Speakers

• Jan Kruger

  

  Jan is the Executive Director of Imagine More, where she passionately advocates for individuals to lead valued and inclusive lives, guided by the principles of Social Role Valorisation.

  In 2013, Jan co-founded Imagine More in the ACT to strengthen family leadership and advocacy for people with disability. She is dedicated to ensuring that individuals can hold valued social roles, cultivate meaningful relationships, and lead typical lives within their communities.

  Jan's commitment to the concept of home is evident in her work with the My Home My Way project and in her long-standing facilitation of the Imagining Home peer group. Currently, she is helping her son Jack realise his vision of moving into his own home. Jack has been an invaluable teacher for Jan, providing insights into how to support people with disability in achieving fulfilling lives by following a typical life path. In 2024, Jack moved into his own home, where he now lives with three flatmates.

  In her leisure time, Jan loves spending time with family and friends, enjoying conversations over a cup of tea. She also enjoys reading, gardening, and running with friends in the beautiful reserves of Canberra.

• Lauren Mandel-Wein

  

  Lauren Mandel is the Founder and Managing Director of the LMC Group. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and Masters of Social Work Degree. Lauren has worked in the disability space for over 20 years. She has a strong interest in the Social Role Valorisation (SRV) Framework with a particular passion for cutting-edge supports. The hope is to create a movement of dreamers who can see the true possibilities open to people with disability, and work towards these!

  Under Lauren’s visionary leadership, LMC Group empowers individuals to redefine what’s possible. By daring to dream big and harnessing their unique potential, people with disability have successfully secured customised employment, launched thriving microbusinesses, and moved into their own homes, all while occupying deeply valued roles within their local communities.

  Lauren’s true expertise lies in bridging the gap between a "big dream" and daily reality. She excels at guiding and mentoring support workers to move beyond basic care, transforming them into active partners who champion the person’s vision. By providing hands-on leadership and practical training, Lauren ensures that support teams are fully equipped to facilitate meaningful, valued roles for every individual they serve.

  Outside of work and study commitments, Lauren is exploring her passions as an aspiring pianist, book lover, runner, vegetarian home cook, and gym junkie! Lauren is the proud Mum of gorgeous Georgia, Walter, and Baby Austin.

• Dianne Mandeville

  

  Dianne is the mother of 2 adult children. Her eldest child, Robbie, who is now 39 years old, has a wide range of complex disabilities. Despite the ongoing challenges, Dianne has always been proactive in supporting him to live an active and inclusive life in his community. She has been self-managing all of Robbie’s supports since 2009, firstly with State Government funding, then with the NDIS.

  Dianne’s career began upon graduation from the University of Queensland. She worked as a Secondary School English and Music teacher for over 30 years. She made the move into the Disability Sector in 2009 and worked throughout Queensland with Pave the Way, Mamre, and Bespoke Lifestyles. She retired for four and a half years, and then returned to work in July 2025 as a facilitator with Community Resource Unit (CRU).

  When not working, Dianne enjoys travelling, camping, art and pottery classes, singing in a choir, playing mahjong, and meeting up with friends.

• Bec Feldman

  

  Bec works for Belonging Matters in Victoria. For the last five years, she has assisted people with developmental disability and their families to think about and explore 'home', in community. She provides mentoring and advice for people for all steps of the journey to individualised living, including moving out. More recently, she has been involved supporting people with disability and families to become community builders, as they take the lead in fostering connections in their local streets neighbourhoods.

  In her spare time, Bec enjoys comfy and inviting social spaces, both in and outside of home, as well as pilates and mostly healthy cooking!