This presentation will share new findings from the Australian Research Council–funded Yarruwala project, which investigates the complex ecosystems of Indigenous higher education leadership in Australia, as well as in New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. The project responds to the pressing need for a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the attributes, responsibilities, and challenges experienced by senior Indigenous leaders as they operate at the intersection of institutional governance, cultural advocacy, and community engagement, often while navigating entrenched structural and systemic barriers.
Drawing on in-depth accounts from 23 senior Indigenous leaders, including Pro Vice-Chancellors and Deputy Vice-Chancellors, across Australian higher education, this presentation will examine how leadership cultures and gaps in national policy shape both opportunities and constraints. We will present findings on the evolving nature of Indigenous leadership roles within universities, explore strategies for strengthening leadership capacity and career trajectories, and consider pathways for advancing Indigenous autonomy and self-determination within Australian higher education institutions. Furthermore, this presentation argues for sector-wide reforms, including coherent national policy frameworks, standardised remuneration and role clarity, and institutional metrics that recognise Indigenous leadership as central to equity, excellence, and reconciliation.
This work is highly relevant to the conference themes of ‘Leadership’ and ‘Global Citizenship and Education for Peace’, and contributes to international higher education discourse by demonstrating how universities can move beyond performative inclusion toward genuine self-determination and shared leadership. Such transformation will empower First Nations leaders to shape institutional directions that foster social justice, belonging, and intercultural understanding within complex academic ecosystems.

Authors:
Matilda Harry, Western Sydney University, Australia
Michelle Trudgett, Western Sydney University, Australia
Susan Page, Western Sydney University, Australia
Rhonda Povey, Western Sydney University, Australia

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Matilda Harry is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow focused on Indigenous leadership in higher education. Passionate about social justice and equity, she works on the ARC-funded Yarruwala project and actively engages with her Indigenous community.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-matilda-harry-aab258183/

See this presentation on the full schedule – Monday Schedule

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