Erin Woolford

Erin Woolford is a Kuyani Arrernte woman and multi-award-winning Aboriginal Affairs specialist with 25 years’ experience across the for-purpose, Aboriginal community controlled, corporate, academic, government and professional services sectors working within regional, remote and metropolitan communities.

She has held advisory roles, including Honorary Visiting Aboriginal Fellow at the Centre of Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at ANU, Thought Leader on Mineral Council of Australia Indigenous Reconciliation Working Group and PwC Australia People Council. She is currently the Co-Convener for Reconciliation Australia’s UNDRIP Working Group and a Reconciliation Australia Elevate RAP Expert External Panellist, in addition to her role on the National NAIDOC Committee.

Collectively over her career, her ability to approach her work through a ‘two-world view’ to deliver mutually beneficial and high-quality outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has been recognised with several awards, including a High Commendation for Contribution to Communities at BHP Awards, Premier’s Award for Excellence in Social Inclusion, Exceptional Woman in South Australian Resources and Woman of Achievement for Advancing the Status of Women by Zonta International.

What does NAIDOC mean to you?

NAIDOC is my favourite time of the year, as it's an opportunity to showcase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enjoying success. So much of the narrative about our communities is often focused on the inequality and disadvantage that continues to be experienced in Australia, whereas NAIDOC for me, is all about promoting the amazing contributions Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have made and continue to make in our country. And moreover, it's about bringing all Australians together to share in our pride.