Balancing the scales this International Women’s Day
This International Women’s Day, estara is recognising the women leading estara’s purpose of supporting people living with spinal cord injury and disability, every day.
The 2026 theme, #BalanceTheScales, is a call to action to accelerate progress towards equity. Equality in leadership, access to opportunity, representation and outcomes for women.
At estara, balancing the scales can be seen through amplifying lived experience, creating inclusive pathways for independence, dignity and connection for people living with spinal cord injury and disability.
We are proud to introduce estara’s all-female executive leadership team leading the work of over 650 staff to shape a more equitable future for our community:
Nicole Sykes, Chief Executive Officer
With more than 25 years’ experience across healthcare and disability services, Nicole brings values-driven leadership to estara. Her career journey from clinical practice to executive leadership gives her a deep understanding of how systems and decisions impact people on the ground. As CEO, Nicole is focused on strengthening access to person-centred supports for people living with spinal cord injury and disability across South Australia. Her commitment to leading estara’s strategic transformation will help to shape estara’s future in the disability sector.
“Progress happens when women back women. I’m grateful to the extraordinary women who have backed me throughout my career and remain committed to pay their generosity forward as we #BalanceTheScales.”
Andrea Collett, Chief People Officer
Andrea is estara’s Chief People Officer and brings more than 20 years’ experience in people and culture leadership. She is passionate about aligning the needs of the workforce with the needs of the clients we support, strengthening capability while ensuring estara remains sustainable into the future. At the heart of her work is a simple belief; you don’t choose between staff and clients; you design systems that value both.
“In a sector largely powered by women, representation in leadership matters. I feel privileged to be part of an all-female executive team. #BalanceTheScales, to me, is about backing the talent that already drives our sector and respecting the workforce who show up every day to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.”
Anika Johnstone, Chief Marketing Officer
Anika’s multidisciplinary background in strategy, research and insights, service transformation and marketing are shaping estara’s profile in the sector. Her work across government, education and the not-for-profit sector reflects a strong commitment to co-design and person-centred practices. Anika is passionate about amplifying lived experience and the critical work being done by estara across the community. At estara, her focus is on creating opportunities for access, independence and connection for people living with spinal cord injury.
“Every day at estara I see the incredible strength of women with disability who are not just navigating systems that weren’t built for them but are also actively working to change them for others. Balancing the scales means backing their courage and endless determination with the structural change they deserve. ”
Lisa Feder, Chief Operating Officer
Lisa Feder’s journey with estara began on the frontline as a Support Worker, giving her a grounded understanding of the realities faced by people with disability and those who support them. Now as Chief Operating Officer, Lisa brings decades of experience in disability services, education and advocacy to strengthening estara’s service quality and outcomes. She is deeply committed to building inclusive systems that support participation and independence for clients and members of estara.
“Balance occurs when every woman feels valued, heard, safe and supported. This builds a stronger community for us all.”
estara would like to recognise and thank all of the women in the estara workforce making a difference every day in the lives of people living with spinal cord injury or disability.