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Prominent research and education leadership appointment for Commission Chair
Professor Ngiare Brown has been named the next Chancellor of James Cook University.
Date published:
Commenting on the prestigious appointment, CEO of the National Mental Health Commission, Christine Morgan shared her congratulations.
“I’d like to congratulate Professor Ngiare Brown on her well-deserved appointment as the new Chancellor of James Cook University.
“Professor Brown provides invaluable direction, guidance, connections and insights to the National Mental Health Commission as its Chair. I believe that her deep knowledge, compassion and experience across health, education and political fields, and Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Indigenous affairs will be warmly welcomed and highly valued at JCU. Congratulations on this prestigious appointment."
Professor Ngiare Brown is a Yuin nation woman from the south coast of NSW. She is a senior Aboriginal medical practitioner with qualifications in medicine, public health and primary care, and has studied bioethics, medical law and human rights.
She was the first identified Aboriginal medical graduate from NSW, and is one of the first Aboriginal doctors in Australia. Over the past three decades she has developed extensive national and international networks in indigenous health and social justice, including engagement with the UN system.
Ngiare is a clinician, researcher, and a chief investigator on multiple national and international grants. She works largely in the translation and implementation space, exploring how to utilise ‘best evidence’ to inform policy, resourcing and service delivery.
Ngiare is now the Founding Director of Ngaoara, a not-for-profit dedicated to Aboriginal child and adolescent wellbeing which supports communities to develop strength based approaches to breaking intergenerational cycles of trauma and disparity.
Ngiare is a founding member and was Foundation CEO of the Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association. She is a founding member of the Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors' Congress. Ngiare is also a member of the Prime Minister's Advisory Council.
The Commission acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands throughout Australia. We pay our respects to their clans, and to the elders, past and present, and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community.
Diversity
The Commission is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of health services. The Commission welcomes all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Lived Experience
We acknowledge the individual and collective contributions of those with a lived and living experience of mental ill-health and suicide, and those who love, have loved and care for them. Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to mental health suicide prevention systems reform.
