Governing Council

AIATSIS is governed by a Council of nine members, four elected by the Institute's membership and five members, who must be Aboriginal persons or Torres Strait Islanders, appointed by the Minister.

Under section 13 of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Act 1989, it is the responsibility of the Council to ensure the proper and efficient performance of the functions of the Institute and to determine the policy of the Institute with respect to any matter.

The current AIATSIS Council members are:

Professor Michael (Mick) Dodson AM, Chairperson

Professor John Maynard, Deputy Chairperson

Emeritus Professor Robert Tonkinson

June Oscar

Mr Dana Ober

Professor Sandy Toussaint

Robynne Quiggin

Dr Mark Wenitong

Council Committees

A number of committees support and contribute to the Institute’s work, including the Research Advisory Committee, the Research Ethics Committee, the Native Title Advisory Committee, and the Publishing Advisory Committee.

Research Advisory Committee

The Research Advisory Committee (RAC) is established under section 31(1) of the Act. It comprises three members of the Council appointed by the Council; eight members of the Institute elected by the members of the Institute in accordance with the Institute rules; and the Principal.

Under section 32 of the Act, the RAC has the following functions:

 

Current RAC members:

Research Ethics Committee

The Research Ethics Committee (REC) advises the Institute on the ethical aspects of research proposals to be carried out by its staff and grantees as well as on external collaborative research projects to be carried out with AIATSIS staff under the auspices of the Institute. Members of the committee are appointed by the Council in line with categories established by the National Medical Research Council.

Committee members are appointed for two-year terms.

Current REC members:

  • Ms Christine Grant (Chair)
  • Dr Sarah Holcombe (Member)
  • Mr Graeme Evans (Member)
  • Ms Joyce Grahams (Member)
  • Ms Vivien Holmes (Member)
  • Mr Dave Johnston (Member)
  • Dr James Ross (Member)
  • Rev Karen Kime (Member)

Native Title Advisory Committee

The Native Title Advisory Committee (NTAC) was established by Council to provide advice to the Principal on the research program of the Native Title Research Unit. The Committee usually meets twice each year and the next meeting is scheduled for November/December 2008. The Committee comprises two AIATSIS Council members, the Principal and Deputy Principal of Research, four experts in the field of native title and a representative from the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

Current NTAC members:

Publishing Advisory Committee

The Publishing Advisory Committee (PAC) makes recommendations for publication to the AIATSIS CEO after considering peer-assessed manuscripts submitted by Aboriginal Studies Press.

PAC members provide a range of skills: academic credentials; Indigenous community and language knowledge; as well as writing and publishing expertise. Meetings are held as required.

Current PAC members: