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.
