Justin O’Meara Smith, CEO of Interchange (WA) Inc. has been appointed to the NDS Board as WA Divisional Chair. Justin has more than two decades experience in the disability sector as a volunteer, worker and leader in a wide range of disability support roles. Since 2017, he has been CEO of Interchange Inc., a medium-sized, not-for-profit delivering a broad range of individualised and community-based disability services across the Perth Metropolitan area. 

As WA Divisional Chair, Justin replaces former NDS President Joan McKenna Kerr, who stepped down from the NDS Board earlier this year when she was appointed to the Board of the NDIA. 

With his strong ethos of collaboration and community, Justin has been an active member of NDS in WA for many years, passionately advocating for providers, participants and mainstream services. He holds a BA in Political Science, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management and a Master of Business Administration. He is active in Leadership WA and the Australian Institute of Company Directors networks. Through the networks of Leadership WA, Justin has given voluntary advice and support to a range of not-for-profit organisations and leaders. He also serves on the Board of Western Australian Individualised Services. 

Since taking charge of Interchange Inc. in 2017, Justin, supported by a great team, has transformed the organisation into a high-performing, values-led and for-purpose business, strengthening its culture, diversifying its services, adopting new technology, and creating a network of place-based and empowered teams. 

NDS CEO Laurie Leigh was delighted with the appointment and welcomes Justin to the Board: 

“Justin has dedicated his working life to creating better lives for people with disability, lives that have choice, control and dignity. As a leader in the WA sector, Justin understands the common issues for disability service providers across the sector, and particularly for our WA members. He understands that the system requires all of us — government, service providers, people with disability and their families, and each of us as individuals — to create communities where people with disability belong and flourish. I look forward to his contribution.” 

As a Divisional Chair of NDS WA, Justin makes a commitment to representing the interests of members and continuing his advocacy for a sustainable NDIS that has a culture of collaboration and co-design from all its diverse stakeholders. 

Describing himself as “a down-to-earth and grateful man who found purpose in supporting others and fostering thriving communities,” Justin sees his representing WA on the NDS Board as another dimension to making a difference. “By involving myself in state and national issues, I can contribute to connected and inclusive communities across the entire sector, improving conditions and standards for providers and our workforce while encouraging flexible support services that allow people with disability to live good lives.” 

The previous WA Chair to the NDS Board, Joan McKenna Kerr, stepped down from the NDS Board this year after being appointed to the Board of the NDIA. The long-term CEO of the Autism Association of Western Australia, Joan spent more than thirteen years representing WA on the NDS Board, serving as NDS President from 2016 to 2020. 

We thank Joan for her many years of loyal service to NDS and our members.  

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