• Employment type: Full-time
• Location: Collingwood, Victoria (Metro Region)
• Applications close at 5:00PM on the closing date
• Reports to: First Peoples’ Assembly (and the CEO Executive and Remuneration Committee)
• Employment: Full-time, Executive Contract

About Gellung Warl

Gellung Warl – meaning ‘tip of the spear’ in Gunaikurnai language – is a First Peoples’ representative and deliberative body underpinned by Aboriginal Lore, Law and Cultural Authority. Gellung Warl is an outcome of the Statewide Treaty and is established as a statutory corporation under the Statewide Treaty Act 2025 (Vic).

Gellung Warl comprises three constituent arms Gellung Warl’s that work together:

• First Peoples’ Assembly – the political decision-making arm
• Nginma Ngainga Wara – an independent government oversight and accountability arm and
• Nyerna Yoorrook Telkuna – an independent mechanism for ongoing truth-telling.

Gellung Warl exists to promote First Peoples’ collective self-government, self-determination and the empowerment of Traditional Owners and First Peoples living in the lands now known as Victoria.

About the opportunity

This is a rare and significant leadership opportunity at the establishment phase of a new self-determining and deliberative body established by Australia’s first Statewide Treaty. The Chief Executive Officer leads the day-to-day operations of Gellung Warl, including supporting the First Peoples’ Assembly, Nginma Ngainga Wara and Nyerna Yoorrook Telkuna in the performance of its functions.

The Gellung Warl CEO translates the political decisions and aspirations of elected members of the First Peoples’ Assembly and members of Nginma Ngainga Wara and Nyerna Yoorrook Telkuna into organisational outcomes. This includes building Gellung Warl’s institutional foundations – including its governance, finances, systems and organisational capability – while safeguarding its independence, integrity and cultural legitimacy. The role works at the intersection of First Peoples’ ways of being doing and knowing and Western ways, and will work to uphold Aboriginal Lore, Law and Cultural Authority. The CEO will manage the organisation – in line with member direction, leading with humility, relational responsibility and accountability to Community and Culture.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking an exceptional leader who brings:

• Deep understanding of Treaty, self-determination, nation building and economic empowerment, and a proven record of turning principles and commitments into durable, practical outcomes that strengthen First Peoples’ authority and decision-making.
• Culturally grounded executive leadership – leading from First Peoples’ ways of being, knowing and doing, guided by Cultural Authority, and creating the conditions for culturally legitimate decisions and culturally safe workplaces, including in contested settings. Willingness to work with the members of Gellung Warl and the First Peoples’ community to operationalise First Peoples’ aspirations for the Treaty-era.
• Strong statutory corporation governance and operational judgement, with experience setting up and running robust cultural and statutory governance, including Indigenous Data Sovereignty, and stewarding finances and operations in complex, high-scrutiny environments.
• The ability to build enduring, trusted relationships and lead high-stakes engagement and negotiations across Community, Traditional Owner groups, ACCOs and the State – maintaining trust through political change, contested issues and public scrutiny.
• Strategic vision and a systems lens, alongside the executive leadership to align a complex, multi-part organisation, build leadership capability, and deliver outcomes at pace.
• Confident, ethical public leadership, able to explain complex and sensitive issues (Treaty, truth-telling, healing and reform) clearly and respectfully, and to advocate firmly but diplomatically.

next steps

To submit your application, please click ‘Apply Now’ by the closing date.

For a confidential discussion, please contact:

Chelsea Currie, Head of People & Culture

0432 616 331 / [email protected] using the subject line: Chief Executive Officer enquiry via EthicalJobs.