Plenary 4 - Lore / Law / Justice

Professor Juanita Sherwood
University of SydneyProfessor Juanita Sherwood is a highly respected champion of cultural change and social justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
A proud Wiradjuri woman, Professor Sherwood has led Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement at the University of Sydney since August 2017 as Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy and Services). She has been a driving force behind building cultural competence across Australia, and was the founding Director of the National Centre for Cultural Competence (NCCC), which is housed on the University’s main campus in Camperdown. She pioneered the NCCC’s Cultural Competence Leadership Program for University staff from all backgrounds – one of her proudest achievements.
Professor Sherwood maintains close connections to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, consulting regularly with Elders to guide her decision making and ensure her change agenda meets critical community needs.
She is also an accomplished health and Indigenous education scholar. During her 30-year career, which she started as a registered nurse, she has been an inspirational mentor to thousands of students and a lifelong learner. Her own studies culminated in a PhD (at the University of New South Wales), and her most influential teaching roles include:
• Adjunct Professor of Public Health, James Cook University
• Professor of Australian Indigenous Education, Faculties of Arts and Social Science and Health, University of Technology, Sydney
• Senior Lecturer and Academic Coordinator, Nura Gili, University of NSW.
Professor Sherwood divides her time between her academic responsibilities and her research, but each role complements the others. Her research keeps her grounded and enriches her work as Deputy Vice-Chancellor because it gives her first-hand insights into Aboriginal communities and their stories.
Professor Sherwood has been awarded more than $2.5 million by the National Health and Medical Research Council to conduct two important new research projects, due to finish in 2022. One focuses on developing and evaluating birthing on Country primary maternity units, and the other is framed around decolonising practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care.
Speakers
Welcome Address
Professor Steve Larkin is a Kungarakan man from Darwin in the Northern Territory. He is a Stolen Generations descendant and is currently Chief Executive Officer,…
Keynote Speaker - Opening Address
Linda was elected federal member for Barton in 2016, following a 14 year career in the NSW Parliament as Member for Canterbury. During her state…
Keynote Speaker - Closing Address
June Oscar AO is a proud Bunuba woman from the remote town of Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. She is a strong advocate…
Plenary 1 - Our Knowledge, Our Wisdom, Our Promise
Born and raised in Perth, Professor Helen Milroy is a proud descendant of the Palyku people of Western Australia. With her extensive experience in healthcare…
Plenary 1 - Stolen Generations Panel
Aunty Lorraine Peeters is a Wailwan/Gamilaroi woman from NSW, now living in Brisbane. She was forcibly removed as a child and has devoted many years of…
Plenary 1 - Stolen Generations Panel
Florence is a survivor of the Stolen Generations and a descendant of the Birri-Gubba and Kairi/Bidjara clans of Queensland. Florence was the inaugural Chairperson of…
Plenary 1 - Stolen Generations Panel
A Yorta Yorta man, Ian has extensive government and community sector experience, particularly at executive and governance levels. Ian has overseen major policy and strategic…
Plenary 1 - Stolen Generations Panel
Tjalaminu Mia is a Menang, Goreng, Wadjari woman; Noongar Nation, Great Southern Region Western Australia. Tjalaminu has worked for near on forty-five years across a…
Plenary 1 - Stolen Generations Panel
Michael Welsh is a Wailwan man from Coonamble in New South Wales and a survivor of the Kinchela Boys Home. As a child, Michael was…
Plenary 2 - Healing / Health
“Ngay Gabriel Bani, Athe Barin Koey ngep Ngay Wagadagam Koey Buway, Ngay Koedal, Ngay bibiril Kuki, Ngay Baydham Zugub.” I am a direct descendent of…
Plenary 2 - Healing / Health
Professor Pat Dudgeon is from the Bardi people of the Kimberly area in Western Australia. She is a psychologist and Fellow of the Australian Psychological…
Plenary 3 - Learning / Education / Employment
Lynette Riley a Wiradjuri & Gamilaroi woman from Dubbo and Moree; a Senior Lecturer, in the Sydney School of Education & Social Work, The University…
Plenary 5 - Lore / Law / Justice
Prof. Larissa Behrendt is a Eualeyai/Kamillaroi woman. She is the Professor of Law and Director of Research at the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at…
Plenary 5 - Land / Language
Professor Jakelin Troy is a Ngarigu woman from the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales. She is the Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander…
Plenary 5 - Land / Language
Craig Ritchie is an Aboriginal man of the Dhunghutti and Biripi nations and is the Chief Executive Officer at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and…
Plenary 6 - Our Future
Joe Williams is a Wiradjuri, 1st Nations man born in Cowra, raised in Wagga, NSW, having lived a 15 year span as a professional sports…
Plenary 6 - Our Future
Tonii Skeen is a descendant of the Yawuru Jabbir Jabbir, Bardi,Bunuba, Nyikina and Jaru people from across the Kimberley region. Tonii has a strong background…
International Speaker - USA
Mr. Vinton Hawley is an enrolled member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and is also of Hopi and Tewa descent. Mr. Hawley was seated…
International Speaker - Hawai'i
Born, raised, and currently residing on Maui, Sheri-Ann Daniels, Ed.D., has over two decades of experience in social service programs and 15 years of supervisory…
International Keynote - Canada
Joe Gallagher, Kwunuhmen, is Coast Salish from Tla’amin First Nation and serves as the CEO of the First Nations Health Authority in British Columbia, Canada. Joe…
International Keynote - Aotearoa
Tribal Affiliations: Nga Rauru, me nga Iwi O Mokai Patea ko Ngati Tamakopiri, ko Ngati Whitikaupeka, ko Ngai te Ohuake, ko Ngati Hauiti ratou ko…
International Keynote - Aotearoa
Tribal Affiliations: Te Aupouri, Ngati Wai, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti. Te Ao was born and bred in the colourful and vibrant community of Manurewa, South of Auckland….
International Keynote - Sámi
Liv Inger is a Sámi speaking journalist who has covered Indigenous news and stories for the last 30 years. She is a member of the…
Film Screening and Q&A
Grandmothers Against Removals (GMAR) was started in 2014 by First Nations community members who are directly affected by forced child removals. They are a community…