MARCIA LANGTON, B.A. (Hons, 1st Class) ANU, PhD Macq. U., A.M., F.A.S.S.A.

Professor Marcia Langton holds the Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies at the University of Melbourne, and was appointed Distinguished Redmond Barry Chair. She is an anthropologist and geographer and is widely-published on topics in Australian Indigenous Studies, including Aboriginal land tenure, Aboriginal art and Indigenous agreement-making. Professor Langton was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1993 for services to anthropology and advocacy of Aboriginal rights. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. In 2017, Professor Langton was appointed as the first Associate Provost at the University of Melbourne. Her research interests lie in the areas of political and legal anthropology, Indigenous agreements and engagement with the minerals industry, and Indigenous culture and art. She established and managed several collaborative research projects (funded by the ARC and Industry partners in a sequence of ARC Linkage grants) in the fields of Indigenous agreement making and implementation, overcoming poverty and marginalisation by establishing good practice in governance and distribution of mining benefits, and traditional resource rights.

Professor Langton has a track record in traditional Indigenous knowledge systems, digital technologies, and developed critical methodologies for researchers, including scientists, social scientists and historians, in the challenges of sustaining cultural knowledge and biological diversity in Aboriginal societies.

PROFESSOR PHIL DUNCAN - CHAIR

Phil Duncan is from Moree New South Wales and is a member of the Gomeroi Nation and an elected representative of the Gomeroi Nation Native Title Claimant Group. His homelands are Moree and Terry Hie Hie, and he has a strong connection to the Wurundjeri nation.. Phil has over 38 years’ experience working with Aboriginal people and government to improve the lives of Aboriginal people through recognition of our rich cultural history, the return of our lands, the improvement of our living conditions and education of our next generation through both his employment and active volunteer community work. Phil provides high level policy and strategic advice and leadership to key Indigenous Representative Organisations, universities, State and Federal government agencies as well as key external stakeholder groups. His strategic advice, leadership and engagement is around issues of culture and heritage significance, community engagement in on-ground projects, as well as the design, delivery and implementation of programs in partnership with government. Phil has made significant contributions in a variety of domains from education and organisational reconciliation action through to areas of focus such as natural resource management, freshwater river management, forestry, native fish, water rights and allocations. Phil has strong interpersonal, caring, and networking abilities enabling him to engage inclusively and genuinely across boundaries (individual and organisational). He is active in managing and maintaining connections and representing and understanding different viewpoints which can be applied to creating trusting and collaborative relationships.

JAYDE GEIA

Jayde Geia is a proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman, with strong family connections to the Bwgcolman, Gunggandji, and Mualgal communities. A passionate advocate for social justice and community empowerment, Jayde brings a wealth of expertise as a qualified lawyer and consultant.

With a distinguished career spanning roles as a Judge’s Associate, solicitor, in-house legal counsel, and manager at Ernst & Young, Jayde’s leadership and commitment to advancing First Nations voices across industries is truly inspiring. Notably, Jayde is a Griffith University Law alumna, where she and her mother share a legacy as law graduates.

JEROME PANG

Jerome is a proud Kalkadoon man from Mount Isa in North West Queensland. He is also a descendant of the Waanyi, Gangalidda, Lardil and Pitta Pitta peoples. Jerome has a strong a passion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander development and has completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree Majoring in Indigenous Studies at Griffith University. His career pathway has primarily been in Government, both Federal and State, focusing on constituent engagement and stakeholder management. He has two years of experience in the private sector as the Chief of Staff at an Indigenous Advisory firm, engaging with First Nations peoples to ensure commercial benefits to their communities.

Jerome is currently a Manager in the Queensland Department of Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts. He aims to use his lived experience as an Aboriginal man and professional engagement experience to enable our people to be the decision makers for their economic futures.