New Chair of Indigenous Business Australia

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dawn Casey PSM FAHA to the position of Chair of Indigenous Business Australia (IBA).

Dr Casey will replace Bob Blair, who acted in the position since 2008. I thank Mr Blair for his dedicated service over this time.

Dr Casey is Director of Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum, a position she has held since March 2008.

Prior to this, she was the CEO of the Western Australian Museum.

Dr Casey is recognised nationally and internationally for her ground-breaking work at the National Museum of Australia.

She was responsible for transforming the Museum from an organisation with approximately 40 staff and a little known collection to a fully operational museum with an annual budget of $43 million.

Throughout her career, she has worked tirelessly for Indigenous people and was instrumental in the establishment of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, as well as helping initiate the joint Commonwealth and State response to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

Her achievements have been acknowledged by Honorary Doctorates from Charles Sturt University and the University of Queensland.

Among her other awards, Dr Casey is an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities (FAHA) and a recipient of the Public Service Medal (PSM).

Dr Casey’s appointment will contribute vitality and new ideas to IBA’s aim to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people participate in the wider economy.

IBA creates opportunities for Indigenous people and communities through investments in employment and wealth creation.

It assists small businesses, provides home loans, invests with Indigenous partners in commercial opportunities and provides services to support remote Indigenous communities.

I am delighted Dr Casey has agreed to this new position and I look forward to working with her to meet the challenges of Indigenous economic development.