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Acknowledgement

We recognise the Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples of the lands across Queensland as the first custodians of this land. We acknowledge their ancestors, spirits, resilience and legacy.  

We recognise the many distinct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Queensland – the freshwater peoples, saltwater peoples, desert peoples and rainforest peoples. Each have their own unique laws, traditions, languages, culture and traditional knowledge and are the care takers of their lands, seas, waters, air and resources.  

The Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry will complete the picture of Queensland’s history through truth-telling. The Inquiry acknowledges that the colonisation of Queensland and the dispossession of peoples, lands, seas, waters and air has had devastating, and ongoing, impacts on Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Truth-telling uncovers experiences of endurance, resilience and strength of Queensland’s first peoples and is a powerful way to begin the healing process. Healing will help Queensland move towards a more positive relationship with Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  

Our aim is to create a shared future that is inclusive of all and embraces our diversity. Our future is one of truth, reflection, healing and respect. 

Inquiry Members

The Inquiry Members are a diverse group of people who strongly represent their culture, the state, and bring a broad range of skills and experience.

Joshua Creamer

Mr Joshua Creamer

Chairperson

Mr Joshua Creamer

Chairperson

Joshua is Waanyi and Kalkadoon with connections to Northwest Queensland. He is a barrister specialising in native title, human rights and class actions.

Mr Creamer is a former Commissioner in the Queensland Law Reform Commission; Chair of the Bar Association of Queensland, Indigenous Affairs Committee, Chair of the Griffith University Elders and First Peoples Knowledge Holders Advisory Board and member of the Griffith University Council.

He has appeared in a number of landmark class actions and is ranked in Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific and Doyle’s Guide for his work in the native title jurisdiction.

Joshua was previously named National Indigenous Legal Professional of the Year, and was a member of the Board of Legal Aid Queensland and a past President of the Indigenous Lawyers Association of Queensland.

Mr Creamer has a Bachelor of Law/Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from Griffith University.

Roslyn Atkinson

The Honourable Roslyn Atkinson AO

The Honourable Roslyn Atkinson AO

Roslyn is a lawyer with a lifetime commitment to human rights and diversity and advancing the interests and rights of First Nations peoples.

Ms Atkinson is a former judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland during which time she served as Chair of the Queensland Indigenous Justice Committee and was a member of the national Indigenous Justice Committee of the National Judicial College of Australia.

She has also served as inaugural President of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, Hearing Commissioner of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission and Chair of the Queensland Law Reform Commission. Her honour was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the judiciary and to law reform in Queensland.

Roslyn is a graduate of the University of Queensland and was awarded first class honours in her law degree. She is currently Chair of Screen Australia, member of the Management Committee of LawRight and Independent Chair of the Covert Operations Committee.

Cheryl Buchanan

Ms Cheryl Buchanan

Ms Cheryl Buchanan

Cheryl is a proud Guwamu woman and lifetime campaigner for Aboriginal rights, social and environmental justice. She is a renowned publisher, playwright, author, speaker, director, teacher, lecturer and traditional dancer.

Ms Buchanan is a founder of well-known community organisations including Aboriginal Legal, Medical Services and Childcare Centre in Brisbane, Black Community School and Black Resource Centre as well as Murrie Coo-ee (an Aboriginal publishing house).

She has also served as the first Aboriginal Commissioner with Queensland Corrective Services, and Chair of the Queensland and National Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committees. Cheryl is a former member of the Treaty Working Group and co-Chair of the Interim Truth and Treaty Body, and currently a Director of the Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations and Queensland Murray-Darling Catchments Limited, as well as a member of the State Library Board and executive member of the Indigenous Peoples Organisation.

Cheryl has a Bachelor of Arts and Diploma of Education (University of Queensland) and a Graduate Diploma of Natural and Cultural Resource Management (Deakin University); and has been awarded the Centenary Medal Commonwealth of Australia for Distinguished Services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities of Australia.

Ivan Ingram

Mr Ivan Ingram

Mr Ivan Ingram

Ivan is a Wiradjuri and Filipino man and was the first Indigenous appointment as Judicial Registrar to the Federal Court of Australia. Mr Ingram is admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland as a legal practitioner and enrolled on the High Court of Australia register of legal practitioner. He has spent much of his career practising in the field of native title. Ivan also holds an academic position with the Queensland University of Technology School of Law where he teaches First Nations legal history and legal realities.

Mr Ingram was previously the Chief Operating Officer for the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute and is a Doctor of Juridical Science candidate in the Indigenous People’s Law & Policy Program at the University of Arizona. He is a longstanding member of the Queensland Law Society, Indigenous Lawyers Association of Queensland and Pride in Law where he served as the Queensland Chapter's Indigenous Officer.

He is Chair of the Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network, Director and Company Secretary of the Flying Arts Alliance, Director of the Digi Youth Arts and is a member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee of the Queensland Performing Arts Trust.

Vonda Malone

Ms Vonda Malone

Ms Vonda Malone

Vonda is a Torres Strait Islander woman with connection to Erub (Darnley Island) and Cape York, with extensive professional experience in working to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for the region and encouraging women and people in regional and remote communities to pursue leadership opportunities.

She is a former CEO of the Torres Strait Regional Authority and was previously the first female Mayor of the Torres Shire Council. Vonda has held Chair and executive positions with Community Enterprise Queensland, Islanders Board of Industry Service, Torres and Cape Indigenous Councils Alliance, Torres Health, and other health organisations.

Ms Malone was named the McKinnon Emerging Political Leader of the Year in 2017, recognising her leadership as Mayor of the Torres Shire Council. She is a fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Program, the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner's Indigenous Fellowship Program and a recipient of the Centenary Medal and the NAIDOC Award of Excellence.

Vonda holds a Graduate Certificate in Australian Rural Leadership and Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management.

Acknowledgement

We recognise the many distinct Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples of the lands across Queensland as the first custodians of this land. The Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry will complete the picture of Queensland's history through truth-telling. Our future is one of truth, reflection, healing and respect.