International Women’s Day Gala Dinner 2023

Magistrate Falla is a proud Wotjobaluk/Wemba Wemba/Mutti Mutti woman born and raised in Melbourne. In 2013, Her Honour became the first indigenous Magistrate appointed in the state of Victoria. Magistrate Falla’s involvement with Koori Court began in 2001 when she was working in the legal policy unit of the Department of Justice to help establish the first Koori Court in Shepparton. In 2020, Magistrate Falla was appointed to the role of Supervising Magistrate for Koori Justice. As well as sitting in both Koori Court and Mainstream Court, Magistrate Falla works with other Supervising Magistrates and Heads of Division to supervise and support Koori programs at the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria.

Geraldine Atkinson is a proud Bangerang/Wiradjuri woman and Co-Chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. She was elected to the Assembly in November 2019 as a candidate from the North East Region. For over 40 years, Geraldine has been instrumental in driving government and policy reform in Aboriginal education. From starting in the field as an Aboriginal teacher’s aide in 1976, Geraldine moved forward to become the President of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc. (VAEAI), a role she has held since 1999. In that role she represents the organisation on Koorie education matters across all education sectors: early childhood, school education, and post compulsory education and training.

Professor Eleanor Bourke AM is a Wergaia/Wamba Wamba Elder and is Chair of the Yoorrook Justice Commission. Professor Bourke has held executive positions in community, state and federal government agencies. She was a Co-Chair of Reconciliation Victoria for three years, Board Member for the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council for twelve years and a Board Member of Native Title Services Victoria.

In 2005, Professor Bourke’s Wergaia family was recognised in Victoria’s first positive native title determination now known as the the Wotjobaluk case. This native title included five First Peoples: Wotjobaluk Wergaia, Jardwa, Jardwajarli and Japagulk peoples. Professor Bourke has had an extensive career in academia. She was a Professor of Aboriginal and Islander Studies and Director of Aboriginal Programs at Monash University. She was also previously an Associate Professor and Director of the Aboriginal Research Institute in the University of South Australia. She was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll for Women in 2010 and the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll in 2019.

Professor Bourke chaired the Working Group to the former Victorian Treaty Advancement Commission, led by Commissioner, Jill Gallagher AO, in supporting the establishment of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. She presided over the election of the Board of the First Peoples Assembly on 1 December 11, 2019. In 2022 Professor Bourke was awarded Member of the Order of Australia.

Elly was appointed as Deputy Secretary, First Peoples – State Relations within the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet in April 2021. Elly is a lawyer and policy advisor with broad experience across constitutional, indigenous and minority rights law and policy, both domestically and internationally. She holds a BA and JD from the University of Melbourne and a Masters in International Human Rights Law from the University of Oxford. Elly has held various executive positions in the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio within the Department of Premier and Cabinet, and also previously worked as an academic, in the corporate sector, for Aboriginal organisations and as an advisor during the Fijian constitution-making process. As Deputy Secretary, Elly is responsible for an extensive program of priority work with First Peoples in the areas of treaty, truth and transitional justice, self-determination and cultural rights and protection.