Family Background:
Ken is a proud Mununjhali man from the Yugambeh Language Region which is part of the Bundjalung nation, stretching from the Logan (QLD) to the Clarence River (NSW). He also has cultural responsibilities for Wangerriburra country.
Biography:

Ken is a respected Goorie leader with extensive experience delivering socio-economic impacts with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia.

 

Ken is Director of Markwell and Associates – a successful Aboriginal owned and operated professional services consulting business specialising in navigating outcomes in two worlds - First Nations and non-Indigenous.

 

Ken was Executive General Manager of Indigenous Services at Australian Unity, which was one the largest employers of First Nations people in the aged and disability sector in Australia. To support Indigenous wellbeing and cultural connection Ken’s team brought together the largest group of Aboriginal Elders in NSW since centenary for their annual Indigenous Services customer gathering. He led the Indigenous Services team and customers through the COVID crisis, providing safe, high quality culturally appropriate care to some of Australia’s most vulnerable people.

 

Ken is a member of the Aged Care Workforce Remote Accord Leadership Group which was established to improve aged care workforce solutions in remote and very remote areas of Australia.

 

While at EY Ken co-led the establishment of their national Indigenous Sector Practice delivering a wide range of projects across Australia that supported Indigenous prosperity.

 

While working in the Commonwealth Government Ken led the establishment of one of the most successful national Indigenous programs – the Working on Country Program. The program has created more than 2,100 jobs in land and sea management nationally, providing meaningful employment, training and career pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

 

Ken was Executive Director from March - October 2023.