We are excited to introduce our speakers!

Day 1 - Wednesday

1st Keynote address – panel: Children impacted by the justice system

Lil Gordon

Acting National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children & Young People

Lil Gordon is a proud Ngemba woman from Brewarrina in Northern NSW with 34 years of experience working in and alongside Aboriginal communities.

Lil Gordon is a strong, dynamic and accomplished leader. Throughout her career, she has worked in high-level complex environments requiring resilient and focused leadership. Lil’s current role is Acting National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People. The National Commission is a newly established separate and independent entity within the Social Services portfolio.

Lil’s previous role is the First Assistant Secretary – First Nations Partnerships Division with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications & the Arts. Lil led the development and implementation of the First Nations Agreement, Our Stories on Country, which includes building cultural capability, strengthening engagement and partnerships with First Nations people and communities, growing First Nations employment and policy advice and coordination. The Division partners across the department to deliver on the department’s Closing the Gap, Reconciliation Action Plan and broader First Nation commitments.

Lil is also a former Head of Aboriginal Affairs NSW, Department of Premier & Cabinet where she has led and influenced change in government to support the social, cultural and economic aspirations of Aboriginal people in NSW, making sure their voices are heard and interests represented. Lil led a highly complex and diverse policy area providing expert and strategic advice to the highest levels of the NSW Government about barriers to, and opportunities for, achieving social justice for Aboriginal people and communities in NSW.

Other roles include Consultant, Aboriginal Partnerships & Outcomes with Uniting, Director of Partnerships with Aboriginal Affairs, Director of Aboriginal Learning Circle with TAFE NSW, CEO of Barang Regional Alliance and a teacher in high school, Juvenile Justice, and Correctional Centres.

In 2023, Lil engaged in the Atlantic Fellowship for Social Equity and completed a Master of Social Change Leadership.

Lil has plans to continue her leadership path, grounded in her deep connection to culture and her ancestors. Building relationships of equity and ensuring fair exchange in all interactions by applying leadership practices through deeply held ways of knowing, being and belonging; values-based, collaborative, and curiosity-based approach.

Natalie has dedicated her career to improving life outcomes for First Nations Peoples across Australia and is deeply committed to addressing the systemic and structural issues that disproportionately affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. She has led significant national reform across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child protection and family services sectors, playing an instrumental role in the implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle in Australian child protection legislation. She is a strong advocate for protecting the right of First Nations People to exercise self-determination and to remain meaningfully connected to kin, culture and Country.

Natalie has held senior executive roles in the Queensland Government, the advocacy sector and been appointed to numerous national boards and councils.

As Commissioner, Jacqueline has a statutory responsibility to monitor, protect and advocate for the rights and wellbeing of all Western Australian children and young people.

A crucial function of the Commissioner is to consult with children and young people, prioritising the needs and interests of Aboriginal children and young people, as well as those from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds, to address issues that directly impact their lives.

The Commissioner is committed to strengthening the systems that improve opportunities available to all children and young people. She firmly believes that all young people have a right to be heard and actively works to foster a heightened level of understanding and engagement in matters that affect our children and young people, giving them a stronger voice and advocating for their needs.

She has worked as a human rights and youth justice advocate, criminal lawyer, and prosecutor; and has extensive experience in policy development, project delivery, law reform, and strategic research. Specific to her role as Commissioner, Shahleena brings a wealth of skills and experience having worked to improve legal and policy outcomes for children, youth, families, and communities for more than 20 years.

For over two decades, Shona has devoted her knowledge, experience, professional and personal life to the advancement and rights of children, young people, families and communities. For 15 years, she worked across the child protection, young offending and the out-of-home care sector, predominately in regional and remote areas, including the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands.

Prior to becoming the Guardian, Shona was the CEO at Reconciliation SA and held various roles including at the Legislative Council - Parliament of South Australia, Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Ministerial Offices, and various iterations of the now Department for Child Protection. In early 2020 she was awarded a Distinguished Alumni Award for service to Aboriginal Children, Young People, Families and Communities from Flinders University.

In her current role, Shona has a dedicated focus to ensure children and young people’s voices and perspectives are heard and considered at the decision-making table, to enable long lasting and effective change for the betterment of children’s lives and community wellbeing.

Meena commenced as the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People in Victoria in April 2022. In her work, she is passionate about elevating the voices of Aboriginal children and young people to design services that promote inclusion, connection and ultimately achieve social justice and equitable outcomes.

Commissioner Turnbull Roberts is a respected leader both nationally and internationally for her work with children and young people, the rights of Indigenous people, and her ongoing advocacy for all children across the spectrum of marginalisation. She is deeply passionate about finding better solutions to incarceration, child removal, and responding to the urgent crises of child sexual abuse and violence in the lives of children and young people. She believes there is a better way to reshape our care and response to uplifting the rights of children and young people. She contends that the problems we identify do not set the future for the horizon that is possible; instead, they should be viewed as challenges that can be transformed into opportunities for growth and innovation.

With a strong focus on engaging with international and national bodies such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Commissioner Turnbull-Roberts actively works to bridge service gaps for vulnerable children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Her collaborative leadership style emphasises coalition building across government, community spaces, and academic institutions, as she recognizes this as essential for achieving meaningful change.

Commissioner Turnbull-Roberts prioritizes relationship-building with various stakeholders, promoting culturally sensitive practices that honour the unique backgrounds of Indigenous children. She integrates Indigenous knowledge systems into policymaking, leading initiatives that empower communities, including children and young people, to take ownership of solutions impacting their lives.

Commissioner Turnbull-Roberts continues to convey complex ideas succinctly has been crucial in engaging diverse stakeholders and fostering understanding of the pressing issues faced by children and young people.

2nd Keynote address

Tyson Carmody

Managing Director - King’s Narrative

Tyson Carmody is a trusted narrative therapist, community leader, proud Arrernte man, father, and the founder and managing director of Kings Narrative. His vision at Kings Narrative is to support Aboriginal men to be the authors of their own story and build a proud future for his sons to inherit.

Anyone who has worked with Tyson knows the patience, generosity, and knowledge he brings to everything he does. Tyson has that rare ability to walk in many worlds at once, bringing together people from all backgrounds and levels of experience, with respect and care to navigate complex realities with strength and humility.

Tyson is the walking blood memory of his ancestors and carries with him a dignity and ability to communicate that is very rare. Because of this ability Aboriginal men of all ages seek his counsel, mentoring, and support. Tyson creates culturally safe environments where men can connect, unpack trauma, and build self-belief.

Tyson’s work at Kings Narrative is firmly grounded in systems change, strong communities and nurturing black excellence every day. He is highly sought after as a speaker, facilitator, and mediator. Most recently he was a finalist for 2023 Northern Territory Australian of the Year.

Tyson has held many lead positions throughout Mparntwe (Alice Springs) across youth and community development including roles as Coordinator – Reconnect Program at The Gap Youth and Community Centre, Head of Wellbeing – St Josephs’s Catholic Flexible Learning Centre, Director – Centralian Senior College Clontarf Academy, and Head of Health and Wellbeing – Children’s Ground Central Australia.

Day 2 - Thursday

3rd Keynote address

Catherine joined SNAICC with a strong background in senior management roles with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, government and media. She has experience leading multidisciplinary teams, managing workplace transformations and advocating for policy and system reform.

As CEO of SNAICC, she is focusing her leadership on ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s rights are upheld to ensure their safety, development and wellbeing.

Catherine’s motivation has always been to drive change that leads to positive outcomes and options for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Catherine is excited to be continuing to build the organisation’s strong platform in representing the voice of the next generation – our children.

4th Keynote address – panel

Presenters to be confirmed.