Mission Australia welcomes new Chair and inaugural First Nations Board Director

For the first time in the charity’s more than 160-year history, Mission Australia now has First Nations representation on its Board with the appointment of Balanggarra woman, Elle Davidson.

After six years serving as the Chair, Ken Dean retired from the Mission Australia Board at the Annual General Meeting on 21^st November 2022. 

Mission Australia’s new Chair, Ian Hammond has been a Director of Mission Australia since February 2016.

 “I’m thrilled to welcome Elle Davidson as our first ever First Nations Board Director,” Mr Hammond said.

“She brings immense wisdom and a strong strategic focus on reconciliation. Reconciliation is vital to who we are as an organisation and we have long worked with First Nations Peoples as colleagues, partners in our communities, and clients who make up around 20 per cent of the people we serve.”

“It’s also wonderful that women now make up the majority of our Board for the first time in our organisation’s history, mirroring that women also make up around three-quarters of our workforce. Mission Australia is committed to providing equal opportunity to roles at all levels of leadership and equality of rewards regardless of gender.”

Elle Davidson is a Balanggarra woman from the East Kimberley and member of Mission Australia’s Service Impact Committee, Director of Zion Engagement and Planning and Aboriginal Planning Lecturer with University of Sydney. She has worked in community engagement and the planning industry for more than a decade.

:“I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring a First Nations voice to the Board of Mission Australia and allow my lived experiences to inform conversation and strategy,” she said.

“Since joining Mission Australia in 2019, I have found that the organisation aligns with my values and is dedicated to ensuring that First Nations people can thrive.”