UTS alumna El Gibbs Co-Chairs NDIS Reform Committee

The NDIS Committee provides independent advice to Disability Ministers on the implementation of NDIS reforms, ensuring accountability and inclusion of people with disability in decision-making processes. 
The committee will also monitor engagement levels between government bodies and the disability community, ensuring that reforms align with the needs and concerns of people with disability.

A highly experienced advocate, communications expert, and NDIS specialist with lived experience with disability, El has built a strong reputation as a sought-after consultant in policy, communications, and strategy, holding senior roles at national disability peak organisations.

She is also an award-winning writer whose work is regularly featured in leading publications, offering insightful commentary on the NDIS and broader disability issues. 

El will lead the committee alongside fellow Co-Chair Dougie Herd. She says: “I was very honoured to be approached by former NDIS Minister Bill Shorten to take on the Co-Chair role with the wonderful Dougie Herd. The Committee will give people with disability, families and allies a seat at the table, and a voice directly to decision-makers about the changes that are coming to our essential supports.

“People with disability are integral to making sure that changes to the NDIS mean the Scheme is fairer, more equitable and is easier to access supports, so we have to be in the room.”

El’s committee appointment highlights her extraordinary impact and leadership in disability policy and advocacy. She was also recently appointed to the Jobs and Skills Australia Ministerial Advisory Board, the NDIS Workforce Advisory Committee, and she was promoted to CEO of Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA). 

Fellow sector advocate and expert Dr Elizabeth Humphrys from the UTS School of Communication is Head of Social and Political Sciences. Reflecting on El’s trajectory from her time as a UTS student, and charting her ascendancy into leadership roles and her impact in her multifaceted career, Dr Humphrys reiterated the significance of El’s new roles: 

“El is a key national figure in disabled people-led policy making, and this appointment now puts her and the co-convenor at the centre of the NDIS policy review. Her appointment to the Jobs and Skills Australia Board also underlines her immense expertise for the whole community”.

“Her expertise is going to have an important new focus with these senior appointments on NDIS reform and jobs and skills national policy.” 

“It has been an absolute pleasure to see El's star continue to rise over the years since she studied Communication at UTS and worked in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Media Lab.”

In 2021, El Gibbs received the UTS Alumni Community Award in recognition of her outstanding and sustained impact and contributions.

In 2025 and beyond, El and Dr Humphrys will be collaborating on an upcoming research project which examines how increasing heat from climate change impacts upon disabled people.

About the NDIS Reform Advisory Committee

The Committee will consist of thirteen members, with additional representatives to be appointed through an Expression of Interest process. These members will be drawn from various states and territories, ensuring broad representation of the diverse experiences and needs within the disability community.

The committee will formally report to the Disability Reform Ministerial Council every six months on the progress and risks associated with the reforms, including policy effectiveness, implementation challenges, and the responsiveness of government agencies.

The Committee is set to operate for five years, with El Gibbs and Dougie Herd serving an initial 2.5-year term. Their leadership marks a significant step in ensuring that people with disability remain at the centre of the NDIS reform process.

As the committee begins its work, the Terms of Reference will be published on the Department of Social Services (DSS) Engage website, with further details on how the community can contribute to its efforts. The Committee’s formation represents a critical milestone in fostering greater transparency, accountability, and inclusion in Australia’s disability policy landscape.