Michelle Deshong

Michelle Deshong is a proud Kuka Yulanji woman from northeast Australia.

After 15 years in the Australian Public Service and community-led work such as Director of the Australian Indigenous Leadership programme, Michelle returned to her home state of Queensland to start her academic career.

Graduating from James Cook University with First Class Honours, Michelle was awarded the University Medal, Deans List Award and is a member of the Golden Key International Honours Society. She is currently completing her PHD in, Enabling Participation of Aboriginal Women in Public and Political Life. And this year, Michelle was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship.

Passionate about advocating for community and women’s issues, Michelle is also lead facilitator of Oxfam’s Straight Talk Program, where she has inspired more than 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. She has also been a representative for over 5 years at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.