Changes to Reconciliation Australia Board announced at the close of National Reconciliation Week
Media Release – 2 June 2010
Reconciliation Australia Co-chairs Mick Dodson and Mark Leibler have announced that founding Board Director Shelley Reys will stand down from her position at the end of National Reconciliation Week—after a decade in the role.
The Reconciliation Australia Co-Chairs also announced that former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma and Koori Mail Editor Kirstie Parker had been appointed to the Board of Directors.
Prof Dodson and Mr Leibler commended Ms Reys for her tireless contributions to reconciliation—both in her role as Board Director for Reconciliation Australia and her previous work with the former Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation.
“Shelley has done outstanding work for reconciliation in this country—not only promoting reconciliation but also helping to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians closer together,” Mr Leibler said.
Professor Dodson said: “While Shelley’s departure from the Reconciliation Australia Board of Directors is a great loss we know that she will continue her work in this space and carry on as an ambassador for reconciliation.”
Ms Reys joined the Reconciliation Australia Board of Directors shortly after the historic Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk for Reconciliation in May 2000 which saw 300,000 people cross the harbour in support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
“That day had a huge impact on me and influenced me to accept a place on the Board of the newly formed Reconciliation Australia established by the former Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation,” Ms Reys said.
“The last 10 years have been challenging, inspiring and memorable. As I step down from the Board of Reconciliation Australia, I can confidently say that reconciliation today is much more than just a word we bandy about. It’s real and it‘s happening, with a growing army of enthusiastic people and organisations rolling up their sleeves and getting involved.
“My departure is a deliberate one,” Ms Reys added, “I welcome the fresh ideas that our new board members will bring to the table, both of whom have wonderful skills and talents”.
Two new Directors will join the Reconciliation Australia Board this month.
Tom Calma is an Aboriginal elder from the Kungarakan tribal group and a member of the Iwaidja tribal group whose traditional lands are south west of Darwin and on the Coburg Peninsula in Northern Territory, respectively. He has been involved in Indigenous affairs at a local, community, state, national and international level and worked in the public sector for over 35 years.
From 2004 until January 2010 Mr Calma served as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. He has also served as Race Discrimination Commissioner.
Mr Calma has broad experience in public administration, particularly in Indigenous education programs and in developing employment and training programs for Indigenous people from both a national policy and program perspective.
Kirstie Parker is a Yuwallarai woman from New South Wales. Since 2006 she has been the Editor of The Koori Mail, Australia’s only wholly Aboriginal community owned and independently audited national Indigenous newspaper.
Ms Parker has 25 years experience in mainstream and Indigenous journalism, communications and management of Indigenous organisations, including Tandanya— National Aboriginal Cultural Institute in Adelaide, the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre in Canberra, and The Koori Mail. She was also previously media adviser to a federal government minister and head of public affairs for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC).
For more information about National Reconciliation Week or the 10th anniversary of the Bridge Walks for Reconciliation, visit 10th Anniversary & NRW page
Media Contact: Kylie Thompson, 0418 633 277 or kylie.thompson@reconciliation.org.au
