ABC welcomes Professor Jackie Huggins as inaugural Elder-in-Residence – Professor Jackie Huggins AM FAHA has launched her tenure as the ABC’s inaugural Elder-in-Residence with an interview on ABC News Breakfast this morning and in an online feature by senior reporter Miriam Corowa.
Professor Huggins is a Bidjara and Birri-Gubba Juru woman and an eminent Australian with a distinguished career working across the community, government and non-government sectors and as an author and historian. In 2001 she became a Member of the Order of Australia for her work on reconciliation, social justice, literacy and women’s issues.
She also has a long history with the ABC, starting when she worked at the Toowong, Brisbane headquarters when she was just 16.
The Elder-in-Residence role was created last year in response to the Listen Loudly, Act Strongly report and is for a two-year term, with an option to renew. Professor Huggins will support First Nations employees and provide cultural guidance to the management and leadership teams across the ABC during the implementation of the report’s recommendations.
Professor Huggins described becoming the ABC’s Elder-in-Residence as “one of my highest badges of honour” and said the Listen Loudly, Act Strongly report had become a blueprint for other organisations to follow.
“My new role is something that I never imagined I would do when I started my employment at the ABC when I was 16 years of age,”
– she said.
“I have been a long-time audience member and contributor to the ABC. I look forward to deepening that connection through taking up the position of the ABC’s inaugural Elder-in-Residence and to meeting and yarning with people across the divisions and offices of our national broadcaster.
“I am also looking forward to working with the Director First Nations Strategy, the Bonner Committee and the ABC Leadership team in setting the stepping stones for the work ahead.”
ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks welcomed Professor Huggins.
“With Professor Huggins, and under the leadership of Acting Director of First Nations Strategy Kelly Williams – and with so many other contributors around the ABC – we are well placed to act strongly,”
– he said.
“We must ensure our approach to addressing issues of racism and any form of inequity reaches into every part of the organisation. This is a priority for me in my new role as Managing Director.”
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ABC welcomes Professor Jackie Huggins as inaugural Elder-in-Residence
