With over 18 years of experience as a Senior Leader and Disability Employment Specialist, Mariella Cuttonaro is dedicated to empowering individuals with injury, illness, or disability to reach their career aspirations through meaningful employment. She excels at building partnerships with local businesses, training providers, and community organisations to design impactful employment initiatives that make a difference.

Mariella is recognised for her expertise in developing disability awareness and promoting best practices for inclusive hiring. Her strategic approach ensures she understands each client's unique needs, helping them navigate a smooth transition into the workforce. With a focus on professional development, Mariella provides personalised support equipping her clients with the confidence and skills necessary to secure sustainable employment.

Nathalie Kasselis is the training manager at Hotel Etico, where she designs and leads the hospitality training program. She also works with employers, providing training around disability etiquette, and practical strategies to improve their training methods for employees with disability.

Nathalie is passionate about supporting trainees by tailoring her approach to meet their individual needs, ensuring everyone has the best chance to succeed in their employment goals.

With a strong commitment to making a meaningful impact, Nathalie empowers both trainees and employers to overcome barriers and create a more inclusive, accessible hospitality industry.

Quinn Jones, a proud 2022 graduate of Hotel Etico, has achieved remarkable milestones since completing the program. During his time at Hotel Etico, Quinn obtained his learner’s permit and developed the confidence and skills to thrive in the workforce. He began his career in the kitchen at the prestigious Fairmont Resort and has since progressed to become an apprentice chef.

Quinn’s dedication, hard work, and commitment to personal growth have paved the way for his continued success. Recently, he achieved another significant milestone by earning his provisional driver’s license, further showcasing his determination and independence.

Sally McGeoch is a Senior Advisor at Westpac Foundation, a philanthropic organisation, independent from Westpac Group. Sally manages the design and delivery of grant and capacity building programs for community organisations and social enterprises that create jobs and employment opportunities for Australians facing complex barriers to work. Sally has worked at the intersection of philanthropy, business and social enterprise for close to 18 years and is a founding member of The Bread & Butter Project. She is also currently undertaking a practice-based PhD at the Centre for Social Impact Swinburne on the role of cross-sector collaboration in supporting Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISE) to scale.

Scott Bear is a dedicated and passionate hospitality professional with a desire to improve the lives of the people he comes into contact with everyday. Scott has had a rapid career rise from entering the industry in 2015 to taking on his first General Manager role at the age of 26. Scott has a passion for utilising his role to improve the community in which he operates and this is highlighted by his work with local charities, environmental initiatives and community partnerships. Outside of work, Scott co-leads the Young Hotel Leaders group and is an advocate employment and those in the disability space.

Sophia Ballone is the Employment Manager at Hotel Etico. With a background in HR, she is passionate about creating meaningful job opportunities for people with disabilities. Sophia works closely with trainees, supporting their transition into open employment, and builds strong partnerships with industry leaders. Outside of her role, she is a proud mum to her 9-year-old son and expresses her vibrant personality through her love of colour.