Hon Kyam Maher

Kyam is the Leader of Government Business in the Legislative Council, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, and Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector.

He is a proud Aboriginal man who is honoured to serve as the Aboriginal Affairs Minister in both the Weatherill and Malinauskas Labor Governments guiding important reforms such as being the first State in Australia to commence Treaty negotiations with Aboriginal Nations and implementing a Stolen Generations reparations scheme.

Kyam is particularly passionate about ensuring that all South Australians are afforded the dignity that good, meaningful jobs provide, and that all South Australians can share in the opportunities and benefits this State offers.

A Graduate of Adelaide University, he holds degrees in Law and Economics and practiced as a lawyer with the Crown Solicitor’s Office before working in politics.

After growing up in country South Australia, mainly Mt Gambier, Kyam now lives in the southern suburbs of Adelaide with his wife Carmel, three boys, a cat, and a growing flock of chooks.

Kyam enjoys spending time in regional SA, cycling (slowly), mowing the lawn and has a particular fondness for a good sausage roll.

Shona Reid

CEO Reconciliation SA
 

Shona Reid is a proud Eastern Arrernte Woman, with family legacy that extends into the Hart Ranges in the Northern Territory.  

With a Bachelor of Behavioural Science Degree from Flinders University, Shona has devoted her knowledge, experience, professional and personal life to the advancement and rights of Aboriginal children, young people, families and communities for over two decades.

For 15 years, Shona has worked across the child protection, young offending and the out-of-home care sector in predominately regional and remote areas, including the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. In recent years, Shona has focused her expertise on governance and accountability across the APY and Far West Coast regions of South Australia.

Shona has come to Reconciliation SA from the Legislative Council within the Parliament of South Australia as the Executive and Research Officer for the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee  

Ms Reid was awarded a 2019 Flinders University Distinguished Alumni Award for her significant contribution and commitment to the advancement and rights of Aboriginal children, young people, families and communities.

Associate Professor
Simone Ulalka Tur 

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous)

Dr Simone Ulalka Tur is the from the Yankunytjatjara community, north-west South Australia and has resided in Adelaide on Kaurna Yarta, South Australia.

Simone is a graduate of Flinders University (MEdSt 2002, PhD(CHASS) 2018) and has a background in arts research, Indigenous studies and education. She has held a number of leadership positions at Flinders University including the inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous (from 2020) and Director of Yungkurrinthi First Nations for Higher Education & Research (2011-2015).

A particular focus of her leadership role involves integrating Indigenous Australian perspectives within university topics and promoting a greater understanding between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian peoples and the broader Australian community. Simone is also part of The Unbound Collective – a collective of four Aboriginal women academics/artists, who enact critical creative responses to colonial archives.

Uncle Richard Fejo

Uncle Richard Fejo, a Larrakia (Darwin) and Warramungu (Tennant Creek) man. 

He has served as Senior Elder on Campus with Flinders University since 2020. Prior to this he was the Senior Cultural Educator at Northern Territory General Practice Education for eleven years and has co-chaired the Australian National Cultural Educator / Cultural Mentor Network for five years. He has worked for twenty-five years across Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory for the well-being of Aboriginal people.

Uncle Richie, as he is known to many, has played a pivotal role in educating medical professionals in the Northern Territory Medical Program and other health training programs about culture and the importance of understanding and committing to holistic solutions for health. He has also played a key role in the University's Reconciliation Action Plan and in advising and has been a powerful advocate for Flinders University, its students and partners in the Northern Territory.