Leadership grounded in culture

Describe your career trajectory and how you got to your current position.

I am an Arrernte woman from Central Australia, and my working life has always been grounded in community. I began my career during the early days of key Aboriginal organisations including Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Aboriginal Legal Aid and the Central Land Council. It was a time of building strong foundations and asserting our rights and responsibilities as First Nations people. I later contributed to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody through the Underlying Issues Unit and worked with the Aboriginal Sacred Sites Authority and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

Over more than thirty years I have worked across vocational and tertiary education, and in governance roles that focus on strengthening institutions from within. Each step has been connected by a commitment to community authority and long-term change. My role as Co-Chair of Children’s Ground reflects that journey. It allows me to continue supporting First Nations leadership and community led systems that place children and families at the centre.

What drives you to do the work that you do?

I am driven by responsibility. Responsibility to our Elders, to culture and to the generations coming next. For much of my life I have seen how decisions made away from community have shaped our lives. I believe deeply that our people must lead the design and delivery of the systems that affect us.

Children’s Ground speaks to that belief. It is grounded in culture, language and place. Seeing children grow strong in who they are, with their families and community around them, is what keeps me committed to this work.

If you could go back in time, what piece of advice would you give yourself as you first embarked on your career?

I would tell myself that change that is meaningful takes time and patience. There will be setbacks, but staying steady and anchored in values matters. I would also remind myself to listen carefully and to nurture others into leadership. The strength of our work always sits with collective effort.

Any words you live by day to day?

Stay grounded in culture. Lead with integrity. Remember that leadership is service.

What are you currently watching, reading or listening to?

I have just watched season 4 of The Lincoln Lawyer. 

I’ve just started to read Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko and I’m enjoying working through Veronica Arbon’s book Arlathirnda ngurkarnda ityirnda : being-knowing doing : de-colonising indigenous tertiary education.