Our people

PhD, GAICD, BAppSc (Occ Ther), Grad Dip Neuroscience, Grad Dip AppSc (Comp Sci), Master of Applied Science

Di Winkler is an occupational therapist who initially worked with people with severe brain injury. Di started a PhD and then established the Summer Foundation in January 2006 after becoming frustrated by the lack of appropriate housing and support for young people with disability. She completed her PhD in 2012 on the topic of Younger People Living in Nursing Homes. The Summer Foundation is changing systems to ensure people with disability and complex support needs have access to high quality housing options that enhance health, wellbeing, and participation.

In 2018 Di was conferred with a Doctor of Laws honoris causa from Monash University for her distinguished service to the community through her leadership as a practicing occupational therapist and researcher.

In 2019 Di was appointed as a member (AM) of the Order of Australia (General Division) for significant service to people with disability. Di is the Chief Executive Officer at the Summer Foundation and leads the Research Unit. She has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Living with Disability Research Centre at La Trobe University. Di also sits on the Board of Liverty Housing Ltd.

Bachelor of Arts Hons (Psych)

Carolyn Finis is the Summer Foundation’s Head of Co-design. She joined the Summer Foundation in 2007 and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience around the issue of young people in aged care. Carolyn is passionate about including the lived experience of the organisation’s stakeholders, especially people with disability, into the work of the Summer Foundation.

In her role as Head of Co-design, Carolyn is responsible for the development and leadership of the unit. Together, the team works to capture the relevant lived experience of our stakeholders, which collectively forms a library of evidence for the Summer Foundation to draw on to support and augment our advocacy work.

Along with our stakeholders’ lived experience, the team also uses data gathered by the Summer Foundation to inform responses to the systems challenges we face.

Bachelor of Business – Accounting (with Dist)
Certified Practising Accountant (CPA)

Jess is the Summer Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) with responsibility for the finance, IT, P&C, operations and strategic and operational planning functions. Jess is a Certified Practising Accountant and has spent the last 9 years building a global technology business. Jess brings broad experience in finance, innovation, IT and product management, business process analysis and cultural change gained throughout her career in the technology, for-purpose and government sectors.

Jess loves working with passionate and motivated teams to solve important problems, apply innovative solutions and disrupt the status quo. She is actively involved in her local community, holding many volunteer positions and strongly believes in doing work that makes a difference in the community and helping people to live the life they deserve.

Bachelor of Media Studies (Journalism)
Master of Communications (Public Relations)

Jessica Walker is the Summer Foundation’s Head of Policy, Communications and Systems Change. She joined the Summer Foundation in 2024, following more than 15 years in senior leadership roles in government, including at the National Disability Insurance Agency. Jessica brings broad experience in disability and social policy, communications and government relations.

In her role at Summer Foundation, she is responsible for policy development and analysis, government relations and marketing and communications.

Jessica is deeply committed to building inclusive communities and ensuring the National Disability Insurance Scheme achieves the transformation promised for people with disability. Jessica also sits on the board of Banyule Community Health.