I am an Aboriginal woman born and raised in Magandjin (Brisbane) with cultural connections to Northern Territory. As the First Nations Engagement and Learning Manager my primary focus is to engage with key stakeholders and First Nations participants and alumni to provide support and advice to the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) team on program design and learning with a view from a cultural lens.

I enjoy reading, in particular novels by First Nations authors. Whilst in Central Australia, I learned to weave from the Tjanpi Desert Weavers. This has stayed with me, and I now love to weave baskets and earrings to gift to family and friends. I have tried my hand at water colour painting and hope to have time to explore this a bit more. I like grounding myself in nature to do some gardening. Family time is always cherished and I don’t mind sitting with my mum doing a jigsaw puzzle.

Where does your passion for leadership and rural, regional and remote Australia come from?

I have a passion to see First Nations people stand strong in their identity and strive to achieve their goals. There is a large population of First Nations peoples still living on country in rural, regional and remote Australia. I have mentored, counselled and coached many people over the years in a personal capacity. I love helping to empower people to become compassionate and respected leaders in their communities and help them to pursue their own version of success.  

What’s your favourite memory or most memorable moment in rural, regional and remote Australia?

I love the peaceful energy, the solitude and the big skies of rural, regional and remote Australia. Having recently spent a year in the desert of Central Australia, I learned to appreciate the vast landscape and beauty within, from the carpets of blooming purple and yellow desert flowers to the majestically carved out mountains and rocks of deep red, yellow and white to the amazing clear blue skies that stretch on forever, then light up at night as it sparkles magnificently with a trillion stars that make you feel so small beneath it all. Each place holds a story of significance to the respective Tradition Owners. The richness of the red soil is just the cover to the story of this amazing country and the people that live here.

What’s your professional background?

My career spans over 30 years of working in, with and for First Nations communities in areas that I feel need the most support for my people; education, health and justice. I have worked in First Nations community organisations, RTO’s, government departments, Not-for-profit organisations, correctional centres, university and hospitals. All with the aim of supporting First Nations peoples to achieve better life outcomes.

I am an alum of ARLF Milparanga program and have been a participant in their Changemaker program. I have facilitated ARLF Drought Resilience Program and LARC (Leading Australian Resilient Communities).

I am very excited to join the ARLF team as I believe in what they do, having already experienced an ongoing relationship in different capacities. 

Three things you love about working at the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation?

1. The ARLF recognises the rich and diverse culture of First Nations peoples and is willing to stand strong in their conviction to support First Nations leadership. They stand alongside our communities and listen to the feedback, needs and ideas to move forward.

2. I love that the key educational methodology used by the ARLF is experiential learning. ARLF understand that not all learning takes place in a classroom.

3. The whole ARLF team is amazing and committed to helping and supporting each other to achieve the best results in the workplace, in the programs and in the communities they serve.