New Appointment: CEO for the Torres Strait Regional Authority, Australia

Via: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia

Date: 18 December 2019

The Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP, has joined the Torres Strait Regional Authority Board, in welcoming Ms Leilani Bin-Juda as the next Chief Executive Officer of the Torres Strait Regional Authority. 

Ms Bin-Juda is of Torres Strait Islander heritage and will be the first woman to be substantively appointed to lead the Authority. Her appointment will commence 31 January 2020.

“Leilani Bin-Juda is an outstanding candidate and this appointment continues her extensive career in the Australian Public Service already spanning 23 years,” Minister Wyatt said. “She is committed to improving the lives of Indigenous Australians and promoting cross-cultural understanding and Indigenous heritage in public policy. 

“I congratulate Ms Bin-Juda on her appointment and I wish her well in working with the TSRA Board to improve social, cultural and economic outcomes for Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginal people, particularly those residing in the region.”

 Prior to this appointment, she was a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Ms Bin-Juda has served as First Secretary (Political/Gender/Sports Diplomacy) in Papua New Guinea; Adviser (Economic and Governance) to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands; and Manager of Australia’s Cultural Program at the Shanghai World Expo 2010. 

Most recently, Ms Bin-Juda served as the Torres Strait Treaty Liaison Officer supporting strong working relationships between Australia and Papua New Guinea, in particular, advocating the interests of traditional inhabitants in maintaining their livelihoods and traditional ways of life. 

In 2019, Ms Bin-Juda was commended for her sustained contribution to the promotion of Australia’s strategic and foreign policy interests. In recognition of her efforts, she was awarded a Public Service Medal for her work on promoting the inclusion of Indigenous heritage in Australia’s cultural and foreign policies. Ms Bin-Juda holds degrees in Business, Cultural Heritage and International Relations. -ENDS-

 Media Contact: Leilani Bin-Juda PSM Torres Strait Treaty Liaison Officer Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Thursday Island Phone +61 7 4069 1495 | Mobile +61 427 691 495 www.dfat.gov.au