Born in Coonabarabran NSW (‘homeland’) – Wiradjuri woman of Dabee descent. Michelle is a lob term visitor on Bundjalung Country in Lismore, Northern NSW.

With a long-standing professional background in NSW Housing Services, NSW Child Protection, NSW Out of Home Care, Relative Assessments, Cultural planning for children and Specialist in Practice & Permanency, Michelles more recent career focus has been working in Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations, partnerships and engagement, policy and programs. ‘Nyumba Consulting’ has been developed with the intent and purpose to challenge systemic response in First Nations Communities, educate and empower practitioners to make systems adapt to the needs of families and communities in a manner that enhances cultural integrity.

Michelle is motivated by engaging with purposeful relationships across sector to enable sound advocacy and sector priority shift and reform, ensuring access and equity for families, communities and children who are more vulnerable than others.

Michelle presents on Aboriginal models of practice which prioritize embedding cultural intelligence into every day decision making, challenging systemic oppression which leads to siloing needs of families and the children. Self-determination and empowerment are not nouns to Michelle, they are verbs – action orientated and outcome focussed. Michelle is a well-considered strategist for programs and projects that enable change, strengthen kinship and family networks.

My passion is working alongside our communities in empowering Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people to create their own destiny, to provide those opportunities to give us the best chance to be the very best we can with whatever we choose to do. Aboriginal education and training has been my main field along with effective and balanced leadership in building capability with Aboriginal people as well as building understanding and capacity with non-Aboriginal people to recognise their potential in the ‘bigger picture’.

Lil Anderson (Te Rarawa and Ngāpuhi) is the Tumu Whakarae (Chief Executive) of the Office for Māori Crown Relations – Te Arawhiti (Te Arawhiti). She is originally from the small community of Panguru in the far north of New Zealand.

Te Arawhiti is a departmental agency that reports to the Minister for Māori Crown Relations – Te Arawhiti, the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations and the Minister responsible for the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act.

Te Arawhiti was created to consolidate a range of distinct but related government functions that support the journey of the Māori Crown partnership and help the Crown build on the sense of renewal in Māori Crown relations established through the Treaty settlement process.

Lil has more than 25 years’ experience spanning the public service and wider state sector. Authentic leadership, vision and strategy, problem solving and driving results have been key features of her career. She is the public sector lead on Maori-Crown relations.

Nerita Waight is a Yorta Yorta and Narrandjeri woman with Taungurung connections.

Nerita is the CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service. Nerita was first employed at VALS in 2014 as a civil lawyer. Prior to becoming CEO, Nerita had experience across several teams in the organisation including family and children’s law, as well as policy and advocacy.

Nerita has served on the Boards of several organisations including Elizabeth Morgan House, Bupup Wilam, and the Australia Community Support Organisation.

Nerita was elected as a member of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria in 2023 and was elected by the Assembly as Treaty Co-Convenor.

Nerita is also the mother of two young boys. Ensuring that they grow up with strong connections to their culture and kin, and in a world that is safer for Aboriginal people, is a key motivation for Nerita’s work.

Jacob is a trained sociologist and social work academic. He is interested in collaborating with the community, government, industry, and other stakeholders on research and projects related primarily to Aboriginal topics. 

Jacob continuously seeks Aboriginal students and staff who are eager to contribute to research. He wants to grow the next generation of Aboriginal leaders. If this sounds like you, please get in touch with him. 

As the Associate Dean Indigenous for the College of Arts, Law and Education (CALE), Jacob aims to empower Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff and students to contribute to a culture of Indigenous excellence.

CALE has a rich history of success for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and the college continues to build upon this legacy across its five schools. Indigenous staff and students actively contribute to research, learning and teaching, and leadership at both local and national levels.

As key discussions evolve on Indigenous topics such as truth-telling and treaty, achieving targets within the Closing the Gap strategy, and how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their families, and communities can grow strong, CALE’s Indigenous staff, students, and graduates have significant contributions to make, supported by our valued non-Indigenous colleagues.

Before undertaking the CALE Associate Dean Indigenous role, Jacob was a full-time Senior Indigenous Fellow in Social Work. In this capacity, he served as the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) Course Coordinator, contributed to learning and teaching, and collaborated with colleagues on research projects.

Additionally, Jacob is a former acting CEO of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers Association (NATSIHWA) and has worked in Aboriginal health since 2010. He is also a qualified Social Worker and Aboriginal Health Worker with extensive practice experience.

Lesley identifies as Anmatyere and Jaru through her biological family from the Central Desert regions. Mother of one daughter, Aunty to many. A second generation stolen generation child; Lesley grew up on Turrbal and Yuggera country in the suburb of Inala. Then relocated to Yugambeh country in her late teens where she commenced her work in the Public Service as an Indigenous Teacher Aide at Biggera Waters Primary School and Southport High School.

Lesley, holds a Bachelor of Human Services which was conferred at Griffith University (Logan
Campus) in 2009. She commenced in the Connected Beginnings Director role in Angurugu, Groote Eylandt in February 2021.

Lesley’s published work includes Listening with Respect: StrengtheningCommunication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Darlington Y, Garland L & Hall, K. ed.s
2007 published by the University of Queensland and ‘Cultural identity, kinship and connections in early childhood’. In Reconciliation in Action, edited J. Goodwin and Hydon. Early Childhood Australia 2023.

She has extensive experience, knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal service delivery
throughout Australia in urban, rural and remote communities. She has worked in education, child protection, family support, youth justice, health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment (human resources) and currently working in an early years education and care program.This work in Aboriginal Affairs has spanned over 20 years in the Public, Private and non-government sectors.

Lesley’s commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities is her life’s work and provides her the motivation to make a difference. Her resilience is inspiring from being a child in care to working in Leadership positions.

She truly values the contribution and commitment of people that work towards improving outcomes for Aboriginal children, young people, families and communities including her current Connected Beginnings Team.

Social impact takes time, building capacity of local Aboriginal people is the best investment for the sustainability of future generations. Her motto is “every child should have the opportunity to reach their full potential!”

Born in Coonabarabran NSW (‘homeland’) – Wiradjuri woman of Dabee descent. Michelle is a lob term visitor on Bundjalung Country in Lismore, Northern NSW.

With a long-standing professional background in NSW Housing Services, NSW Child Protection, NSW Out of Home Care, Relative Assessments, Cultural planning for children and Specialist in Practice & Permanency, Michelles more recent career focus has been working in Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations, partnerships and engagement, policy and programs. ‘Nyumba Consulting’ has been developed with the intent and purpose to challenge systemic response in First Nations Communities, educate and empower practitioners to make systems adapt to the needs of families and communities in a manner that enhances cultural integrity.

Michelle is motivated by engaging with purposeful relationships across sector to enable sound advocacy and sector priority shift and reform, ensuring access and equity for families, communities and children who are more vulnerable than others.

Michelle presents on Aboriginal models of practice which prioritize embedding cultural intelligence into every day decision making, challenging systemic oppression which leads to siloing needs of families and the children. Self-determination and empowerment are not nouns to Michelle, they are verbs – action orientated and outcome focussed. Michelle is a well-considered strategist for programs and projects that enable change, strengthen kinship and family networks.

Jess Bulger is Wiradjuri from Tumut and Brungle in country New South Wales.

Jess grew up in a big proud Aboriginal family, connected to culture, on country, involved in her community and fortunate enough to witness strong community governance and leadership through effective Elders.

Jess has based her career on the belief that as Aboriginal people we have always known the solutions for our communities and possess the ability to lead them. Jess began her career as a high school teacher and then worked in the higher education and not-for-profit sectors over the past 15 years. She is passionate about Indigenous governance and leadership and seeing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities thrive.

Jess also serves as Co-Chair of Outward Bound Australia and External Co-Chair of the GHD RAP Advisory Committee.

Aunty Bronwyn Penrith is a widely respected Aboriginal Woman who has a lifelong commitment and engagement with her Community.

She holds the Family responsibilities of a Mother, Grandmother and great-grandmother, and is a recognised kinship Carer. She is a recognised Elder by her Community. As well as her position as Senior Director Burbangana Group a private consulting company and a member of Supply Nation.

She is Chairperson of Mudgin-Gal Aboriginal Women Centre in Chippendale and a Director of the Redfern Foundation Ltd. She is also a past member of Women’s representatives on local, state, and National levels. And is a current member of the City of Sydney Aboriginal Advisory Panel. Bronwyn is a trained facilitator experienced in Community education workshops, cultural awareness, and Mentor and a registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, of long-standing, with the Australian Government Department of the Attorney General. And on the NSW legal aid Mediators Panel, in family law including Care & Protection Mediation.

In addition to the former work experience, Bronwyn is an advocate of lifelong learning and has qualifications in areas that include Indigenous Governance and – Mentoring through Diversity; Project Management and Trauma Informed Care work. Much of her work is in a voluntary capacity and She has recently been recognised for her voluntary delivery of series of Lateral Violence Workshops at the Women Centre.

Bronwyn is the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women Alliance NSW representative. Natsiwa has identified Gendered Violence, and Aboriginal Women in Business as priorities and issues impacting on Aboriginal Women and our Communities. A Board member of Women’s Legal Resources NSW And also a member of the NSW Women Legal Resource Centre Aboriginal Women Consultative Network. In June 2016, Bronwyn fulfilled the role of Elder of the “Building Better Lives for Ourselves’. Conference of 100 A&TSI Women bought together by PM&C. She is on a journey of Reclaiming Culture and is a Student of Wiradjuri Language, Culture, and Nation Building at Charles Sturt University. Through language and Cultural Practice, last year Bronwyn led the Making of a Possum Skin Cloak at Mudgin-gal Women Centre the first sewn by local community Aboriginal Women hands in 200 years. Through Mudgin-gal Bronwyn initiated an invitation for Aboriginal women to reclaim their Corroroboree and Ceremony This preparation for Ceremony to which over 60 Women responded, from Grandmothers and daughter and granddaughter and great Grandaughters Furthermore, Bronwyn is deeply connected to Country, and recently, travelled to her home Country, to witness the first Traditional Burn of Country in that area since the coming of the Whites population to the Brungle Valley.

She is trained in and has supported the Trainer (Maureen Moran )in Trauma in Aboriginal Children and on a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Project. She has participated in The Blue Knot Training with my colleagues in Burbangana Group.

Finally, she has undertaken Lateral Violence Training and delivered Workshops several times to Aboriginal Women.

Mr C’Zarke Maza LL.M is a descendant of the Meriam people of Mer (Murray Island) in the Torres Strait Islands and Yidinjdji people from the coast of Cairns and commenced duties as the inaugural Commissioner (Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa) in July 2021.

C’Zarke works to bring world-first, historic, legal recognition of Torres Strait Island traditional child rearing practices and taking the next step towards healing the community through culturally appropriate laws for First Nations people.

C’Zarke comes from a humble background, his life and that of his family, epitomises the strength to succeed as a First Nations person. He is the proud son of the late Bob Maza AM and brother of Dr Rachael Maza AM, both who were awarded with an Order of Australia (AM) and who are renowned actors, activists, playwrights and directors and have been instrumental in changing the way Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are portrayed in the media.

C’Zarke takes up the Office of Commissioner (Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa) after 10 years with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS) where he served as the Regional Manager and Legal Practitioner on Thursday Island. As the Regional Manager, C’Zarke was instrumental in establishing an ATSILS regional office on Thursday Island and a satellite office in Bamaga to provide professional and culturally competent legal services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Torres Strait Islands and the Northern Peninsula Area. Further, in that period C’Zarke successfully developed collaborative partnerships in the Torres Strait Islands and the Northern Peninsula Area with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, key government and non-government stakeholders to influence positive change and deliver high quality legal services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within or exposed to the justice system.

Further, C’Zarke was first admitted as a solicitor and barrister in 2002 and has extensive experience in law, advocating for, and engaging with, Torres Strait Islander people. As a Torres Strait Islander person, C’Zarke brings with him a deep and inherent understanding of the diversity and sensitivity of traditional child rearing practice.

With a deep commitment to driving policy, programs and services to improve the lives of the First Nations people of Australia, C’Zarke is fiercely committed to working with the Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, the Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa Advisory Group, stakeholders and communities to lead the implementation of a historical, world first legislation that will recognise and make a Torres Strait Islander cultural practice of traditional child-rearing practice into Queensland law. His extensive professional experience and ability to effectively engage with the Torres Strait Islander community (within Queensland and interstate), the broader Queensland community, government and non-government stakeholders will be key attributes for the Office.

Our vision is for First Nations gender justice and equality in Australia. Led by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar AO, Wiyi Yani U Thangani elevates the voices of First Nations women and girls, knowing that they hold the solutions to drive transformative change. 

Wiyi Yani U Thangani provides the evidence that the inequalities experienced by First Nations women and girls are perpetuated and entrenched by mainstream systems and structures that have marginalised the voices of women and girls for generations. First Nations women and girls are clear: we need large-scale structural change to create a world where the unique cultural, social, economic and political rights and interests of First Nations women and girls are realised. We need First Nations gender justice and equality.

A proud Bundjalung Woman with connections to the Torres Strait Mer Island, while also acknowledging my South Sea islander culture. Kristie has played a critical role in the implementation and operations of the ‘Birthing in Our Community’ program being the inaugural manager of BiOC South with Institute for Urban Indigenous Health. Kristie transitioned into the General Manager, Family Health, and Wellbeing Services and now the Executive Director for Moreton ATSICHs, Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Community Health services and accountable for the strategic delivery of its comprehensive primary health care services in this region.

Northern Kaanju/Ayapathu Aboriginal woman with over 13 years of dedicated service in the community sector, Shannon brings a wealth of experience and passion to her work, particularly in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community health. Over the past seven years, Shannon has focused her efforts on addressing the unique health needs of Indigenous communities, striving to bridge gaps in access and quality of care. Currently, Shannon serves as the Birthing and Early Childhood Services Manager at the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health. In this capacity, Shannon is deeply committed to ensuring that Indigenous families receive the highest standard of care, rooted in cultural respect and understanding. Through innovative programs and partnerships, IUIH aim to empower families and nurture the health and well-being of future generations.

Richard (Richie) Ah Mat is a descendant of the Yupungathi peoples from western Cape York and the Wuthathi people of the eastern Cape region. Born on Thursday Island, and later moving to Weipa, Richie led the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU Weipa Branch) in the mid 1990’s against mining giant Comalco, in the fight against individual contracts. In 1997, Richie was elected as the Chairperson of the Cape York Land Council, an Aboriginal organisation appointed by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs as the Native Title Representative Body for the Cape York region. Richie held this role for 4 years before serving as the Land Council’s Executive Director for a further 4 year period. In 2009, Richie returned to the role of Chairperson and has held the role since.

Richie is the co-chairperson of the Cape York Partnership group and serves on the board of Good to Great Schools Australia, Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation, the Forestry Industry Advisory Council, Bama Civil and Construction Services, Cape York Girl Academy and Djarragun College.

Richie was elected as a founding member of the Prime Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council and is committed to the promotion of economic and social development of First Nations people of Cape York and across the nation.