Biala’s Professional Development Day with a special guest – Paralympian Alexa Leary

A Story of Strength, Recovery and Purpose 

The Biala team recently came together for a Professional Development Day filled with learning, leadership, and plenty of inspiration. 

The timing was perfect; fresh from our award-winning run in the 2025 Northern Rivers Business Awards, where we were named Employer of Choice, and Biala’s CEO, Lisa Smith, our fearless leader, won Outstanding Business Leader. To have the day together with most of the Biala team felt like a celebration of how far we’ve come, and a chance to pause, reflect, and refocus on what drives us – our incredible team. 

 

Paralympian Power: Lisa chats with Alexa Leary  

We started the day with a Q&A session with Alexa Leary OAM, hosted by Lisa Smith. 

Alexa’s story is nothing short of extraordinary. She suffered a near life-ending accident while triathlon training in 2021, aged just 19. During bike training, her front wheel clipped the bike in-front at 70km/h. Alexa landed on her head, resulting in major brain damage, blood clots and broken bones – and spent 111 days in hospital.  

Sheer determination led to Alexa competing in the 2024 Paris Paralympics, claiming two golds and a silver and going on to smash world records in the World Championships the same year – she even broke her own world record (twice!) in the S9 100m freestyle. 

All of this, just 3 years after her accident. 

What truly captivated everyone was Alexa’s openness about her recovery from her traumatic brain injury, a moment that redefined her life and purpose. She refers to everyday as ‘living her second life’, and her reflections on resilience, mindset, and finding joy through adversity struck a chord with everyone – there weren’t many dry eyes in the house. 

For the Biala team, Alexa’s story was more than inspirational, it was a powerful reminder of the courage, strength, and determination that so many people living with disability show every day, and how vital our work is in supporting them to live full, independent lives. 

 

Leadership, Learning and Celebration 

The day continued with insights from Biala’s leadership team, who shared highlights from the year, staff engagement survey results, and what’s ahead for 2026. It was an open and empowering session about our collective goals and how every team member contributes to the bigger picture. 

We took time to celebrate individual achievements, from years-of-service milestones to peer-nominated awards, recognising those who go above and beyond. It was wonderful to see the room light up as we celebrated each other’s hard work and the genuine care that defines the Biala team. 

 

A Culture that Connects 

If there was one theme running through the day, it was connection. From thought-provoking discussions to shared laughter over lunch, the day was filled with teamwork and positivity. 

Moments like these remind us that professional development isn’t just about building skills; it’s about strengthening relationships, sharing ideas, and reigniting the passion that fuels the important work we do every day. 

 

Looking Ahead with Purpose 

Our Professional Development Day was more than an event; it was a reflection of who we are and where we’re headed as a team. 

At Biala, we’re committed to creating opportunities for new talent, growth, connection and continuous learning. It’s how we stay inspired, stay connected, and keep on delivering the best service and outcomes for the people and communities we serve.