Sir Roland Wilson Foundation

Kylie Bishop is a Bundjalung woman from northern NSW. She grew up in the bush where her love for Country originated. Kylie has worked in the public service for over 25 years in various roles, working on environmental issues including First Nations matters and is devoted to the wellbeing of others. Kylie has worked on First Nations Water, cultural capability and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.  

Kylie is completing a Master Arts, Indigenous Knowledge at Charles Darwin University. Her interest in linking First Nations knowledge with Western science and how we can incorporate First Nations research methodologies into policy development. Her passion lies in bridging Indigenous knowledge with Western science to enhance policy making. By integrating Indigenous knowledge into departmental work in a culturally respectful and practical manner, Kylie aims to improve environmental stewardship and foster positive intergenerational change for Indigenous communities.

Jami-Lee is a proud Biripi woman born and raised on Biripi country, NSW.

She has been working for the Australian Public Service for 11 years – starting her career in Services Australia as an Indigenous apprentice. Shortly after finishing the apprenticeship, Jami-Lee commenced a Bachelor of Social Work and her commitment to service and her agency were recognised through being awarded an internal Indigenous scholarship. She was then successful in securing a place in the agency’s national graduate program and has been working on country, as a Services Australia Social Worker for the past four years.

Jami-Lee is studying a Master of Public Policy through Charles Darwin University and has a passion for policies that apply to First Nations peoples. She is an essential agent of change who is committed to influencing the policies, programs and services that directly impact the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Dolly Nye is a Walbunga/Yuin woman from Mogo on the New South Wales south coast.

Dolly moved from her home town to Canberra and began her career in the APS in 1993. She has forged a career in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs across the areas of diversity and inclusion, employment entry programs, policy, program, contract management, and relationship management.

In her most recent position in the Office of the Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner, Dolly is responsible for managing external engagements and consultations with aged care providers and services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, older people, and their carers and families.

Through her experiences as a carer for her mother, Dolly saw firsthand the challenges her Elders, older people, families, carers, and communities face when accessing and navigating the aged care system.

Dolly will undertake a Master of Project Management at ANU, including a research project on navigating culturally safe aged care.

Kelsie is a proud Wiradjuri woman, raised on Gumbaynggirr country in Coffs Harbour NSW.

Commencing in the Australian Public Service with Services Australia in 2010, Kelsie has worked in a variety of business areas including service delivery, welfare modernisation, project management and technology and digital programs. Having observed the challenges experienced by customers in navigating government social and health-related payments and services, Kelsie was drawn to Canberra to further her career in major projects and programs to help improve the delivery of convenient and accessible services. Recently, Kelsie participated as a secondee in the Jawun Program, inspiring her commitment to enhancing the relationship between the APS and Indigenous communities and organisations in each role she holds.

Kelsie commenced the Pat Turner Scholarship Program in Semester 2, 2024 and is studying a Master of Anthropology and Planetary Futures. She aspires to apply her learnings to strengthen human centred design techniques in the development of government services. This will ensure culturally safe and respectful processes and empower community involvement in the identification of pain points and co-design of solutions that will improve social and economic opportunities.

Troy is a proud Wonnarua man from the Hunter Valley region in NSW. He joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) as a Corporate Graduate in 2011. He has held various corporate enabling roles in DFAT including in finance and human resources, as well as consular and passports service delivery. Troy has also been posted overseas to Bangkok and Kabul. Most recently, he was Assistant Director, Financial Policy in Finance Division. He is an Associate Member of CPA Australia, aiming to attain full membership status by the end of 2024.

Troy is completing a Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at ANU. His interest in this space was reignited through his CPA study and while working to support Indigenous business engagement with DFAT.

Tracey is a proud Gomeroi yinnar hailing from the North West region of New South Wales.

Tracey started within the Australian Public Service in 2019, where she found her niche at the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. In her role within the Research and Development Tax Incentive Division, she provides expert assessment to support company innovation and progress. With a keen eye for detail and a steadfast commitment to excellence, she ensures that cutting-edge ideas are not only nurtured but also strategically harnessed to drive economic growth.

Fuelling her endeavours is an unwavering commitment to positive transformation. Tracey has embarked on a quest for knowledge, pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the Australian National University. Tracey is on a mission to interlace First Nations perspectives into the fabric of both domestic and international policy development. With unwavering determination and a profound understanding of cultural nuances, she aspires to forge a more inclusive and equitable future.

Jackson is a proud Wiradjuri man, born in Blacktown NSW.

Jackson joined the Australian Public Service (APS) in the Department of the Treasury as a graduate in 2019 after completing a Bachelor of Arts with a Bachelor of Commerce at Macquarie University.

During his time in the APS, Jackson has worked in various policy roles which includes the topics of competition, energy, corporate and international tax as well as commonwealth-state relations. In September 2022, Jackson joined the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in the First Nations Policy Branch, working on Closing the Gap.

Jackson is undertaking a Master of Public Administration at ANU and is interested in exploring procedural policy more broadly to understand if there are more effective methods the APS can use to develop policy, especially for disadvantaged communities. While undertaking this study, Jackson hopes to develop the leadership and communication skills to be the effective advocate for systemic change that he strives to be.

Thaarramali Pearson is a Bama Bagarrmuguwarra from the Kalpowar, Jeannie River and Starke region of Cape York.

Thaarramali commenced his public sector career in the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in early 2016. Since 2018, Thaarramali has been actively involved in shaping significant Commonwealth policies, supporting reforms in apprenticeships from both the central agency and line agency perspectives. Thaarramali’s substantive role is as a Director in the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, where he develops complex financial and behavioural modelling to inform Australian apprenticeship policy development. Since 2022, Thaarramali has been working remotely from Cape York.

Thaarramali is undertaking a Master of Public Administration (MPA) at the Australian National University. Through the MPA, he intends to broaden his public administration capability and explore potential future research topics relating to Commonwealth budget process and policy development.

Aiden is a proud Murawari man, who was raised on Wiradjuri country in Dubbo NSW. Aiden commenced his public service career in 2019 at the Department of Agriculture after completing a dual Bachelor of Agribusiness and Applied Science majoring in equine management. He joined the Department of Finance in 2020 in the budget group and has worked across infrastructure, emergency management and home affairs portfolio's where he supported key government responses during COVID-19, the 2022 flood season and more recently on immigration and visa policies.

Aiden aims to use the Master of Project Management from The Australian National University to acquire specialised knowledge and skills in the area of project management to support the implementation of APS-wide project governance, and portfolio management and major projects delivery. Aiden also aspires to support the creation of a dedicated project management stream within the APS to ensure leading edge thinking on management practice, policy design, implementing and evaluating policies is readily available in-house.

Heidi is a proud Wakka Wakka and Gubbi Gubbi woman born in Brisbane, Queensland.

After leaving school at 13, she returned to education, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in the allied health field. In 2015, she entered the Australian Public Service as an APS2 via the Indigenous Apprenticeships Program, going on to complete the National Graduate Program. She is an Assistant Director in the National Indigenous Australians Agency with years of experience in the HR space in inclusion and diversity, entry level programs, and First Nations employment.

Both of Heidi’s grandmothers are survivors of the Stolen Generations, and it is their story of resilience after losing connection to family, identity, land, language, and culture that ignites her passion for inclusive policy. As a Pat Turner scholar studying a Master of Public Policy, she intends to give back to the APS, working to create and implement policy built on inclusiveness, empowerment, and shaped by the voices of those it affects.