised criminal defence law and international environmental law. She is a qualified mediator and holds a Bachelor of Laws and Economics (Social Sciences) with first-class honours from the University of Sydney. Currently, she is pursuing a Bachelor of Psychology at Macquarie University.