On the eve of National Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week, Reconciliation Australia has announced a significant appointment to its Board of Directors.
Dr Ken Henry AC, who holds a number of key positions in both the government and private sectors, has formally accepted a place on the Reconciliation Australia Board.
Dr Henry is Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, leading the development of a White Paper on Australia in the Asian Century. He is also a director of National Australia Bank Ltd, Executive Chair of the Institute of Public Policy at the ANU and Chair of the Advisory Council of the SMART Infrastructure Facility at the University of Wollongong.
For a decade he was Secretary to the Treasury, a member of the Board of the Reserve Bank of Australia and a member of the Board of Taxation. In 2007 Dr Henry was made a Companion in the Order of Australia.
Reconciliation Australia Co-Chairs Dr Tom Calma and Ms Melinda Cilento said they welcomed Dr Henry and looked forward to him sharing his insights, knowledge and experience on the Board.
“Dr Henry is at the forefront of financial leadership in Australia and his extensive experience, across a range of matters, coupled with his vision for a fair and prosperous nation, makes him an excellent addition to Reconciliation Australia’s leadership team,” Dr Calma said.
“I particularly look forward to working with Dr Henry, along with my fellow Board members, to create opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to contribute in the community—both culturally and economically,” Ms Cilento said.
Dr Henry said he was honoured to join the Reconciliation Australia Board and to work as an ambassador for reconciliation.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage confronts all Australians. Addressing it begins with genuine reconciliation. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to that endeavour in this way.”
The Reconciliation Australia Board of Directors now consists of six Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander members and five non-Indigenous Australians.
Reconciliation Australia is the national body promoting reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians.
