Queensland's Path to Treaty

Joshua is Waanyi and Kalkadoon with connections to Northwest Queensland. He is a barrister specialising in native title, human rights and class actions.

Mr Creamer is a current Commissioner in the Queensland Law Reform Commission; Chair of the Bar Association of Queensland, Indigenous Affairs Committee, Chair of the Griffith University Elders and First Peoples Knowledge Holders Advisory Board and member of the Griffith University Council.

He has appeared in a number of landmark class actions and is ranked in Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific and Doyle’s Guide for his work in the native title jurisdiction.

Joshua was previously named National Indigenous Legal Professional of the Year, and was a member of the Board of Legal Aid Queensland and a past President of the Indigenous Lawyers Association of Queensland.

Mr Creamer has a Bachelor of Law/Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from Griffith University.

Roslyn is a lawyer with a lifetime commitment to human rights and diversity and advancing the interests and rights of First Nations peoples.

Ms Atkinson is a former judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland during which time she served as Chair of the Queensland Indigenous Justice Committee and was a member of the national Indigenous Justice Committee of the National Judicial College of Australia.

She has also served as inaugural President of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, Hearing Commissioner of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission and Chair of the Queensland Law Reform Commission. Her honour was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the judiciary and to law reform in Queensland.

Roslyn is a graduate of the University of Queensland and was awarded first class honours in her law degree. She is current Chair of Screen Australia, member of the Management Committee of LawRight and Independent Chair of the Covert Operations Committee.

Cheryl is a proud Guwamu woman and lifetime campaigner for Aboriginal rights, social and environmental justice. She is a renowned publisher, playwright, author, speaker, director, teacher, lecturer and traditional dancer.

Ms Buchanan is a founder of well-known community organisations including Aboriginal Legal, Medical Services and Childcare Centre in Brisbane, Black Community School and Black Resource Centre as well as Murrie Coo-ee (an Aboriginal publishing house).

She has also served as the first Aboriginal Commissioner with Queensland Corrective Services, and Chair of the Queensland and National Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committees. Cheryl is a former member of the Treaty Working Group and co-Chair of the Interim Truth and Treaty Body, and currently a Director of the Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations and Queensland Murray-Darling Catchments Limited, as well as a member of the State Library Board and executive member of the Indigenous Peoples Organisation.

Cheryl has a Bachelor of Arts and Diploma of Education (University of Queensland) and a Graduate Diploma of Natural and Cultural Resource Management (Deakin University); and has been awarded the Centenary Medal Commonwealth of Australia for Distinguished Services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities of Australia.

Ivan is a Wiradjuri and Filipino man and was the first Indigenous appointment as Judicial Registrar to the Federal Court of Australia. Mr Ingram is admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland as a legal practitioner and enrolled on the High Court of Australia register of legal practitioner. He has spent much of his career practising in the field of native title. Ivan also holds an academic position with the Queensland University of Technology School of Law where he teaches First Nations legal history and legal realities.

Mr Ingram was previously the Chief Operating Officer for the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute and is a Doctor of Juridical Science candidate in the Indigenous People’s Law & Policy Program at the University of Arizona. He is a longstanding member of the Queensland Law Society, Indigenous Lawyers Association of Queensland and Pride in Law where he served as the Queensland Chapter's Indigenous Officer.

He is Chair of the Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network, Director and Company Secretary of the Flying Arts Alliance, Director of the Digi Youth Arts and is a member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee of the Queensland Performing Arts Trust.

Ivan has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Biotechnology) and Bachelor of Law (Honours) from Queensland University of Technology, and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (Australian National University).

Vonda is a Torres Strait Islander woman with connection to Erub (Darnley Island) and Cape York, with extensive professional experience in working to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for the region and encouraging women and people in regional and remote communities to pursue leadership opportunities.

She is the former CEO of the Torres Strait Regional Authority and was previously the first female Mayor of the Torres Shire Council. Vonda has held Chair and executive positions with Community Enterprise Queensland, Islanders Board of Industry Service, Torres and Cape Indigenous Councils Alliance, Torres Health and other health organisations.

Ms Malone was named the McKinnon Emerging Political Leader of the Year in 2017, recognising her leadership as Mayor of the Torres Shire Council. She is a fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Program, the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner's Indigenous Fellowship Program and also a recipient of the Centenary Medal and the NAIDOC Award of Excellence.

Vonda holds a Graduate Certificate in Australian Rural Leadership and Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management.

Albert has more than 35 years’ experience in a variety of roles including government roles, entrepreneurial ventures, business development, community projects, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocacy to deliver positive results in stakeholder engagement, project management, fundraising and event coordination.

He has extensive experience in the community sector having been a member of Au Karem Le Torres Strait Islander Organisation, on the Language Committee for Magani Malu Kes, Director and Vice President for Logan Housing Co-Op, elected member for the ATSIC Southeast Regional Council, Founder of Direct Active Youth Agency and current Founding Director of Building Strong Families Foundation.

Mr Bowie is a consultant, director and founder who believes in equipping and empowering commerce.

Seleena was born and raised in Mount Isa on the traditional lands of the Kalkutungu (Kalkadoon) people, Seleena is an emerging leader within her community as a Youth Worker and Senior Cultural Facilitator of Kalkutungu language, dance, and traditional practices.

Ms Blackley was a member of the Interim Truth and Treaty Body, and a guest facilitator and participant in the Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Program. She is also a member of the Aboriginal and Islander Development Recreational Women’s Association.

During her secondary studies Seleena was awarded the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation Young Indigenous Leader Award and scholarship.

Valerie belongs to the Nunukul people of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) in Queensland and is Director of Aboriginal Hostels Limited and Ministerial Advisor at the Department of Climate Change, Energy Environment and Water.

Professor Valerie Cooms has extensive experience in native title, having worked as the CEO of Queensland South Native Title Services, full time Member of the National Native Title Tribunal, as well as serving in multiple Executive positions in government, academia and advisory roles across Western Australia and Queensland, including the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

Valerie holds a PhD from Australian National University specialising in Political Science and Queensland First Nations Political History.

Michelle is a business owner and has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors having held senior executive positions in the Commonwealth Public service including national manager, Indigenous communications in Centrelink.  She has also held roles in NFP sector including senior roles with Red Cross, CEO of the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute and more recently in 2013 as well as Interim CEO of Supply Nations.

She has been awarded the National NAIDOC Scholar of the Year in 2015 for her contribution to academia and community development.  Followed by the Australian/American Fulbright Indigenous Professional Scholarship and a Churchill Fellowship to focus on cultural governance modelling.

Ms Deshong is Co-chair of Supply Nation, Fellow with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and elected council member Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS). Michelle is current Co-Chair of the Indigenous Business Sector Group for ANZLF.

Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science and Indigenous studies (James Cook University) and is completing her PhD.

Janine is a Gugu Badhun and Ngadjon-ji woman from North Queensland. Janine is a Lecturer at Nura Gili’s Centre for Indigenous Programs and Research Associate with the Indigenous Law Centre, University of New South Wales.

She has international experience within United Nations policy and her research interests lie in the practical application of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the local level as it relates to the political governance and representation of Indigenous Nations.

Dr Janine Gertz was announced as the winner of the prestigious 2023 Stanner Award, the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies’ biennial award for Australia’s best academic writing by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander author. Her winning entry was her PhD thesis ‘Gugu Badhun Sovereignty, Self-Determination and Nationhood’.

Janine has a PhD, Graduate Diploma of Social Science and Graduate Certificate of Research Methods from James Cook University.

Tracey lives in Outback Queensland and is a public servant, artisan, and co-owner of an Aboriginal company.

She has extensive experience working across different sectors, including education, non-for-profit and the public service, as well doing consultancy and volunteer work, working with women and children escaping domestic violence, young people living in the streets, and working with the homeless.

Dr Harbour sits on various committees at state and national levels – more recently on the Queensland Health Virtual Acute Care Service Clinical Governance Committee as a consumer and First Nations representative and has been appointed to the National AHPRA Occupational Therapy Board and is a voice and advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and those living in the bush.

Tracey has a Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood Education), Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education (Honours) (James Cook University). Tracey completed her PhD at Flinders University.

Phillip is a Kalkulgal Elder of the Torres Strait. An Adjunct Professor at James Cook University he is also an expert in policy and governance, and was instrumental in the United Nation registering Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait) First Nation Peoples.

Associate Professor Mills has led initiatives in improving life expectancy in the Torres Strait, enabling Self Determination through establishing the Regional Governance Island Coordinating Council, now Local Government, and is developing an Indigenous Health Science Education and Research Council of Excellence on Waibene.

He is a member of the Australian Medical Council Aboriginal and Torres Strait Committee and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physician.

David Saylor has an Associate Diploma in Community Welfare (JCU) and a Bachelor of Laws (University of Western Australia) and currently holds an unrestricted principal certificate with the Queensland Law Society.  David is also an NRL Accredited Player Agent.

David is an experienced native title lawyer and has also worked in criminal law and various Indigenous legal matters representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and corporations. David was first admitted as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, and subsequently admitted as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Queensland.

David has worked with several Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, Aboriginal Land Councils and Native Title Representative Bodies in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia

An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person himself, David, in his current legal practice, is passionate and committed to assisting clients with resolving native title claims, making and prosecuting native title compensation claims and negotiating Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) which provide substantial economic benefits, provide for protection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage beyond what is required by law, and facilitating Indigenous participation in environmental management of mining and other projects.

Ivy is a Torres Strait Islander woman from Dauan and Saibai Island. She has cultural knowledge and expertise gained from over 30 years of experience as a social worker and counsellor working within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, mental health, child safety and domestic and family violence services.

She was the first Torres Strait Islander Social Worker having graduated from Queensland University in 1986.

She has worked in community organisations and various government departments. Over the last 30+ years, she has advocated for the recognition of cultural rights and cultural safety of Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Mrs Trevallion is also an active representative on several Boards, including the Kupai Omasker Working Party, member of both Mura Kosker Sorority and Lena Passi Women’s Shelter and currently on the board of management for TSIMA (Torres Strait Islander Media Association). She has previously been a member on multiple Advisory Committees including the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry and now the Co-Chair of Meriba Omasker Advisory Committee and presently a member of the Queensland First Children and Families Board (QFCFB).

Ivy holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Queensland.