Karl Briscoe is a proud Kuku Yalanji man from Mossman – Daintree area of Far North Queensland and has worked for over 18 years in the health sector at various levels of government and non-government including local, state and national levels which has enabled him to form a vast strategic network across Australia.
Karl’s vision for his people is to see dramatic improvement in the premature mortality rates of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, not only in communities but the entire nation, ensuring the life expectancy rates of our people are equivalent or better than that of non-Indigenous Australians.
Zach Martin-Dennis is a proud Kamilaroi and Kunja man from northwest NSW and southwest QLD and has been living in southeast Melbourne on Bunurong land for the last 5 years. He is a passionate advocate for Aboriginal self-determination and supporting it to be embedded into government processes, policies and programs. Zach is currently a Program Manager for Aboriginal Engagement at the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (Vic) and has most recently worked on finalising the new Victorian Aboriginal and Local Government Strategy 2021-2026. Zach is passionate and experienced in Aboriginal economic development and employment having previously led implementation of initiatives under the former Victorian Aboriginal Economic Strategy 2013-2020.
Nicole Findlay is an advocate, ally, accomplice, friend, listener, learner, mentor and business partner working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples for the best part of 20 years. Nicole has a long history of building relationships and partnership projects with First Peoples in Victoria. She’s worked in the Aboriginal employment sector since 2002. Co-founded an Aboriginal employment social enterprise in 2017. She writes and supports Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) across the state and has extensive connections working with Victorian local governments, education and community service stakeholders.
Much of Nicole’s work history has involved working in consultation and partnership with Traditional Owners and many First Nations peoples and communities to develop strategic partnership projects and services to close disparity gaps for and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. As a leader with a strong lens in two worlds, Nicole understands reconciliation is about taking time to acknowledge the past, to build mutually respectful relationships, and to be honest and open in how we work together. How we share knowledge, care for each other, community, and country.
Tara Callinan is a social scientist and environmental practitioner with a major in Indigenous Studies. Tara is passionate about achieving better social and economic outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
She is also committed to facilitating the evolution of Australia’s unique arts and cultural landscape and addressing the climate emergency to achieve real change across all scales - locally, state, nationally and globally.
