Changing of CEO

We would like to announce that Ms Leah Armstrong, who has led Reconciliation Australia as Chief Executive Officer since August 2010, has decided to move on for family reasons and will finish up at the end of the year following the recruitment of her successor.

On behalf of the Board and staff of Reconciliation Australia we would like to thank Ms Armstrong for her outstanding leadership of the organisation and wish her well in her next endeavours.

Since joining the organisation Ms Armstrong has had an enormous impact in building the reputation and standing of Reconciliation Australia with our stakeholders. She has overseen significant growth and redevelopment in our flagship programs the Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP), National Reconciliation Week (NRW) and schools programs, and also the development of the Workplace Ready program.

Ms Armstrong has reenergised the organisation and the movement. At the start of her tenure she worked closely with the Federal Government’s Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Australia’s First Peoples and negotiated the set-up of the Recognise campaign.

Ms Armstrong has brought to the role considerable skills in building and maintaining strong respectful relationships, extending the organisation’s networks across many different sectors. The Board is grateful for her tremendous contribution and she will be sadly missed.

In the coming months there will be opportunities to formally acknowledge, thank and farewell Ms Armstrong.

Reconciliation Australia is currently undertaking a thorough external search and recruitment process to find a replacement. 

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Paul House with gum leaves and smoke
Paul Girrawah House

Paul Girrawah House has multiple First Nation ancestries from the South-East Canberra region, including the Ngambri-Ngurmal (Walgalu), Pajong (Gundungurra), Wallabollooa (Ngunnawal) and Erambie/Brungle (Wiradyuri) family groups.

Paul acknowledges his diverse First Nation history, he particularly identifies as a descendant of Onyong aka Jindoomang from Weereewaa (Lake George) and Henry ‘Black Harry’ Williams from Namadgi who were both multilingual, essentially Walgalu-Ngunnawal-Wiradjuri speaking warriors and Ngunnawal–Wallaballooa man William Lane aka ‘Billy the Bull’ - Murrjinille.

Paul was born at the old Canberra hospital in the centre of his ancestral country and strongly acknowledges his First Nation matriarch ancestors, in particular his mother Dr Aunty Matilda House-Williams and grandmother, Ms Pearl Simpson-Wedge.

Paul completed a Bachelor of Community Management from Macquarie University, and Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage and Management from CSU.

Paul provided the Welcome to Country for the 47th Opening of Federal Parliament in 2022. Paul is Board Director, Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council, Member Indigenous Reference Group, National Museum of Australia and Australian Government Voice Referendum Engagement Group.  

Paul works on country with the ANU, First Nations Portfolio as a Senior Community Engagement Officer

Acknowledgement of Country

Reconciliation Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing  connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.

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