Genevieve Clay

Background

She grew up in Newcastle and attended the Hunter School of Performing Arts in Broadmeadow.

Career

She is an advocate for social justice and inclusion for people living with a disability. She is executive director of the not-for-profit organisation Business Stop Films. Business Stop Films is dedicated to helping people with a disability and people from other marginalised communities learn about and be involved in the film industry.

Late in 2012 Clay-Smith was accepted into the Australian Film, Television and Radio School to do her Master of Screen Arts.

She was recognised in the Young Leaders category for her contribution to creating inclusion within the film industry. Clay-Smith has been named the 2015 NSW Young Australian of the Year."I"m so excited to use this award to raise awareness for the things I stand for, to have a platform to advocate for people who are marginalised.

You don"t understand someone"s potential until you give them an opportunity to rise to the occasion.".

Achievements

• She is the winner of the 2009 Tropfest short film festival as well as a number of other Australian film festivals. She is also the co-founder of creative agency, Taste Creative. Clay-Smith was a winner of The Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence Awards for 2014.