Speaker Profiles

Warren Mundine is from the First Australian Nations of Bundjalung and the Gumbaynggirr people on the North Coast of New South Wales (NSW).

Mr. Mundine is a highly respected and influential businessman, political strategist and Indigenous advocate for empowering First Australians to build a sustained Indigenous economy.

His life and career have been shaped by a deep-seated personal commitment to community, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, and he has more than 26 years of experience working in the public, private and community sectors.

Mr. Mundine is currently Chief Executive Officer of NTSCORP Ltd., a company in NSW that assists Traditional Owners to achieve social justice and promote economic, environmental and cultural development through Native Title and other avenues. Also, as Chairman of the Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, Mr Mundine provides national leadership for initiatives to help Indigenous people break the welfare cycle, such as the Australian Employment Covenant.

Mr. Mundine has had considerable involvement in local, state and national government, including a term as National President of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). He has served as national convenor of the ALP National Indigenous Labor Network and as Chair of the ALP (NSW) Indigenous People & Reconciliation Policy Committee. He also has Honorary Life Membership of the NSW Local Government Aboriginal Network.

Mr. Mundine's expertise is widely recognised and he has played leadership roles and served on national, state and local boards and committees providing business, operational and strategic advice. Chief among these are as an Executive Member of the National Native Title Council; and as a Director of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation and the Australian Employment Strategy. Mr. Mundine also sits on the Indigenous Advisory Committee of the Australian Law Reform Commission.

Mr. Mundine's community work often extends beyond his natural boundaries, such as his contribution to the Save the Children Australian Board and as a member of the National Leadership Group and Ambassador of the White Ribbon Day Foundation, which stems from the global campaign to eliminate violence against women.

Equal to his community spirit is Mr. Mundine's passion and love of football, both the 'world game' and rugby league. He is one of Football Federation Australia's Indigenous Football Ambassadors and in earlier years Mr Mundine was fundamental to establishing and managing local football competitions in country towns, particularly women's football.

Mr. Mundine also has a strong passion for the Arts. He is the Chair of NAISDA, the training school for First Australians dancers for the Bangarra Dance Company, Australian Ballet and Sydney Dance Company; Chair of the Redfern Arts & Film Festival Foundation and is an Ambassador for the Song Room, which is an Australian not-for-profit organisation that provides opportunities for enhanced learning and development for disadvantaged children through music and creative arts.

Mr. Mundine has been recognised for his community, government and business achievements by being awarded Doctor of the University (honoris causa) Southern Cross University. He has also been awarded the Centenary Medal for services to the community and local government and the Bennelong Medal for Leadership in Indigenous Affairs.

Ms Jody Broun is a Yindjibarndi woman from the Pilbara. Jody Broun has dedicated herself to the service of Australia's first peoples in her 25 year career, spending much of that time in senior public service positions. She has been the Executive Director of Aboriginal Housing and Infrastructure at the Department of Housing and Works (WA), Director of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment (WA), Executive Director of Policy and Coordination at the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority (WA) and Director General of the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

Jody is also a well-known and respected artist. She explores the stories of her family and country in her art and was the winner of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award in 1998 and the Canberra Art Award in 2005.

Fadwa currently heads the Social and Indigenous Group at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

This Group was established in 2008 to strengthen the Institute's capacity to produce statistics, analysis and information on health and welfare issues relating to Indigenous peoples, and children, youth and families.

In 2008, Fadwa was awarded the public service medal for outstanding public service in improving the accuracy and reliability of the data on Indigenous Australians contained in information collections for health, housing and community services.

Fadwa Al-Yaman has a PhD in Immunology from the John Curtin School of Medical Research and a Master of Population Studies from the demography program at the Research School of Social Studies at the ANU.

Before joining the Institute in 2000, Fadwa worked as an immunologist at the Australian National University and before that she worked as a Research Fellow at the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research.

Colleen Marion is a Bidjara woman from Augathella in South West Queensland.

The Western Suburbs Indigenous Gathering Place was launched as an Incorporated Association in August 2003 and was founded by Colleen Marion. In July this year, the organisation changed its legal status to a Company Limited, and is now officially known as THE GATHERING PLACE HEALTH SERVICE Ltd.

It is the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service provider in the Western Suburbs.

Colleen has often said "Having been brought up in a large family in remote Queensland, living in a tin hut, I loved the fact that our family spoke our language, hunted our own food and lived traditionally. All Aboriginal kids should experience that lifestyle."

Estimates of the Indigenous population in the Western suburbs of Melbourne number around 3,000, although the Gathering Place thinks it is closer to 4,000, as members of the community feel comfortable and safe using the Gathering Place services and relay good feedback to family members.

The Gathering Place provides a very good model of intervention which actively assists in practical ways the lives of Indigenous Australians. The Hon Bill Shorten MP, Assistant Treasurer, Federal Member for Maribyrnong, said to Federal Parliament that Gathering Place provides accessible services, including a family support unit; a GP clinic, home and community care programs; playgroups; justice and youth workers; and many more.

The service has been growing rapidly. For instance, in the last 12 months there has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of clients accessing the Gathering Place services. A year ago, 70 to 80 clients were attending the clinic every month and now it is 140 to 150. Many of them have complex chronic diseases and social circumstances which require referral to services and also support to attend these services. An intake worker assesses every new client to ensure the issues are identified so that appropriate services can be offered. The demand has grown so much that they are expanding from their original premises to a custom-designed clinic in a brand new building and have set up a satellite Outreach service in the outlying suburb of Werribee.

Penny Armytage has been the Secretary of the Victorian Department of Justice since 2003. The justice portfolio is diverse and incorporates nine ministerial portfolios – Attorney-General; Police & Emergency Services; Bushfire Response; Corrections; Crime Prevention; Establishment of an anti-corruption commission; Consumer Affairs; Gaming, and Racing – concerned with the administration, reform and enforcement of the law, as well as with regulation in areas such as gambling and liquor. The Department has a budget of $4.4 billion, including Victoria Police, and employs more than 6000 staff.

Before becoming Secretary, Ms Armytage worked as Executive Director, Operations at the Department of Human Services; and prior to that as the Commissioner for the Office of Correctional Services with responsibility for Victoria's correctional system.

Ms Armytage holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the Preston Institute of Technology and is a National Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia. She is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has been a senior executive in the Victorian Public Service for the past 20 years.

Jenny is currently the Executive Director of the Ministerial Taskforce on Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat in the Department of Planning and Community Development. She is responsible for supporting the Taskforce in overseeing a whole of government strategy to better target government investment and achieve improved outcomes for Indigenous Victorians. She coordinates a Secretaries' Group on Aboriginal Affairs and the Ministerial Taskforce on Aboriginal Affairs, chaired by the Deputy Premier, Rob Hulls MP.

Previously, Jenny Samms was the Director in the Office of Commonwealth Games Coordination, Department for Victorian Communities. She had responsibility for a wide range of programs being delivered in the lead up to the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games including communications strategies, the legacy programs and cultural program.

In her previous position she was Deputy Secretary, Office of Strategy and Review in the Department of Education and Training.

Jenny commenced with the Commonwealth Department of Employment and Industrial Relations before moving to the Victorian Government in 1984.

Jenny has since held various executive positions in the Departments of Education and Training, Labour and Premier and Cabinet.

Peter Seidel is the partner responsible for co-ordinating Arnold Bloch Leibler's public interest law contributions and is head of the firm's native title practice. His position emphasises the notion of giving back to the community and acknowledges a commitment that both he and the firm have to pro bono work. Notably, Peter represented the Yorta Yorta Aboriginal peoples in their landmark native title claim, High Court appeal and associated legal transactions.

In 2008, Peter was appointed an Adjunct Professor of Law at La Trobe University. In this position, Peter advises the university's law school on the direction of its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and strengthens its connections with the legal profession. He also supports La Trobe's public interest law programme by advising on its development and taking part in its teaching.

In his public interest law co-ordinating role at Arnold Bloch Leibler, Peter also receives and acts on requests for pro-bono legal assistance through the Public Interest Law Clearing House, having previously served on its board from 2002 to 2007.

Peter joined Arnold Bloch Leibler as a lawyer in 1993 and became a partner in 2002. Previously, he completed a three-year position at the Federal Court of Australia. He is entered on the High Court Register of Practitioners and is entitled to practice as a barrister and solicitor of both the Federal Court and Supreme Court of Victoria.

Peter was the inaugural recipient of the Pro Bono Award at the 2004 Law Institute of Victoria's President's Awards. In 2006, he received the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's Human Rights Award in the law category in recognition of his significant contribution to the promotion and advancement of human rights in Australia. In 2007, Peter received the Victorian Law Foundation's Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award for his pro-bono service to Indigenous peoples.

Rhonda French is a Wiradjuri Woman from Tumut. She is mum to two teenage daughters, Katrina and Shanice, and her family is connected to Brungle through her great grandmother Cora Hickey.

Rhonda currently works two jobs, one with Tumut Regional Family Services Inc. where she has developed a Toolkit for Service Providers to support them when working with Aboriginal families. She recently moved into the Parent and Community Engagement Program where her team supports family members of Aboriginal students to improve their engagement within schools. She also works as Community Program Officer for Aboriginal Affairs, NSW where she assists the Aboriginal communities of Tumut and Brungle to address gaps in service delivery.

Rhonda's motto in life is to use her skills and abilities to improve Aboriginal communities. Her Aboriginal community is very important to her and she aims to be a positive role model for her people, as her mother was for her. She strongly believes that people should not complain unless they are prepared to be part of the solution.

Rhonda would like all people to see the positives in life and be grateful for what they have instead of focusing on what is wrong and what they believe they 'need' to survive. A smile is free.

Terry has been an officer of the Victorian and Australian Public Services for over 30 years. He currently holds the position of Executive Director, Freight Logistics and Marine Division in Victoria's Department of Transport. He is responsible for freight and logistics policy, support to the State's sea ports and freight network infrastructure planning and development.

Terry was previously a Regional Director in the Department of Human Services (DHS), where he was responsible for the health, aged care, disability services, child protection and public housing programs.

Terry has also worked as an Assistant Regional Director for the Aboriginal Development Commission, a Regional Manager for Aboriginal Hostels Ltd and was the Executive Director for Aboriginal Affairs Victoria for seven 7 years. He has been involved in a variety of Aboriginal community organisations, including the Aborigines Advancement League and Camp Jungai Cooperative and was on the board of the Museum of Victoria for 9 years.

Terry grew up in Shepparton, studied at Latrobe University, Bendigo from where he received a Diploma of Arts (General Studies) and a Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary).

Ronald Fogarty identifies as a Jagalingou man.

He is currently the Indigenous Employment & Training Manager for the Northern Region of Brisbane, working with a variety of stakeholders from community through to industry identifying, creating and improving employment and training opportunities for Indigenous people.

His management of the Indigenous Employment and Training Support Offices provides an encompassing support for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander apprentices and trainees within this region.

Ron has extensive experience and knowledge of Indigenous employment, creating and implementing strategies for more than thirty years.

As a resident of Brisbane and an ex-army man Ron finished working for the Federal government in 1998.

During this time he successfully worked on a major strategy: - "to increase Indigenous employment rates from 1% to 2.6%".

He then went on to work in State government, though still remaining in the area of vocational indigenous employment.

A lifelong Territorian, Kym spent his early years in Alice Springs. After completing school at Alice Springs High he completed an auto apprenticeship. He worked in a number of remote Territory locations in a variety of jobs, including time as a "ringer" or "jackeroo", before joining the Northern Territory Police in 1985.

Kym spent the next 12 years living and working in remote and urban communities including Maningrida, Mataranka and Nauiyu (Nay you). During this time he moved "home" to Alice Springs as one of the first School Based Constables, returning to his old school as the "Campus Cop." He has held many posts within the Police Force including time as the Aboriginal Community Police (ACPO) Development Officer, Officer in Charge of the Juvenile Diversion Unit in Darwin and Alice Springs and Superintendent in both Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.

In the late 90's Kym transferred to the Indigenous Policing Unit as Aboriginal Community Police Officer (ACPO) Development Officer where he again spent much of his time traveling through the NT to liaise with remote ACPOs.

A highlight involved developing and implementing a robust application process for entry to the ACPO ranks and a nationally accredited Certificate level training course that allowed Indigenous Police Officers to progress to the mainstream police constable if they so desired.

More recently Kym has been the Superintendent in charge of all remote police stations in the South and West of Alice Springs and a member of the Cross Border Justice Project Executive Group.

Kym's involvement with Indigenous Territorians over a long period led to him being selected as the project officer tasked to develop working protocols between remote community Night Patrols and Police.

Luke has been a police officer for 30 years and a detective for 26 years. During this time he has had extensive experience in working to reduce crime and improve community morale. He has been in a Superintendent role for six years and the Commanding Officer within Redfern for the last three years.

Shane Phillips is also a Founding Director of the Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce. Shane has a long history of working to empower disadvantaged Indigenous and non-Indigenous people through organisations such as the Tribal Warrior Association Inc.

Dr Alf Bamblett is the Chief Executive Officer at the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Limited (VACSAL). In addition to this Alf is also the current President of the Aborigines Advancement League and has life membership on various Aboriginal organisations including the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc (VAEAI).

Alf's father was a Wiradjeri man and his mother a Yorta Yorta woman and hence he has a biological and kinship relationship with many Victorian Aboriginal families. Dr Alf Bamblett is an Elder and Leader within the Victorian Aboriginal Community. For over forty years through key policy making and management roles, Alf has held a number of Executive positions and has been instrumental in shaping many Aboriginal Community Organisations within Victoria.

This work includes the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS), the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA), the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC), the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association (VAEAI), the Victoria Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee and Koorie Diabetes Services Victorian (KDSV).

Alf is a member of many committees both State and Commonwealth and is respected as a cultural advisor to the Victorian Department of Human Services and various non-Government mainstream organisations. Alf is much sought after for his extensive knowledge of Aboriginal affairs both historical and contemporary.

For many years Alf has conducted Cultural Awareness programs, particularly on issues of racism, with government Departments, Community Agencies and various mainstream agencies including the Australian Football League as well as Judges / Magistrates and staff in penal system.

Alf was a founding member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC). From 1991 to 1995 Alf was the Victorian Commissioner for ATSIC. In his role as Commissioner he undertook the very important role of chairing two major reviews. Alf chaired the Task Force Review of the Commonwealth Government's Aboriginal Employment and Development Program (AEDP). He also chaired the Task Force to Response of Government's to the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. He was also the first Aboriginal man in Victoria to present at a Federal Cabinet meeting.

Following these major accomplishments Alf was also instrumental on the ATSIC committee whom met and negotiated funding for various programs after the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody where 339 recommendations were handed down.

Alf has a long history of working in and for Aboriginal communities and particularly in the areas of: Justice, Family Support (Child Protection & Family Violence), Community Development, Economic Development, Culture & Social Welfare as well as Education. Alf in his own right has become an accomplished speaker at public forums and has lectured at schools, universities, colleges, police academies. Alf is often called upon by both the Aboriginal and wider community to lead and facilitate meetings, forums gatherings a skill in which a gift is shared.

In 1999 - Alf represented Australia on behalf of Indigenous young people at the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Population in Geneva and was instrumental in setting the direction for the Indigenous youth and children's forum.

In 2004 – Alf received Honorary Doctorate – Deakin University awarded in recognition dedication, time and assistance provided, along with the playing a key role in the establishment and operation of a very successful higher education programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students attending the Deakin University.

In 2007 – Alf was awarded Victorian Law Foundation Certificate – in recognition of distinguished and long – standing commitment to Pro Bono service.

Alf is a strong advocate for Aboriginal people within Victoria. He is called a leader not only because he demonstrates and emulates leadership but because he is a visionary with a proven ability to direct the course of Aboriginal affairs. The Aboriginal community looks to him for this leadership.

Whilst there are many people who are leaders within their particular fields of expertise be it education, employment, housing etc, Alf has the ability to work across all the broader policy areas and the capacity to provide advice on the impact of policies on services, practices and community as a whole.

Alf is currently the President of the Aborigines Advancement League a position he has held for over a 16 year period. In addition to this Alf is also a life member of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporation, a board member of the Aboriginal Community Elders Service the Darebin Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Committee and has just been nominated the position as the President with the Fitzroy Stars Football Club.

Alf is the lead singer of the group called 'Stray Blacks'. The group is well known and comprises of Aboriginal community members. Stray Blacks are always in demand for a variety of community functions state-wide including functions for NAIDOC week. It is not uncommon for Alf, Stray Blacks to volunteer their services for community functions.

Errolyn is a Mununjali Murri from SE Qld. She grew up on the Tweed and in Taree. She completed year 12 in Taree and realised that because of the racism in the town, employment was going to be an issue. She then moved to Wollongong and joined TAFE NSW in 1985 on the first Aboriginal Teacher Preparatory Programme and gained her degree in Education with Honours.

Errolyn has worked in a range of roles with TAFE NSW ever since and has a strong belief in the products and second chance education that TAFE delivers to Aboriginal people. She is particularly passionate about her current role as Aboriginal Co-ordinator, as she has the opportunity to work with community and other organisations to improve learning and employment outcomes.

Councillor Angela Long is Co-Chair for the Inter Council Aboriginal Consultative Committee. She is also a Councillor and former Mayor for the City of Greater Dandenong. Having lived in Greater Dandenong almost all her life, Cr Angela Long is committed to developing the city's future and addressing resident's needs. She lives in Dandenong with her husband of 42 years Barry.

Major projects of interest to Cr Long include the revitalisation of Dandenong, the continued development of Metro 3175 and the redevelopment of the Dandenong Market.

Cr Long has been involved in ICACC since it was formed in 1997. With years of community involvement behind her, she has been working with the Indigenous community for 30 years to achieve better outcomes in the areas of respect, recognition, reconciliation, equity and health and wellbeing.

Cr Long is a patron and public officer of the Bunjil Aboriginal Dance Group, public officer of the Dandenong Central Senior Citizen's Club and the North Dandenong Senior Citizen's Club and a life member of the North Dandenong Cricket Club. She is also involved in a number of charity organisations.

Dean grew up in a horticultural community of the Adelaide Hills which gave him good grounding in local and export businesses. Dean has had a varied career and in the early years, he was employed through the Department of Education as a facilities and conference centre manager. A change in his career path, Dean then went to the Country Fire Service where he was employed in various roles from technical operations through to management.

Dean in the latter part of his career started his own successful wholesale business. This gave Dean a great insight into viable businesses that can cater for environmental resource management issues that face all businesses today. Dean spent two years working in South East Asia with Forestry products for the furniture manufacturing industry.

Dean's passion for sustainable local economies and 30 years (government/private enterprise) knowledge and experience can assist in support and advisory services to small and medium businesses throughout the northern region. Dean lives in Peterborough with his family.

With a Degree in Social Science, Florence has spent her working life in the human services field in areas as diverse as early childhood, family support services, teaching, community mental health and disability services. An inherent belief in community participation has led to a long term involvement in a variety of voluntary groups as well.

Florence is the General Manager, Client Services NSW for Mallee Family Care - a not for profit organisation based in the South West NSW and North West Victoria and is a strong advocate for social change.

Her passion is in community development and working with community groups to reach their aspirations and potential, working towards long term sustainable changes that make a difference to the lives of individuals, families, communities and society.

Cole was born in Western Australia. His Aboriginal Heritage is Nungar, but he was raised in Alice Springs with Aranda people.

Cole worked in construction most of his working life until May 2002 when he was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident. He also worked in the Aboriginal Healing Service before starting the Northern Bundji Bundji program in May 2008.

Cole received Department of Justice awards in 2009 (Employment and Training Innovation Award) and in 2010 (Achieving Improved Justice Outcomes).

Corinne has been the CEO of the Westgate General Practice Network in Victoria for nearly 16 years. She has been the key driver in establishing the Network as a vibrant organisation for general Practice. During this time, Corinne has also established a major primary care service for people from low income backgrounds. This service involves team based approaches for people with chronic and complex conditions and mental health.

Corinne brings many years of experience in the field of people and organisational development both here and overseas. Her overseas experience includes a senior advisory role in the political arena, the development of programs for visually impaired people, and the 'Exercise through Dance' program for Pacific Islander communities. She has also been involved in motivational programs for people with disabilities and the elderly.

Corinne has also developed a wellness program for the Aboriginal Community entitled 'Our Mind Our Body Our Spirit' and is currently involved in improving the governance and management structure at The Gathering Place Health Service in addition to her work with the Network.

Corinne is in the process of completing a book dedicated to her best friend whom she lost to cancer titled 'To My Friend With Love'.

Nihal is the General Counsel & Legal Director for the professional services consulting firm Kaizen Synergy. He specialises in Health and Commercial Law and over the past 14 years has held a number of senior management positions.

Over the last 10 years Nihal has worked in the legal and compliance team for a major Private Health Insurer, General Manager of an integrated tertiary primary medical service and head of the Australian National Diabetes Institute.

In 2000 Nihal received an Honorary University Deans Award for project management and development of a major Public-Private-Partnership involving a leading public agency.

Nihal has also assisted and advised State and Federal Government Ministers, Divisions and Networks of General Practice, Medical Colleges and Universities in connection with corporate policies, strategic and operational matters, governance systems, curricula, clinical services and general regulatory compliance matters.