Hon Mark Coulton MP, Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government

The Hon Mark Coulton MP is the Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government in Australia’s Federal Coalition Government. He has served in the House of Representatives as the Member for Parkes since 2007.

Mr Coulton has also held the position of Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Ageing and the Voluntary Sector, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Water and Conservation and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Emerging Trade Markets and was the National Party’s Chief Whip from September 2010 to May 2016.

Prior to his election to the House of Representatives, Mr Coulton was the Mayor of Gwydir Shire Council from 2004 until 2007 and has an extensive agricultural background having spent 30 years as a farmer and grazier.

Suzanne Waldron

Suzanne Waldron was born in England, and lives in Western Australia. She is fascinated with humanity and how we relate to ourselves and one another. Born deaf, she had multiple operations to restore her hearing. She lived in a truck travelling Europe before becoming a foster child, then homeless teenager. She experienced a tough upbringing. This led her to dig deeply into life’s array of emotions and how we can each utilise all that living has to offer. Her first book A Flourishing Mind takes the reader through her life experiences and learnings via harsh realities, to a place of deep hope.

Today, she is a behaviouralist having studied a Master’s Degree in Coaching and Neuro-Linguistics. Her research focussed on pro-social leadership and the psychological aspects of inner fulfillment through moving significant ideas (beyond self) into action. She studies philosophy and economics to widen her knowledge on meaning and the systems we live in and finds solace in painting as a creative outlet.

Believing that honest, hopeful and truthful relationships are the bedrock of fulfilment and progress, Suzanne works with individuals, organisations and influencers to build cohesive relationships in community, government and not for profits. She works globally combining her skills as a behavioural change facilitator, artist, writer and speaker. 

Suzanne is a curator for TEDxPerth and the Museum of Freedom of Tolerance. She is an active ambassador for R U OK? and Nakuru Hope. She was nominated for Western Australian of the Year 2016 for her work in the community.

Dr Caitlin Barr

Dr Barr is an international leader, researcher and advocate for putting people with hearing conditions at the centre of systemic and societal change. As CEO of Soundfair Australia Ltd and as an honorary senior clinical researcher at the University of Melbourne, Caitlin brings together consumer voice of people living with hearing conditions with clinical and research perspectives for a common cause of catalysing change. Ultimately, Caitlin is driven to see a society where having a hearing condition poses no barrier to living connected and healthy.