Speaker Profile

As a proud Aboriginal Victorian woman descending from Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung people, and growing up in Gippsland on Gunai Kurnai country. I commenced my career in disability employment and training and worked with the Aboriginal community in Gippsland, Regional Victoria.
In supporting my family and extended family and community to find work I realised, my family and community were on the fringes of the ‘main community’ and not participating in the economy.
“I didn’t understand why my community were not in work or looking for work”, and at that time I had no knowledge of any Aboriginal businesses, outside of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
In 2016, I was managing an Aboriginal employment program, and was approached to support Aboriginal employment on infrastructure projects, as it was now forming part of government policy and compliance. I could see opportunities for the Aboriginal community and wanted to be part of understanding how I could play a role in realising more jobs for the mob.
Relevant experience includes:
 Aboriginal employment skills advisor at Level Crossing Removal Project
 Lead Aboriginal Economic Broker, Department Premier Cabinet
 Aboriginal business and employment lead. Liz Allen Consultancy, GROW Gippsland, A place-based economic impact program
 Aboriginal Inclusion Advisor, Liz Allen consultancy, supporting government, industry, community with a strong focus on Traditional Owner and Aboriginal business sector capability and capacity building.
Ministerial appointments:
2020-2023 Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council
2020 - current Victorian Aboriginal employment and economic council
Since the launch of the Social Procurement Framework in 2018, the Aboriginal business sector has also emerged and continues to grow. “Aboriginal businesses” are now being considered in the supply of goods services and construction.
I would like to see further Aboriginal business inclusion, allowing the Aboriginal business sector to be part of the economy, so that Aboriginal community have the ability to generate and create wealth, which has been inherently limited. The ability to work together with the broader economy will enable our Aboriginal community to make choices to better our own health and wellbeing for future generations.