News 
Eighteen Indigenous leaders meet in central Australia to work on making a difference
Eighteen Indigenous leaders meet in central Australia to work on making a difference
Eighteen Indigenous leaders meet in central Australia to work on making a difference
Thursday, 31 July 2008 19:00
Eighteen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders will meet in Alice Springs on Thursday and Friday this week. Along with eight of their fellow non-Indigenous graduates of the Australian Rural Leadership Program, they will consider how they can work together to develop and support rural and remote Australia.
Chairman of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, Professor Peter Shergold, said ‘These Indigenous leaders are well placed to be a critical resource. They have completed the highly-effective and respected Australian Rural Leadership Program and are deeply connected and committed to their communities and to the task of making a difference’.
The meeting, hosted by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, is part of a research and evaluation project into the leadership development needs, opportunities and experiences of rural leaders.
Chief Executive of the Foundation, Dr Lesley Fitzpatrick said, ‘Our network of graduates, or Fellows, is now over 400 strong. Our Indigenous Fellows have a critical role to play at this time, and their potential for effective engagement and strategic input is a significant resource for remote and rural communities, industry and all levels of Government’.
Indigenous leaders attending the meeting include Joe Ross (Chair, NAILSMA), Toshie Kris and Napcia Bin Tahal (Chair and Deputy Chair of the Torres Strait Island Regional Authority), Russell Taylor (NSW Aboriginal Housing Office), John Paterson (CEO AMSANT), Kerry Colbung (Director, South Australian Aboriginal Sports Training Academy), and local Alice Springs leader, Rowan Foley (CEO, Central Desert Shire Council).
Indigenous Fellows, Joe Ross and Leann Wilson said, ‘We really appreciate having the opportunity to meet together with other Indigenous Fellows of the Foundation to talk about the challenges facing rural and remote Australia, particularly those facing our people. We also think it is important to have our non-Indigenous colleagues working alongside us’.
Dr Fitzpatrick said, ‘I’d like to thank our Foundation sponsors, and the departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Infrastructure, Transport, Local Government and Regional Services, who contributed funds and support to enable the Foundation to hold this inaugural meeting. We are sure much goodwill come from it’.
Media Contact :
Dr Lesley Fitzpatrick, Australian Rural Leadership Foundation Ph. 0439 733 404
Mr Joe Ross, Indigenous Foundation Fellow: Ph. 0419 913 043
Chairman of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, Professor Peter Shergold, said ‘These Indigenous leaders are well placed to be a critical resource. They have completed the highly-effective and respected Australian Rural Leadership Program and are deeply connected and committed to their communities and to the task of making a difference’.
The meeting, hosted by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, is part of a research and evaluation project into the leadership development needs, opportunities and experiences of rural leaders.
Chief Executive of the Foundation, Dr Lesley Fitzpatrick said, ‘Our network of graduates, or Fellows, is now over 400 strong. Our Indigenous Fellows have a critical role to play at this time, and their potential for effective engagement and strategic input is a significant resource for remote and rural communities, industry and all levels of Government’.
Indigenous leaders attending the meeting include Joe Ross (Chair, NAILSMA), Toshie Kris and Napcia Bin Tahal (Chair and Deputy Chair of the Torres Strait Island Regional Authority), Russell Taylor (NSW Aboriginal Housing Office), John Paterson (CEO AMSANT), Kerry Colbung (Director, South Australian Aboriginal Sports Training Academy), and local Alice Springs leader, Rowan Foley (CEO, Central Desert Shire Council).
Indigenous Fellows, Joe Ross and Leann Wilson said, ‘We really appreciate having the opportunity to meet together with other Indigenous Fellows of the Foundation to talk about the challenges facing rural and remote Australia, particularly those facing our people. We also think it is important to have our non-Indigenous colleagues working alongside us’.
Dr Fitzpatrick said, ‘I’d like to thank our Foundation sponsors, and the departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Infrastructure, Transport, Local Government and Regional Services, who contributed funds and support to enable the Foundation to hold this inaugural meeting. We are sure much goodwill come from it’.
Media Contact :
Dr Lesley Fitzpatrick, Australian Rural Leadership Foundation Ph. 0439 733 404
Mr Joe Ross, Indigenous Foundation Fellow: Ph. 0419 913 043