Leadership, Power and Politics: Jackie Huggins

“Leadership is something all women have. We lead in our families, homes, communities and workplaces just to name a few. You don’t have to be in the public eye or the captain of the team to be a leader. It’s inherent and our rightful position. In the past leadership has been predominantly that of men, but in my First Nations community in Australia, this situation is changing. We are witnessing the feminisation of Aboriginal leadership in our country. Our women are now CEOs, Chairs and Directors on Boards; barristers, lawyers, doctors and other professionals leading the way. This is one of the many survivals and celebrations our women have endured despite the huge hurdles they have had to overcome. Long live all women.”

Jackie Huggins is a Bidjara/Birri Gubba Juru woman from central and north Queensland. She was born in Ayr and grew up in Inala in Brisbane. Jackie has firsthand, lived experience on the issues that affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders. She has devoted her life to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues and the pursuit of a better life for her people. Throughout her career Jackie has been involved in reconciliation, the Stolen Generations, education, arts, leadership, prison reform, domestic and family violence, health, housing, literacy, disability, human rights, women’s issues and other social justice initiatives.

Jackie is a former Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia, Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and the former Co-Chair of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples. She has also served as the Chair of the Queensland Domestic Violence Council, the State Library Board of Queensland, Commissioner for Queensland for the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families.