Carly Findlay

Carly Findlay OAM is an award-winning writer, speaker, arts worker, content creator and appearance activist.

Carly identifies as a proud disabled woman of colour – she lives with a rare, severe skin condition, ichthyosis.

Her first book, a memoir called Say Hello, was published by HarperCollins in January 2019.

Carly edited the anthology Growing Up Disabled in Australia with Black Inc Books. She writes on disability and appearance diversity issues for news outlets including the CNN, Vogue, ABC, The Age and Sydney Morning Herald and SBS.

In 2020, Carly received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her work as a disability advocate and activist.

In 2021, Carly received The Victoria Award for Excellence in Women's Leadership.

In 2022, Carly provided a testimony at the Disability Royal Commission, speaking about abuse in public spaces

In 2023, Carly was a nominee for Marie Claire’s Women of the Year Awards in the Changemaker category

She was also named one of Australia’s most influential women in the 2014 Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence Awards.

Carly has appeared on ABC TV’s You Can’t Ask That, The Drum and Cyberhate with Tara Moss; The Project, The Cook Up and Studio 10; and has been a regular on various ABC radio programs.

She has spoken at the Melbourne Writers Festival, the University of Western England, Ubud Writers Festival, The Australian Centre for Moving Image, local, state and federal government agencies, and Melbourne University – to name a few.

Carly loves fashion and organised the history-making Access to Fashion in 2018 – a Melbourne Fashion Week event featuring disabled models.

Brands and organisations Carly has worked with include LEGO, Tourism QLD, Bonds, Visit Victoria, Birdsnest, Obus, the National Gallery of Victoria, Variety Hour and Bras and Things and more!

Carly is an experienced speaker, influencer, content creator and ambassador who brings fun, joy and inclusivity to any shoot, campaign or event.