The topic of the UQ Yarn “Considering Constitutional Recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples” present us with a highly controversial and contested debate. The aim of the forum is not to simplify or endorse a particular viewpoint, rather open up the discussion and engage in the messiness of the issues facing our community.
Panel Members:
Prof. Megan Davis
Dr Megan Davis is a Professor of Law, Director, Indigenous Law Center Faculty of Law and a Commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court. Professor Davis is a UN expert member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples (State Member). Megan in an admitted Legal Practitioner of the Supreme Court of the A.C.T although currently not practicing, Megan has extensive experience as an international lawyer at the United Nations for over a decade and om the drafting of the UNDRIP from 1999-2004. Professor David teaches, writes and researches in the areas of Public Law (Constitutional Law) and Public International Law. In 2011, Megan was appointed by the federal government to the Expert Panel on the Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitutional and continues to be involved in legal discussions on the constitutional issues relating to the referendum model. A member of the UQ Alumni, Professor Davis was also awarded the 2010 NAIDOC Scholar of the Year and supports the Nth Qld Cowboys.
Dr Robert Anderson OAM
Dr Robert Anderson OAM, or “Uncle Bob” as he is affectionately referred, is the former Chairman of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Board, and a respected Aboriginal Elder of the Ngugi clan in the Quandamooka area of South East Qld currently residing in Brisbane. Uncle Bob has been a leader in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs for many year. In 1963, he became the first Aboriginal State Organiser for the Building Workers’ Industrial Union. He continued this role until the late 1970’s, moving on to work on the ship repair at the Port of Brisbane. He retired in 1983 but has since given much of his time to community and Government organisations in Sth East Qld. Uncle Bob was the first President of the Quandamooka Lands Council, and has been president of the Brisbane Indigenous Media Association, Vice-President of FAIRA (between 1988-1995), a member of the Brisbane Council of Elders, as well as Minjerriba and Moorgumpin Elders in Council Committee of Stradbroke Island. Uncle Bob has also provided a crucial role in supporting Qld’s Australian for Reconciliation committee as well as the Qld Museum’s Board of Trustees.
Aunty Mary Graham
Aunty Mary Graham was born in Brisbane and grew up on the Gold Coast. She is a Kombumerri person on her father’s side and is also affiliated with the Waka Waka clan through her mother. Aunty Mary first started out as an Administrator of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Care Agency (AICCA) during the 1970’s and has been on the Boards and Committees of several Aboriginal organisations in Brisbane in the years since. Aunty Mary was a first-term member member of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and a member of the ATSIC Regional Council for Sth East Qld for 6 years. Aunty Mary has had a diverse career, serving as a Qld Corrective Services Commissioner, leading her own successful consultancy (Mary Graham and Associates) and carried out research work for FAIRA. Aunty Mary has lecutred and tutored on subjects in Aboriginal history, politics and comparative philosophy at UQ and continues to conduct workshops and discussion papers on Aboriginal Worldviews for governments, corporations, institutions, national and international bodies in the areas of education, culture, psychology and poliitcs. Aunty Mary is also a member of the Ethics Council attached to the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (NCAFP) and the Ethics Council attached to the CSIRO. She is currently working as a community development/research consultant for the Kummara Association in Brisbane – a Stronger Families initiative.