Speakers

With over 30 years’ experience leading and advocating for quality early childhood education and care, Catharine’s work as the Principal Consultant and Director at Hydon Consulting focuses on supporting professionals to explore the relationship between theory and practice.
Catharine partners with leaders and educators in a collective effort to create meaning, define quality and engage in the art of transformational change.
Catharine is a long-time member of ECA, actively contributing to ECA’s Reconciliation work and regularly writing for ECA publications and professional learning platforms. For the past five years, she has led the facilitator team for ECA’s Colloquia on Leadership and Ethics. Additionally, she serves as a Board Member of the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority and has been re-appointed as a second-tier reviewer for ACECQA.

Joanne (Jo) is a descendant of the Wonnarua peoples and was born in Singleton, NSW. Joanne has extensive experience in the early childhood profession and has worked nationally with a range of not-for-profit organisations and governments to lead innovative programs for children, their families and communities. Jo is currently serving as the Co-Chair of Early Childhood Australia’s Reconciliation Advisory Group and is a regular contributor in ECA publications.

Caroline is the Executive Director of Strategy and Performance at the Queensland Department of Education. She leads the development and implementation of policies and programs to ensure all children from birth to 8 years have access to high-quality early childhood programs and services that support early learning and development, and successful transitions.  A key focus of her work has been the design and implementation of Queensland’s Early Childhood Workforce Strategy, designed to help deliver a sustainable, qualified early childhood workforce recognised for their contribution to quality outcomes for children. Caroline also leads the Queensland Child Safety Review Project Team in partnership with the Australian Government and all jurisdictions on this national initiative.

Catherine is an Arrernte/Luritja woman from Central Australia and has been SNAICC’s Chief Executive Officer since January 2021.
First and foremost, Catherine describes herself as a storyteller, weaving narratives and cultural perspectives that promote the strengths and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
As CEO of SNAICC, Catherine is focusing her leadership on ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s rights are upheld to ensure their safety, development and wellbeing. She is excited to continue building the organisation’s strong platform in representing the voice of the next generation—our children.

Jackie and Cecelia are deeply committed to promoting cultural understanding and inclusion in educational practices. By combining their personal and professional knowledge and using authentic educational resources, they aim to support educators in integrating Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse perspectives into their teaching in a way that is respectful and meaningful.

This work is incredibly important in creating a more inclusive and equitable learning environment for all our Future Old People. Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives into everyday practice is everyone’s business.

Professor Chelsea Watego (formerly Bond) is a Munanjahli and South Sea Islander woman with over 25 years of experience working within Indigenous health. She is the Executive Director of QUT’s Carumba Institute. Her scholarship has drawn attention to the role of race in Australian society, and she has led the formation of Indigenist Health Humanities—a new field of research committed to the survival of Indigenous peoples locally and globally while foregrounding Indigenous intellectual sovereignty. She is a prolific writer and public intellectual, having written for IndigenousX, NITV, The Guardian and The Conversation. She is a founding board member of Inala Wangarra, an Indigenous community development association; a Director of the Institute for Collaborative Race Research; but most importantly, she is a proud mum to five beautiful children. Her debut book, Another Day in the Colony, published by UQ Press, was released in November 2021 and met with critical acclaim.

Dyonne is a proud Githabal woman from the far North Coast of NSW. She is an experienced school principal and has led in senior management roles, including curriculum consultant, at a regional and state level. Dyonne previously served as the Chief Operations Officer at the Stronger Smarter Institute and now holds the position of CEO, with a dedicated focus on advancing First Nations educational success. Dyonne is the current President of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Principals Association (NATSIPA). She has been actively involved in key initiatives such as the 2022 National Teaching Workforce Action Plan (NTWAP) and was appointed to the expert panel by Federal Education Minister Jason Clare to inform a more equitable education system as part of the National School Reform Agreement. The report resulting from these efforts was released in December 2023.

A proud Bundjalung woman, Erin has worked with Aboriginal communities for over a decade, earning respect and building strong relationships through fairness, trust and sincerity.

She brings energy and commitment to Reconciliation Queensland, working to create an equitable and informed Queensland that acknowledges a shared past and respects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians.

Erin has gained extensive experience across community-based organisations, including Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, Anglicare North Queensland, Queensland South Native Title Services and Cape York/Gulf Remote Area Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Care.

Erin is a valued advocate for First Nations peoples and all Queenslanders, through her practical leadership, innovation and deep community ties.

Esma is a proud Bigambul, Dunghutti, Goomeroi woman from Inverell, NSW, who joined Reconciliation Australia’s Narragunnawali team in January 2016. While actively contributing across the range of Narragunnawali program areas, Esma has played a key role in coordinating the national Narragunnawali Awards initiative, first launched in 2017 to recognise reconciliation excellence in the education sector. She has also played an ongoing leadership role in driving the Reconciliation Australia Indigenous Network (RAIN), established as an important cultural reference group for the organisation. Esma has held previous roles as an Aboriginal Education Worker at Queanbeyan West Public School, and as an Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer for the NSW Department of Education. She has a long history as a member and was previously the President of the local Queanbeyan Aboriginal Education Consultative Group. Esma is passionate about the power of local community efforts to contribute to our national reconciliation journey. 

Uncle Gabriel is a direct descendent of Bari, who is the Koey Mabayg (Head man) of the major tribe of Wagadagam, a sovereign nation of people of the Torres Strait Islands. Gabriel is a Cultural Consultant, Advisor and Councillor of the Torres Shire Council. He has appeared on several documentaries and television programs, including Our Stories on SBS Australia.
Gabriel’s tribal totem is Koedal (crocodile), his tribal wind is the Kuki Guuba (northwest wind), his tribal constellation is Baydham (shark) and his tribal tongue is ‘Mabuyag’ which is a dialect of the Kala Lagaw Ya, Western Island language.

Karen is from the Bundjalung Nation of northern NSW. As the CEO at Reconciliation Australia, Karen brings to the role more than 25 years’ experience leading community engagement, public advocacy, communications and social marketing campaigns. An architect of the landmark Australian Reconciliation Barometer, she works with governments, the business sector and civil society to advocate for change.
Throughout her career, Karen has been instrumental in some of Australia’s watershed national events including the Apology to the Stolen Generations, Centenary of Federation commemorations, Corroboree 2000 and the 1997 and 2021 Australian Reconciliation Conventions.

Mark, known as Marcus, lives on Moa Island in the Torres Strait. He is from the Wagadagam tribe and his totems are dugong, shovel nose shark and crocodile. As an Indigenous voice, Marcus stands out as a beacon of inspiration for all who hear his story.

Bullied as a child, Marcus found solace in sports and went on to achieve the high rank of Black Sash in Kung-Fu—a pivotal moment in his life that defied his earlier challenges. During the 1990s, while serving with the Queensland Police, Marcus discovered he had dyslexia. Rather than let this diagnosis define him, Marcus used it as a stepping stone—channelling his experiences into empowerment.

Today, Marcus is a motivational speaker, author and symbol of hope. His book, Three Warriors Within, provides a roadmap for those facing similar challenges—encouraging them to rise above adversity and embrace their true potential.

Marun, a proud Waluparra man from the Yidinydji Nation in Gimuy (Cairns) Australia, was born into a rich tapestry of cultural heritage and tradition.  Growing up in a community deeply connected to the land, Marun was immersed in the teachings of his ancestors from a young age. His family, steeped in traditional ecological knowledge, instilled in him a profound respect for the environment and the importance of preserving Indigenous ways of life.

The Yidinydji people have a deep spiritual connection to the land, waters and skies of Gimuy. Marun’s childhood was filled with stories of creation, ancestral spirits and the significance of sustainable practices that have been passed down through generations. This upbringing fostered his sense of identity and purpose, shaping his commitment to advocate for his people and their rights.

Nina is a proud Aboriginal woman with connections to Anaiwan and Dunghutti Lands while living and working on Wonnarua Country. She is a mother, wife, artist and teacher and has 23 years’ experience in secondary schools, including writing educational resources for New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA). She completed fine arts training at the Newcastle School of Art and has degrees in education and fine arts from the University of Newcastle. Nina has also completed TAFE studies in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts. She has written professional teacher learning programs that embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives to build cultural understanding and has experience presenting these at conferences as well as facilitating art and cultural art workshops. Nina believes reconciliation is everybody’s business and wants to help educators access and use resources in their classrooms. In her role as Acting Senior Manager, Nina supports the strategic operations and leads the professional learning arm of Reconciliation Australia’s Narragunnawali team. 

Aunty Rachel is a Yorta Yorta woman with a background in social work, child protection and juvenile justice who is dedicated to improving the lives of her people. Rachel has an extensive career as an executive leader, driving change across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, both as a CEO and board chair. She continues her active leadership as Deputy Chair of QAIHC and as a Director on the Boards of NACCHO, SNAICC and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ageing and Aged Care Council. For over 18 years she has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Palm Island Community Company—a community-controlled organisation that delivers innovative programs aimed at supporting and strengthening the social, cultural and economic fabric of the Palm Island community.

Cassy is a psychology graduate who has been working in the Cairns human services sector for over 20 years. Cassy has a passion for early intervention and supporting families through integrated service delivery to give children the best start to life. Coming from a background in child protection, working mainly within Cape York and Torres Strait, Cassy now works with the Benevolent Society as a Manager for the Cairns Early Years Centre and Kindergarten. 

The Cairns Early Years Centre is an integrated service model that focuses on supporting families in the early years through playgroups, parenting programs, family support and quality Kindergarten. The service includes social workers, psychology graduates, an occupational therapist, speech therapist, early childhood educators, child health nurses and family support workers who provide a transdisciplinary approach to supporting parenting and child development. The service also partners with Queensland Health and Wuchopperen Health Service.  

Rachael Ham is a proud Ewamian and Kuku Yalanji woman through her mother’s side and of Welsh heritage through her father’s side, and was born and raised in Cairns, Far North Queensland. Rachael has been working in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health sector for almost 25 years. She has held various roles including Social and Emotional Wellbeing and Drug and Alcohol, having oversight of a Residential Drug and Alcohol rehabilitation centre in Far North Queensland. Rachael is currently the Deputy CEO of Wuchopperen Health Service, where she leads the Child Youth and Family Services portfolio.

As a proud Torres Strait Islander and Kabi Kabi man from Mer (Murray Island). Music is my heart, connecting me deeply with community. Growing up on Thursday Island immersed me in our rich culture, traditions, and lore, a foundation I carry with me. From a young age, I’ve shared my culture through music and traditional dance, performing across Australia and overseas. This experience has solidified my commitment to preserving and passing on our heritage, especially to the next generation. I’m excited to bring my musical passion to my role at Goodstart, sharing the beauty of our culture with the children.

Tahnee Rapson is a proud Garrawa/Larrakia woman from Borroloola/Darwin in the Northern Territory. With a strong passion for supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, particularly in the areas of health and education, she has been working with Mulungu Primary Health Care Service for the past five years. Tahnee is currently the Coordinator of the Mareeba Children and Family Centre.