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Recent appointments: Leah Armstrong as Director, Wollotuka Institute – University of Newcastle, Australia

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Leah Armstrong is confirmed as the next Director of Wollotuka Institute. Leah Armstrong brings to the role professional experience developed over the past 22 years in the Indigenous community in economic development, governance and reconciliation fields.Her management experience includes CEO of Reconciliation Australia and Executive Director of Yarnteen. She has had board roles at a variety of organisations in education, government, corporate and community sectors, these include:

o Prime Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council

o Chairperson – NSW Aboriginal Housing Office

o Chairperson – Federal Indigenous Business Policy Advisory Group

o Member – National Policy Commission on Indigenous Housing

o Advisor – Macquarie Group Business Banking and Finance

o Chair – The Smith Family Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reference Group

o Co-chair Ernst &Young Indigenous Advisory Group

o Director – Indigenous Business Australia

About Wollotuka

Since its establishment in 1982, Wollotuka has played an important role in representing and supporting Indigenous Australians studying to achieve their higher education goals.

Wollotuka and the University of Newcastle (UON) more broadly are regarded as leaders in Indigenous higher education in Australia, through the delivery of an educational system grounded in Indigenous worldviews, knowledge systems and ways of knowing.

About the role

The new Director of Wollotuka reports directly to the recently appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Education and Research. They will work closely, to grow and build to the next level of impact in Indigenous education and research, within the context of the UON’s decadal plan, NeW Futures, and consistently with UON’s core values of equity, social justice, excellence, engagement, innovation, integrity and sustainability.

The Director is an executive leader with oversight for all functional aspects of the Wollotuka Institute. The position will contribute to the strategic directions of the University in relation to Indigenous education, research, student progress and community engagement and will promote strong links across the University and beyond to stimulate and support Indigenous education and research.