This is SMA: Leadership that drives change

Redefining leadership and living beyond SMA

SMA Awareness Month is about more than raising awareness. It’s about celebrating the voices that lead, teach and inspire. One of those voices is Tait Jenkins, MDNSW Board member and Financial Business Partner at Commonwealth bank. Tait’s impact is unmistakable. He’s a leader, an advocate and a tireless champion for people with disability. He also happens to live with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Tait’s message to the community this SMA Awareness Month is simple and powerful – people with disability are learners, leaders and changemakers.

Tait has spent years proving that disability doesn’t set the boundaries of a person’s potential. Through leadership roles with MDNSW, Muscular Dystrophy Foundation Australia, Boccia Australia and CommBank, he’s made it his mission to amplify the voices of people with disability. His goal? Championing greater representation in decision-making spaces so that policies, workplaces and systems reflect lived experience.

“We need a seat at the table – positions where we can advocate for those who may not have a voice or may not be in the room,” Tait explains.

With nearly one in five Australians identifying as living with disability, Tait knows too well how rarely those voices are represented in leadership. But knowing doesn’t mean accepting.

Shifting perspectives one conversation at a time

While Tait has left his mark at board level, the moments he treasures most are quieter, more personal. Through CommBank’s Enable Network, a group that supports employees with disability and their carers, Tait shares honest insights about life with a physical disability. He helps colleagues understand and connect in a real way.

“A big part of this is awareness – showing that while we might look a little different, we also have different needs, systems and supports we rely on,” he says.

These conversations often spark ‘lightbulb’ moments for colleagues who may not have had much exposure to disability. Tait remembers a time when one coworker told him they’d never realised how much planning goes into everyday routines and support systems.

“It’s those small exchanges that can really shift someone’s perspective,” he says. It’s where advocacy really comes to life.

Saying yes to opportunity

When people ask how to step into leadership, Tait’s advice is simple:

“Say yes when opportunities come your way, even if they seem small. You never know where they might lead.”

Mentorship has also been key in Tait’s leadership journey. He encourages people to reach out, ask questions and learn from others who’ve taken similar paths. “People are usually happy to mentor, have a chat, and help guide you on how to direct your skills and efforts,” he says. In his experience, leadership isn’t a solo endeavour. It’s built on connection, collaboration and a willingness to learn from others.

But Tait is clear that leadership also means seeing the bigger picture and looking beyond your own experience. “Understanding intersectionality is key,” he explains. “Disability doesn’t exist in a vacuum.”  People bring their whole selves into every space – their cultural background, sexuality, gender, mental health and so much more. Recognising that full picture makes us stronger leaders and more compassionate advocates.

Redefining what’s possible

While SMA is part of Tait’s day-to-day life, it’s never set the ceiling on his ambitions. He’s heard his fair share of discouraging comments over the years – “That’s too hard,” “You probably can’t do that,” or “Maybe you should lower your expectations.”

Tait wants younger people living with neuromuscular conditions – or any disability – to know that the voices telling you something is “too hard” are not the ones you should be listening to.

“Despite the challenges of having a condition like SMA and how it affects your daily life, there’s no reason not to give things a go,” Tait says. “With the right team and support around you, you might surprise yourself with what you can achieve.”

Because if Tait’s story teaches us anything, it’s that the limits we think exist are often much further away than we realise.

Through his leadership, advocacy and lived example, Tait shows us that SMA doesn’t take away potential. It simply reshapes the way we navigate the world. And by sharing his story, he’s helping others find the confidence to take their place at the table too.

This month, we invite you to:

• Learn about SMA and its impacts
• Challenge assumptions about disability and capability
• Support inclusive spaces and accessible systems
• Amplify the voices of those with lived experience

Because when we listen, include and empower, we don’t just raise awareness. We shape a better future.

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