I am immensely proud of the work being done through the KARI Leadership Program– an initiative that has been designed for Aboriginal leaders and leaders working with Aboriginal communities and stakeholders.
At KARI we want to see Australia’s professional class of high-achieving Aboriginal doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, business managers and entrepreneurs growing every day. These people are quietly getting on with changing their own lives and transforming their industries and communities. They’re setting proud examples and making an important contribution to Australian life and culture.
KARI is an innovative and successful Aboriginal enterprise, which has come a long way over the past two decades. Our commitment to a better future for all Aboriginal children, families and communities is at the centre of everything we do.
It’s also important that we recognize this month with two significant events that I would like to acknowledge.
Over the past few weeks, we have reflected upon a number of significant anniversaries in Australia’s reconciliation journey. May 26 signified Sorry Day and the 20th Anniversary of the Bringing Them Home Report. Reconciliation Week ran through from May 27 – June 3 and marked 50 years since the 1967 referendum and 25 years since the historic Mabo decision. As we reflect on these important anniversaries I would like to pay my respects to members of the Stolen Generation.
We have taken some positive steps towards reconciliation over the past 20 years, but we acknowledge that there is still work to be done. At KARI, we believe that the reconciliation cannot be done in silos and we need to walk this journey together.
Last week we actively participated in Reconciliation week alongside our partners and were extremely honoured to be asked to launch HSBC’s Reconciliation Action Plan with their new CEO, Martin Tricaud. Partnerships such as this are in the true spirit of reconciliation and I look forward to the work we will do together as we move forward united in our goal.
Paul Ralph
CEO KARI
