Leanne Liddle, Director of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Justice Unit, has been awarded the ANZSOG First Nations scholarship for 2024, covering full academic costs for the two-year Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) program. This scholarship has been exclusively granted to one recipient nationwide.
Ms. Liddle, Northern Territory’s Australian of the Year in 2022, has dedicated her career to addressing the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the justice system.
She holds academic qualifications in Environmental Science, Law, and Management and is grounded in traditional land management skills alongside her formal education.
With an extensive career, Leanne served in key public service roles, managing Food Security for Aboriginal communities and overseeing regions in South Australia. As South Australia’s first Aboriginal policewoman, she spent 11 years as a Senior Constable.
Internationally, Leanne worked with the United Nations in Geneva, New York, and Paris, and held a directorship at Bush Heritage Australia. In her current role as the Director of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Justice Unit, Department of the Attorney-General and Justice, Leanne leads a dedicated team responsible for delivering the NT Aboriginal Justice Agreement, building upon her diverse experiences in the public service.
The ANZSOG First Nations Scholarship aims to build the capacity of First Nations leadership within the public sector. here
Quotes from Acting Commissioner for Public Employment, Adjunct Professor Joanne Norton MBA, FCHSM, CHE:
“The Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment has been a longstanding partner with ANZSOG, and I am proud to see one of our very own NT public sector employees being recognised with this national scholarship. It is a testament to the calibre of emerging leaders we have in the Territory.
“One of our key focus areas for the Northern Territory Government is strengthening Aboriginal leadership in the NT, and I’d like to congratulate Leanne on this esteemed scholarship.”
Quotes from Leanne Liddle:
“I am honoured to receive such a prestigious scholarship. In the next few years Closing the Gap will require more senior Aboriginal public servants for their knowledge and expertise to achieve the goals we all need to achieve.”
