Margherita Coppolino

Margherita Coppolino (born in 1960) is a prominent Australian intersectional activist, consultant, and photographer. She is widely recognised for her decades of work championing the rights of people with disabilities, women, the LGBTIQA+ community, and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Advocacy & Board Leadership

Coppolino has dedicated her life to driving systemic policy changes and ensuring representation for marginalised groups. Her leadership footprint across Australia and the globe includes: [1, 2]

International Leadership: Serving as the Co-Chair of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) Oceania Region and a global board member for ILGA World. [1]
Community Advocacy: Co-founding Inclusive Rainbow Voices, an organisation dedicated to LGBTIQA+ people with disabilities. [1]
Board Positions: Holding past and present leadership roles with organisations such as the National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA), Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA), and Footscray Community Arts Centre. [1, 2]
Government Advisory: Appointed to multiple terms on the Victorian Ministerial LGBTI Taskforce and served on the SBS Community Advisory Committee. [1]

Professional & Creative Career

Inclusion/Intersectionality Consultant: She runs her own consultancy practice, leveraging her commercial acumen to help government, corporate, and social justice sectors integrate genuine, action-based inclusion strategies. [1, 2]
Documentary Photographer: As a visual storyteller, her art highlights intersectionality and human resilience. Key projects include the Silent Tears documentary exhibition exploring gender-based violence and A Golden Moment, which photographed Australian athletes at the World Dwarf Games.[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Personal Life & Achievements

Born in Australia to a Sicilian mother who migrated in 1959, Coppolino grew up as a ward of the state in a Catholic orphanage for her first 18 years. Born with a short-statured condition, she proudly identifies as a short-statured woman, lesbian, and feminist. [, 2, 3]

Alongside her corporate achievements, she is a competitive athlete who won a gold record in powerlifting (lifting 53kg at age 57) and multiple silver and gold medals in boccia at the World Dwarf Games.

in 2022, she was winner of the Victorian Globe LGBTI Person on the year. And in 2021, she was inducted into the Lifetime Achievement Honour Roll at the Victorian Disability Awards for her lifelong commitment to human rights. [1, 2]

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MARGHERITA’S NEWS

2022 LGBTI Person of the Year Victorian Globe Awards

2021 Inductee Lifetime achievement Honour Roll Victorian Disability Awards

2015 City of Maribyrnong Inclusive Recognition Awards

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