Indigenous Advocate Takes Top Job

Oxfam Policy Advisor Andrew Meehan has been appointed as National Director of ANTaR – a national advocacy organisation dedicated specifically to the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Meehan will come to ANTaR from Oxfam Australia where he leads its Indigenous rights advocacy and policy. He will commence his role at ANTaR in May.

According to ANTaR, Meehan was selected after a recruitment process that attracted a very strong field of candidates for the position.

“We’re very pleased Andrew is taking on the role – he has a wealth of experience in, and passion for, campaigning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights,” National President Dr Peter Lewis said.

ANTaR said he had played a central role in national campaigns for First Peoples' rights including Close the Gap, constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and an emerging national campaign to address the high incarceration rates.

“He’s ideally placed to take the organisation forward,” Dr Lewis said.

Meehan said ANTaR had made a huge difference in its work for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over many years.

“I am honoured to be appointed and am looking forward to building a strong national movement,” he said.

“More than 300,000 people have put their signatures on a hand in ANTaR’s Sea of Hands and helped in its installation in locations around Australia. I believe that many Australians want to support a better deal for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“We shouldn’t tolerate a health equality gap of up to 17 years, incarceration rates 14 times that of other Australians, exclusion from the Constitution, or the disadvantage across the board that our First Peoples face.

“There’s plenty of goodwill we should harness to work in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for their rights.”

In the interim, National Campaigns Manager Jane Powles will be Acting National Director.