CPActive Champions

The CPActive Champions

CPActive Champions are people with lived experience of CP who are the advocates behind our campaigns.

Champions Steering Committee

Aman Gopalani
Aman Gopalani
Riley Saban
Sophie Geeves
Laura Pettenuzzo
Luther Hare
Luther Hare

Champions

Aaryan Shah
Aaryan Shah
Daniel Clarke, Chair
Daniel Clarke
Declan Lee
Eireann Wood
Eleanor Dyne
Isobella Mitanovski
Jerusha Mather
Joseph Issa
Lia Sintras
Meret Hassanen
Nicholas Lapsley
Nicholas Lapsley
Nicole Kozelj
Saranna Schultz
Sasha Dansereau
Tasmin Colley

Champions

Aaryan Shah
Aaryan Shah
Daniel Clarke, Chair
Daniel Clarke
Declan Lee
Eireann Wood
Eleanor Dyne
Isobella Mitanovski
Jerusha Mather
Joseph Issa
Lia Sintras
Meret Hassanen
Nicholas Lapsley
Nicholas Lapsley
Nicole Kozelj
Saranna Schultz
Sasha Dansereau
Tasmin Colley

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Aman Gopalani
Aman Gopalani

Meet Aman (he/him). He’s a young achiever with CP, who believes that disability is not a disadvantage. He’s studied university Economics in 3 countries and plays high level basketball.

In his spare time, Aman loves travel and watching the Indian Cricket Tea.

Riley Saban

Meet Riley (he/him). Riley is a co-founder, committee member, mentor and an accomplished public speaker. In his spare time, you can find Riley enjoying a game of chess or having a body surf at his favourite beach.

Sophie Geeves

Meet Sophie (she/her).  She’s a disability advocate who has hosted events, led campaigns and spoken at inquiries. Sophie has an Inclusive Education and Disability Studies degree, and she works for First People’s Disability Network (FPDN).

In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and her dogs.

Laura Pettenuzzo

Meet Laura (she/her). She’s a disability advocate living on Wurundjeri land. She works as a plain language and Easy Read content writer and her articles have appeared in places including The Age. In her spare time, you can usually find her reading or colouring in.

 

Luther Hare
Luther Hare

Meet Luther (he/him). Luther started his advocacy journey in the LGBTQIA+ space and spent several years leading a LGBTQIA+ student organisation.

Luther works as a statistician and tries to make his workplace one that celebrates diversity.

Aaryan Shah
Aaryan Shah

Meet Aaryan (he/him). He’s a passionate disability advocate with lived experience.

In his spare time, you can find him watching sport, exercising, at the beach or at music festivals.

Daniel Clarke, Chair
Daniel Clarke

Meet Daniel (he/him). Daniel is a passionate conservationist for the critically endangered orangutans of Borneo and Sumatra. Daniel is also a passionate disability advocate, raising awareness and speaking at events promoting inclusion of people with disability.

Declan Lee

Meet Declan (he/him). He’s a law student at the University of New South Wales, with experience across various organisations including the Ageing and Disability Commission NSW and the NDIA.

In his spare time, he likes to walk his dog, travel and go axe throwing with his mates.

Eireann Wood

Meet Eireann (she/they/them). They are an Autistic girl with CP, living in the ACT. They are passionate about disability advocacy, photography, and NRL/W and they barrack for the Canberra Raiders

Eleanor Dyne

Meet Eleanor (she/her). Eleanor has CP and loves to share her lived experience. Eleanor is in her 3rd year of a Bachelor of Social Work. You will mostly find her watching a good movie, at the gym, or learning to drive her modified car.

 

Isobella Mitanovski

Meet Isobella (she/her). She has CP and advocates for self-love, breaking down stigmas, and celebrating people with disability, (herself included) to her 14.2k Instagram followers. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her large, blended Serbian/South African family.

 

Jerusha Mather

Meet Jerusha (she/her). A dedicated advocate, she’s doing a PhD in strength training and non-invasive brain stimulation for adults with CP, for which she has been celebrated by the Australian Academy of Sciences, among others.

In her spare time, she enjoys music and traveling.

Joseph Issa

Meet Joseph (he/him). Joseph has CP and Low Vision. With his Bachelor of Criminology, Joseph wants to build a career in a Law Enforcement Agency, like the Australian Federal Police. Joseph volunteers for CPActive and NSW State Emergency Service.

 

Lia Sintras

Meet Lia (she/her). Lia is passionate about exercise, sport and advocating for people with disability.

I have been fortunate enough to have had so many amazing opportunities and experienced so many amazing things. I have seen first-hand the difference we can make when we come together to make the changes we want to see in the world.

In her spare time, she likes to travel and cook.

Meret Hassanen

Meet Meret (she/her), a producer, writer, and accidental disability advocate.

Meret aims to highlight that disability is not one-size-fits-all.

In her spare time, you can find her watching TV, reading about stage plays, or with friends in an inner-city bar.

Nicholas Lapsley
Nicholas Lapsley

Meet Nicholas (He/Him). He’s a lived experience with an entrepreneurial degree, and is always looking for another problem to solve.

In his spare time you’d find him out and about having a blast with his mates.

Nicole Kozelj

Meet Nicole (she/her). With two degrees (Community Welfare and Inclusive Education and Disability Studies), she’s passionate about disability educational rights, providing input to health professionals and researchers through CP-ACHIEVE.

In her spare time, you’ll find her listening to music, reading or exploring in her electric wheelchair.

Saranna Schultz

Meet Sara (she/her). She’s passionate about the intersection between disability and mental health and using her lived experience of disability to support others. Sara’s favourite place is with her family, friends, and her dogs.

 

Sasha Dansereau

Meet Sasha (he/him). Sasha is a young man with CP and Epilepsy. Sasha is working to improve disability awareness in many sectors including businesses and education.

In his spare time, he loves listening to music and watching sport, particularly cricket.

Tasmin Colley

Meet Tamsin (she/her). She’s a 21-year-old para-athlete and university student, and was the Youngest Ever Australian Track and Field Paralympian at the Rio 2016 Paralympics!

In her spare time, you can find her knitting or studying Exercise Physiology.