Reconciliation Australia announces new CEO

Reconciliation Australia today announced the appointment of Mr Justin Mohamed as its new Chief Executive Officer following an extensive recruitment process.

Mr Mohamed is a Gooreng Gooreng man from Bundaberg in Queensland, who has spent more than two decades working within the community of Shepparton in Victoria to improve employment, health and education outcomes among the Aboriginal community.

Since 2009 Justin has been the Chairperson of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), a role that has seen him engage across the political and community spectrum, interacting with local leaders and community members around the country.

Prior to his role at NACCHO, Justin was the inaugural director of the Academy of Sport, Health and Education (ASHE), an initiative of the Rumabalara Football/Netball Club in partnership with the University of Melbourne aimed at re-engaging young Aboriginal people in education and employment, using a combination of sport, accredited training programs and corporate sector work experience.

Under Justin’s leadership, ASHE not only improved individual outcomes and wellbeing, but also challenged existing assumptions and built new community attitudes and relationships.

Reconciliation Australia Co-Chair, Ms Melinda Cilento said Mr Mohamed’s considerable skills and experience in working collaboratively with community, government and business would serve him well in leading Reconciliation Australia.

“Justin has a strong track record of ensuring that mutual respect and an understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culture and aspirations are the foundations on which partnerships and new opportunities are built,” Ms Cilento said.

“These skills and qualities are essential to the work of Reconciliation Australia as we endeavour to build better, more respectful and trusting relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.”

In addition, Justin has held positions on multiple community, state and national working groups, committees and boards and he remains a director of the Greater Western Sydney Giants Foundation.

“This is an exciting time to be involved with reconciliation. There is tremendous goodwill and appetite for real progress. I am looking forward to building on this momentum and the successful programs that Reconciliation Australia has in place to inspire and enable all Australians to play their part in reconciliation,” Mr Mohamed said.

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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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