| Name: | Professor Michelle Trudgett |
| Role / where you work: | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership at Western Sydney University (the #1 University in the World in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings) |
| People / country (where you’re from and where you are now): | I’m a proud Wiradjuri Woman born in Dubbo NSW who lives on the lands of the Wallumattagal People of the Darug Nation. |
| What are you working on right now? | There are many important matters of national significance – Notably the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, NAIDOC Week and The Accord. Of local significance I’m working on a number of large-scale projects at Western Sydney University including establishing an Indigenous Centre of Excellence, opening our First Peoples Walk at Kingswood and launching our 2023-2032 Indigenous Futures Decadal Strategy to complement our 2020-2025 Indigenous Strategy.
|
| How do you measure your own success? | Success is collective and can be measured by how the work we do today will make a difference to the next generations of people, as it needs to have longevity. |
| Can you tell us a key stand out moment in your working life and why it was important? | At 6:46am on the 7th February 2023 (to be precise) I received an email that informed me that Western Sydney University was successful in securing $78.5m from the State Governments WestInvest Scheme to build an Indigenous Centre of Excellence. This landmark building will be a significant place of belonging for our community that will impact many generations. I am honoured to be part of an amazing team that is responsible for bringing this Centre to life. |
| What is the best lesson you have learned? | The best results are achieved through influence as opposed to directives. Every cog in the wheel is important, it is about how we appreciate who is turning each cog that impacts the outcome. |
| Best way to spend a Saturday afternoon is? | Playing softball for the mighty Stealers Rockets. I’m a passionate softballer who plays winter, summer and masters tournaments whenever possible. |
| One guilty pleasure that you’re willing to share? | I tend to amuse the neighbours with colourful words while watching the mighty South Sydney Rabbitohs. |
| If you could change one thing in the sector it would be: | Simple – Indigenous leadership to get the recognition it deserves. It is often viewed as ‘less than’ when in fact we are required to not only have the same attributes as non-Indigenous leaders but also an additional set of personal and cultural competencies (see Trudgett, Page & Coates, 2021). I’m hopeful the sector is finally beginning to recognise this, but we still have a long way to go. The success measure will be evident in Indigenous People appointed to the position of Vice-Chancellor in Australian universities. |
