2023 Shortlisted Nominee
Positive Role Model Award: Disability
Also known as The Blind Poet, Dave Steele is an Author, Poet, Public Speaker, and advocate for the blind/low vision community whose creative vision inspires, educates, and shows the beauty beyond blindness. Dave was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) in his thirties, a condition that causes the retina to deteriorate, resulting in vision loss, and eventually blindness. Declared legally blind in 2014, Dave struggled to adjust to life without sight and spiralled into depression. After connecting with others who had similar experiences, Dave turned his biggest challenge in life and turned it into his biggest achievement, working tirelessly to support others and bring about change to the many misconceptions surrounding disability through his work with global organisations such as Apple, Meta and Roche. Hailed as a ‘wonderful inspiration to so many’ Dave’s place on this year’s shortlist was warranted.