The daughter of an Arrernte man and a Gurdanji woman, Dr Pat Turner AO was raised on Mparntwe Country (Alice Springs). She served as CEO of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) until March 2026, where she was at the forefront of community efforts to Close the Gap in health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Pat has over 40 years’ experience in senior leadership positions in government, business and academia including being the only Aboriginal person, only woman and longest serving CEO of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Commission (ATSIC).
Amongst her many appointments, she also spent 18 months as Monash Chair of Australian Studies, Georgetown University, Washington DC, and was inaugural CEO of NITV. Pat has served as the Coalition of Peaks Convenor and Co-Chair of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap.
Pat holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Canberra where she was awarded the University prize for Development Studies. In 2024 she was awarded Honorary Doctor of Letters (HonLittD) by ANU in recognition for her exceptional contribution to public service, her leadership and advocacy on Indigenous health and her academic achievements in the discipline of Australian studies. In 2026, Pat received the National NAIDOC Person of the Year Award.