Professor Kerry Arabena

Facilitator

A descendant of the Meriam people from the Torres Strait, Kerry’s work has brought her to the forefront of Indigenous affairs in Australia. A former social worker with a Doctorate in Environmental Science, Kerry has worked in not for profit, community controlled and academic institutions, holding senior positions such as the inaugural Co-Chair of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, Executive Director of Apunipima Cape York Health Council, Chair of Indigenous Health at the University of Melbourne, lead researcher of First 1000 Days Australia, CEO of the Lowitja Institute and Director of Indigenous Health Research at Monash University, former Interim Director of Victoria’s Self-Determination Fund, and former Trustee at Arts Centre Melbourne. Internationally, Kerry was President of Ecohealth International, consulted for the World Health Organisation, was a Scientific Commissioner on the Lancet Pathfinder project and completed a Fellows program with the Rockefeller Foundation in Italy.

With an extensive background in public health, administration, community development and research, Kerry has led a wide range of organisations and committees and consulted across Oceania, Norway and Indonesia. 

Currently, Kerry holds honourary professorial positions with the University of Melbourne and Federation University, manages her burgeoning consulting and education and training companies, and has several entrepreneurial programs in development including the most recent launch of her new business, Ilan Style.