YES to a Voice for Families, Children and Young People

Before joining the AFL as the first ever Indigenous person and 2nd woman in their Executive ranks in August 2016, Tanya was the Joint Campaign director of the Recognise movement for constitutional recognition.

At the AFL Tanya’s portfolios include – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues, Gender Equality, Sexuality and Gender Diversity, racism and sexism. Tanya is tasked with the implementation of the AFL’s enhanced Indigenous strategy, advising the AFL National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council, maintenance of the Respect and Responsibility Policy, 2017, the AFL’s Gender Action Plan and the Gender Diversity Policy.

Tanya is a Co-Chair of the Indigenous Advisory Group of the National Australia Bank, a Director of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, a former Board Director of Circus Oz and was a member of the Referendum Council that led the process and final recommendation that resulted in The Uluru Statement from the Heart in May 2017. A career highlight was contributing as a Consultant on the ABC drama, Total Control where she later appeared in a cameo part in Season 2.

In 2021, Tanya was listed at number 6 on the Australian Financial Reviews list of Australian Cultural Influencers. In December 2022, Tanya was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Flinders University.

Richard Weston was the first Deputy Children’s Guardian for Aboriginal Children and Young People in New South Wales, bringing more than 25 years of experience in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs to the role. Prior to this, Richard was the CEO of SNAICC, the national non-government peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

For nine years, Richard held the position of CEO of The Healing Foundation focusing on better understanding the pervasive and long-term impacts of trauma and supporting communities to develop and lead their own healing projects. Between 2000 and 2010 Richard led Aboriginal community-controlled health services in far west New South Wales and south-east Queensland.

He is a very experienced Indigenous leader who has worked in very challenging social and political environments and delivered measurable social, health and economic outcomes. Over the last 2 years he has been a member of the National Voice Co-Design groups established by Minister Ken Wyatt, that developed models for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament and following election of a Federal Labor Government was appointed by Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney to the Referendum Engagement Group to help advise the Government on achieving a successful Referendum later in 2023 to change the Constitution of Australia to formally recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Richard was recently recruited back to far west NSW to once again lead Maari Ma Health as CEO.

Forum facilitator: Jamie Crosby, CEO Families Australia.