The Albanese Government has appointed four new members to the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group.
The new appointees join the co-chairs, Ms Dot West OAM and Professor Lyndon Ormond-Parker, as well as Mr Adam Manovic, as members of the Advisory Group.
Established by the Albanese Government in January 2023, the Advisory Group works closely with First Nations people and communities to identify ways to support First Nations digital inclusion, in line with Target 17 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
The Advisory Group launched the First Nations Digital Inclusion Roadmap in 2024 which highlighted the considerable benefits of digital inclusion, including access to services and information, social connection and economic opportunity.
The Advisory Group will continue to work with the Albanese Government on delivering our $68 million commitment to closing the digital divide.
The new appointees are:
Dr Jessa Rogers is a Wiradjuri researcher, educator, board director and Associate Professor of Indigenous Education at the University of Melbourne. She was a member of the 2024 Regional Communications Independent Review with expertise spanning across roles such as Managing Director of Baayi Consulting and Committee Member of the Indigenous Steering Committee, Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN).
Mr Che Cockatoo-Collins is a former AFL player who has family connections to Ku Ku Yalanji, Yupangathi, Gangalidda and Gunggari peoples. He is currently the Executive Manager of Indigenous Affairs at NBN Co and has experience in cultural heritage and land access roles.
Ms Naomi Moran is a Nyangbal and Arakwal woman from the Bundjalung nation in northern New South Wales and former co-chair of First Nations Media Australia. She is currently one of three NSW Treaty Commissioners after serving as Chief Executive Officer of Australia's only independent, printed national Indigenous newspaper, the Koori Mail.
Mr Terry Jamieson is a Wiradjuri man from NSW and current manager of Closing the Gap and Policy at the NSW Department of Customer Service. In this role, Mr Jamieson co-leads the delivery of Closing the Gap Target 17 with the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations, which partners with the BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation for NSW.
