Shawn Phua

Shawn Phua (He/Him/His) is a profoundly Deaf Asian Australian from Meanjin (Brisbane), with over 15 years of experience teaching Auslan and more than 30 years of active involvement in the Deaf community. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (with majors in Geography and Learning Enhancement) from Griffith University, and he has completed a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40116) at TAFE Queensland, equipping him with strong vocational teaching and curriculum development skills. As a passionate freelance Auslan trainer/tutor and Disability Advocate, Shawn works with diverse groups, including NDIS Participants, families of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, Neurodiverse clients and Auslan students across Australia. He is committed to lifelong learning and regularly participates in professional development opportunities, both online and in-person across Queensland.

Shawn has contributed to several UX consultancy projects with various organisations. He worked at BHP – Minerals Australia in Brisbane in two roles: Logistics Infrastructure Planning Assistant (focusing on coal trains and mine site capacities) and Organisational Development Specialist, supporting BHP’s organisational transformation through its Digital Factories initiative. He brings a unique perspective to UX, combining his lived experience of disability, multilingual communication skills, and cross-cultural insight to advocate for inclusive and accessible design. Fluent in Auslan (Australian Sign Language), Australian Signed English, and Written English, Shawn is deeply committed to ensuring that Deaf and disabled voices are meaningfully included in the design of technology and services.