The Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Honourable Ken Wyatt MP, has announced the substantive appointment of Ms Leilani Bin-Juda PSM as the Torres Strait Regional Authority’s (TSRA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Ms Bin-Juda is the first female to be appointed substantively to the role. Ms Bin-Juda is also a proud Torres Strait Islander, with ties to Hammond, Darnley and Murray Islands.

The CEO position leads the administrative arm of the TSRA and works in close consultation with its Chairperson and Board Members.

The TSRA Chairperson, Mr Napau Pedro Stephen AM, said he welcomed the appointment of Ms Bin-Juda to the substantive role and looks forward to working with her and TSRA Board Members to build on the good work already accomplished by the TSRA over the past 25 years.

“The appointment of Ms Bin-Juda is testament to her knowledge, experience and leadership skills and the outcomes she has achieved throughout her previous roles,” Mr Stephen said.

“With an extensive career in the Australian Public Service, Ms Bin-Juda has policy and program experience across international relations, health, fisheries, crime prevention, culture and the arts. This will be a valuable asset that will ensure the continuance of good governance and leadership within our organisation as we work towards the regional strategies set by the Board.

“In her role as CEO Ms Bin-Juda will lead and manage the TSRA administration on a day-to-day basis, a workforce of 169 staff of which 76% per cent are Indigenous.”

In 2019, Ms Bin-Juda was awarded a Public Service Medal for promoting Indigenous heritage in Australia’s cultural and foreign policies.

She is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and has previously served overseas as First Secretary (Political/Gender/Sports Diplomacy), Papua New Guinea; Adviser (Economic Governance) to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands; and Manager of Australia’s Cultural Program at the Shanghai World Expo 2010. She is currently the Treaty Liaison Officer on Thursday Island and is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the Australia-Papua New Guinea Torres Strait Treaty. Ms Bin-Juda holds degrees in Business, Cultural Heritage, Public Policy and International Relations.

Ms Bin-Juda will commence as the TSRA CEO on 31 January 2019.

Pictured: TSRA Chairperson, Mr Napau Pedro Stephen AM, welcomes Ms Leilani Bin-Juda PSM as the TSRA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).