Event program
Thursday 29 May 2025
Banquet Room, Adelaide Festival Centre | Kaurna Yerta
| Time | Proceedings |
|---|---|
| 8:45 am | Smoking Ceremony (at front of building) Harley Hall |
| 9:00 am | Welcome to Country (Banquet Room) Delivered by Patricia Agius with a special Yidaki performance by Harley Hall |
| 9:10 am | Jessica Pisani Executive Director, Strategic Engagement Chair, Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group |
| 9:15 am | Hon Kyam Maher MLC Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Attorney-General |
| 9:20 am | Rick Persse AM Chief Executive, Department of the Premier and Cabinet |
| 9:25 am | Jason Downs Chief Executive Officer, Reconciliation SA |
| 9:30 am | Panel and Q&A: Bridging Now to Next
|
| 10:35 am | Morning tea |
| 11:05 am | Aunty Margaret Brodie Kaurna Elder Dreamtime Activity Facilitator |
| 12:00 pm | Event close |
Speaker bios
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Attorney-General
Kyam is a proud Aboriginal man who served as the Aboriginal Affairs Minister in the Weatherill Labor Government 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 are able to 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 Mount 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 South Australia, cycling (slowly), mowing the lawn and has a particular fondness for a good sausage roll.
Chief Executive, Department of the Premier and Cabinet
Rick was appointed to lead the Department of the Premier and Cabinet in December 2024.
An accomplished public sector leader, Rick joined the department after a successful period from April 2022 as South Australia’s Under Treasurer leading the Department of Treasury and Finance.
Prior to Treasury, Rick was Chief Executive of the Department for Education for 6 years, after leading the Attorney-General’s Department for 4 years.
With expertise in policy and strategy development, transformation, public sector reform and major project delivery, Rick’s knowledge of public administration comes from an expansive career building and leading teams in the Government of South Australia.
Chief Executive Officer, Reconciliation SA
Jason is the current Chief Executive Officer for Reconciliation SA.
He is a values-based leader and has been in the role for 2 years and leads a team of committed professionals under the guidance of the board. He is focusing on organisational growth and change to meet a growing shift in the reconciliation movement focusing on proactive leadership, staff development and professional service delivery.
Jason has spent 20 years working across the South Australian government, working in more than 6 departments over his career, with a strong expertise in stakeholder engagement, policy, facilitation, mediation, reconciliation and economic participation.
Overall, Jason has 30 years’ experience working with all Aboriginal groups across South Australia and many groups in the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.
Executive Director, Strategic Engagement
Chair, Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group
Jessica has more than 15 years' expertise in the South Australian public sector. Her career spans diverse domains, including policy development, project and program delivery, organisational change management, and championing leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Driven by a commitment to meaningful and lasting impact, Jess has consistently fostered inclusive practices and innovative approaches to public service.
Jess's leadership journey includes serving as Director of the Office of the Chief Executive at the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, where she played an instrumental role in advancing strategic initiatives and strengthening intergovernmental partnerships.
In her current role as Executive Director of Strategic Engagement, Jess leads critical portfolios encompassing the Office for AUKUS, Office for Autism, Cross Border Commissioner and First Nations Engagement. She is at the forefront of connecting key partners and stakeholders to ensure these areas are integrated, innovative, and effectively aligned with state and national priorities.
Senior Aboriginal Language Expert
Karina is a Yankunytjatjara Anangu woman who grew up on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands (APY Lands) in the Far North West of South Australia.
In her spare time she works as an Anangu Interpreter and Translator for the Western Desert Language that covers a large area of the state.
Karina is very passionate about maintaining her Aboriginal Language and about hearing from other South Australian Aboriginal people on how they would like to maintain their languages.
South Australia's History Advocate
Kiera is South Australia’s History Advocate and the History Trust of SA’s principal public spokesperson on South Australian history.
As South Australia’s History Advocate, Kiera undertakes research and provides advocacy and outreach to historical organisations, individual practitioners and the broader community. She is South Australia’s authoritative ‘go to’ person for media, working with urban and regional communities to guide the sharing and telling of the diverse stories which make South Australians who we are today and help to bring our history into focus for present and future generations, to give the past a future – now.
Kiera is also an award-winning historian. For more than 20 years she has been enthusiastically exploring historical ideas and deepening our understanding of the past, via books and articles, radio and podcasts, film and television, teaching and talking and can be regularly heard on ABC Adelaide.
Presiding Member, First Nations Voice to Parliament
Leeroy is a proud barngala, kuprun, wirangu, kokatha, mirning and noongar person. Leeroy was born in Port Lincoln and lived most of his life in Ceduna, South Australia, on an Aboriginal community ‘Tia Tuckia’. He has spent his working career servicing the community, being involved in many employment sectors, committees, initiatives, and projects.
He is an experienced professional with a proven track record of working with Indigenous communities and advocating for their voices to be heard. With a background in various leadership roles within Aboriginal health organisations, government agencies, and community development projects, Leeroy brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. His passion has remained the same in working with community people and alongside them in achieving true capacity building. With a background in performing arts, he takes advantage of the opportunities to share his stories, in advancing others to explore their journey.
Leeroy is currently the Regional Manager, Australia, for International Funders for Indigenous Peoples, the Presiding Member for South Australia’s inaugural First Nations Voice to State Parliament and Chairperson of the Spinifex Foundation South Australia, formerly known as the First Nations Philanthropic Working Group. He has held positions as a Director of NACCHO (National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation). He was the former Chairperson of Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation, and previously held a position as a Director on the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia (AHCSA).
Kaurna Elder
Dreamtime Activity Facilitator
Aunty Margaret Brodie is a Kaurna Elder. She is a daughter of Auntie Veronica Brodie, and great-great-granddaughter of Lartelare, a senior Kaurna woman who was born by the Port River, Kaurna Country in 1851.
Over the past 10 years, as a certified Tour Guide, Margaret has shared culture and story with schools and community thru walking tours and workshops. She has recently been involved in the Port Adelaide Enfield Council ‘Art of Reconciliation’ project, plus ‘Bodies of Work’ and ‘Art and Culture after the Creative City’ at Vitalstatistix.
“My weaving comes from watching my mother and other local women teaching it. It is part of my Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri cultural background and now I have female family members doing it and teaching it as well. My sewing comes from home economics in school and my Aunty. These practices are part of our survival – we learn those skills just as we learn storytelling.”