Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) and Torres Strait Traditional Languages Association (TSTLA) have proudly announced the appointment of respected language advocate Ms Jillian Bowie as the new Torres Strait Traditional Languages Association Chief Executive Officer.
Ms Bowie is a Merlam and Erublam woman, former First Languages Australia Senior Program Officer for the First Nations Languages Education Program, published author, businesswoman, and former board member at the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. She brings more than two decades of experience in Indigenous language revitalisation, governance, literacy and community-led cultural development to the role.
Her appointment follows the recent establishment of the Torres Strait Traditional Languages Association (TSTLA) as a community-led organisation dedicated to promoting, maintaining and protecting Torres Strait traditional languages across Zenadth Kes.
Since inception, TSRA has supported the development of TSTLA which would operate as a separate entity under the Ms Bowie’s stewardship.
TSRA Chairperson George Nona said the appointment marked a significant milestone for language sustainability in the region.
“Our language holds our knowledge, our identity and our cultural continuity,” Mr Nona said.
“Jillian brings deep professional expertise and a strong cultural foundation to this role. TSRA looks forward to working closely with the Association under her leadership to strengthen and safeguard our languages for future generations,” he said.
Torres Strait Traditional Languages Association Chairperson Mr Cygnet Repu said the Board was pleased to appoint a leader with both national-level experience and strong Torres Strait cultural connections.
“We were looking for someone who understands language from the ground up; someone from community with lived experience as well as from policy and systems,” Mr Repu said.
“Ms Bowie’s background with First Languages Australia and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation gives us great confidence as we begin this important work together,” he said.
As CEO, Ms Bowie will deliver on the strategic and operational objectives of the new Association, supporting community-driven language revitalisation initiatives, strengthening partnerships across government and non-government sectors, and building long-term sustainability for Torres Strait traditional languages.
“What an honour it is for me to be at the service of our valued knowledge keepers, language educators, linguists and language speakers. Without them, we have nothing to pass on,” Ms Bowie said.
“This is not only a professional move for me, but one that I am deeply passionate about.
“As a language learner myself, I understand the urgency our people face to strengthen our traditional languages at this critical time, by raising up a nation of strong, fluent speakers and educators, otherwise it will be lost in the next generation.”
The Torres Strait Traditional Languages Association is based on Thursday Island and is focused on empowering communities to lead the revitalisation, maintenance and transmission of traditional languages and dialects across the Torres Strait.