Macquarie University has appointed its first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person in a senior executive role, with Dr Leanne Holt the inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy).
A Worimi woman, with further family connections to Biripai country, Dr Holt joined the University in 2016 as the Director, Walanga Muru, Indigenous Strategy.
Dr Holt is currently the Deputy Chairperson of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Consortium (NATSIHEC), State Hub Leader (NSW) of the National Indigenous Research and Knowledges Network (NIRAKN), and a member of the Universities Australia DVC Corporate Committee. She has held numerous positions on both professional and community boards and committees locally, nationally and internationally.
With more than 20 years’ experience in the higher education sector, Dr Holt recently led a national report on ‘Whole of University’ approaches to Indigenous higher education for the Commonwealth Department of Education and delivered a plenary session on the outcomes of the report at the Universities Australia conference last year.
As Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy), Dr Holt will work with other executive and senior staff at the University to continue to deliver high quality outcomes of the Indigenous Strategy by empowering a whole-of-university approach to which all members of the University community will contribute.
Dr Holt’s appointment coincides with the University’s launch of the Waranara Djurali Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workforce Plan, which provides a framework for building a sustainable cohort of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academics, researchers, professional and senior staff.
Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton says Dr Holt has provided exemplary leadership to Walanga Muru since joining the University.
“Leanne brings to her role deep experience which will help the University work to realise this very important Workforce Plan,” says Professor Dowton.
The Workforce Plan presents some ambitious targets related to building and developing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce and the delivery of cultural safety training to Macquarie University staff.
Congratulations Leanne on your appointment as PVC (Indigenous Strategy). Incredibly well deserved. I look forward to working together to implement the Workforce Plan.