June 4, 2023
Author and historian Jackie Huggins AM has been named patron of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF).
Jackie has strong family connections to Cherbourg as her late mother, Rita, was removed to the then-Barambah Mission as a child in the 1920s.
She has been actively engaged in leadership activities for decades, most recently as part of the Eminent Panel working the State Government’s Path To Treaty process.
Jackie was a co-chair at Reconciliation Australia, was a co-commissioner for the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families and a member of the National NAIDOC Committee.
She has also served om many other boards and organisations in various capacities.
An ARLF spokesperson said Jackie’s passion and advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aligned with the ARLF’s values.
As a patron, Jackie aims to support and encourage the ARLF’s work in empowering individuals and communities through leadership development.
She believes that everyone has the potential to be a leader and make a positive impact on their community.
“We all have a role in leadership, and more skills and training make it easier and enjoyable,” she said.
“Leadership can be tough, but keeping grounded and valuing your opinion is crucial. Everyone is a leader in families, communities, and workplaces, and people should not shy away from the term.
“This misinterpretation should be broken down, and we should wear the title of a leader as a badge of honour.”
