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The GenerationOne team is made up of a group of people with a diversity of skills in government, policy, marketing, advertising, media, health, university background, arts and culture, community engagement, youth work and research. Click the links below to find out more about the team:

Tania Major is a Kokoberra woman from the remote community of Kowanyama in Cape York Queensland. She holds a degree in Criminology from Griffith University, and at 21 became the youngest elected regional councillor in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC).

Tania was honoured by being named the Young Australian of the Year in January 2007. She was also voted as Young Leader of the year for the 2007 Deadly Awards, and YEN Young Woman of the Year for Community Vision.

Tania has also achieved international recognition in winning the Political Legal and/or Government Affairs section of the Junior Chamber International’s Outstanding Young Persons of the World contest held in India in 2007.
Since 2002 Tania has publicly addressed many national and international forums, speaking on Indigenous and Youth affairs as these relate to remote communities, particularly those in Cape York. 

Along with her mentor, Noel Pearson, she has tried to bring the realities of life in many of these communities to the foreground of wider Australian thinking and to engage mainstream Australians in the collaborative challenge of seeking solutions to long standing problems.

She has recently completed her Masters degree in Public Policy at Sydney University and hopes to broaden her work as an advocate for fundamental change and to strengthen understanding between Indigenous, and all other, Australians.

 

Internationally renowned didgeridoo player, Jeremy Donovan has joined with Tania Major, the GenerationOne team, and their supporters to promote a message of generational change aimed at ending Aboriginal disadvantage.

“I believe that the right time to come together and act is now,” said Jeremy.

He is from the Kuku Yalanji people of far North Queensland and the Gumbaynngirr people of the mid North Coast of NSW.

An enthusiastic GenerationOne supporter since its launch in 2010, when the Opera House launch and road-show captured his attention, Jeremy is thrilled to be taking on the role of spokesperson. 

The mission and values of GenerationOne are closely aligned with Jeremy’s personal beliefs: that empowering people through education, training and employment is crucial to creating equal opportunities for all Australians.

He is passionate about eradicating ignorance and believes that when all Australians join together “we have a generation of people who are more concerned, more willing to look at the truth, and are more willing to be a part of the change,” he said. 

Jeremy has seen his fair share of tears, anger and pain in Aboriginal people and their communities over the years; and, like GenerationOne supporters, he knows there have also been lots of success stories, celebrations and smiles. It’s these smiles and successes that he wants to help celebrate. 

Jeremy is a veteran of promoting change in Australia.  “Through my music and presentations, I can share what Aboriginal culture is and can be,” he said.

Elders from his homelands and from various communities across Australia and the world have had a powerful effect on Jeremy’s life.  They have encouraged Jeremy to be ambitious, share his cultural knowledge, and to be a leader. They have spurred on his determination to make a difference.

His new role as a GenerationOne spokesperson allows him to continue his leadership, and to promote change.

He has spent countless hours learning from his uncles and grandfather about how to strengthen his Aboriginal identity and traditions, and express his culture.

Using his vast knowledge and skills, Jeremy has worked tirelessly for ten years running his own business, ‘Walking With Wisdom’. Through this, he actively strives to break down racial barriers, reconnect disengaged youth with their culture, and celebrate the richness of Aboriginal life and culture. 

The GenerationOne team are excited to have Jeremy on board as a spokesperson. 

“We are looking forward to building the partnership with Jeremy, and utilising his talents to help showcase the amazing and positive stories Indigenous people have to share across the country,” CEO of GenerationOne, Tim Gartrell, said. 

Jeremy has been following the development of the Skills and Training for a Career policy that is set for release early in 2012, and believes it “shows an honest opportunity for training that will lead to a real career for Aboriginal people.” 

Jeremy said that he loves the GenerationOne message, and that GenerationOne beliefs are very closely aligned with his own daily life.

Look out for Jeremy at upcoming GenerationOne events!

 

Tim is one of Australia's most experienced national campaigners. Prior to joining GenerationOne he was the CEO of Auspoll, a leading social research and campaign advisory firm. Tim was also the National Campaign Director for the "Kevin07" team in the 2007 federal election that saw a change of Government. Tim has worked as a campaign adviser to governments, oppositions and unions. Tim grew up in the town of Orange in the central west of NSW. He holds a Master of Arts in Communications Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

Tim's passion to end the disparity comes from growing up in country NSW and from his experience living in a family that provided foster care for children in need.

Why I joined GenerationOne? 

"It was an honour to be asked to lead the GenerationOne team,  a chance to bring all Australians together, to help show there is plenty to do, to pitch in and help end the disparity. It's something we all have to be a part of - from joining up and supporting the cause to understanding the problems and solutions through to taking individual action - it all helps. Together we can remove this disparity."

Kerry was born in Blacktown, NSW and grew up in Western Sydney before moving with her family to Tweed Heads to attend High School. Kerry attended Griffith University (Gold Coast) where she completed a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Exercise Science.

Kerry has extensive experience in the area of social policy, having been an Adviser to Ministers, Shadow Ministers and the Leader of the Opposition in the areas of families, community services, Indigenous Affairs, disability and carers, sport, women, youth, philanthropy and corporate social responsibility.

Kerry has also worked with several leading event management companies on events including the Noosa and Mooloolabah Triathlons, the Mother's Day Classic Fun Run, motor sports races, and Weetbix Kids Try-athlon series.

Kerry is currently working towards completing her Masters in Public Policy.

Kerry's passion for ending the disparity:

"Education was the set of keys that I had to work hard for. I never questioned the reward - I knew that those keys were the future to unlocking the doors of opportunity. Every year of study and experience was another set of keys that would allow me to continue to unlock doors for the rest of my adult life.

The reason I joined GenerationOne was to make sure others had the opportunity to gain their own set of keys - to open their own doors of opportunity, and walk through them confidently into a better life. One of their choosing."

James Saunders is a Koori man from Western Victoria and Central New South Wales, his father is Gunditijmara and his mother is Wiradjuri.

James grew up in Queensland with a single mother and eight siblings. He attended boarding school at St Peters Lutheran College in Brisbane's west, it was here that his life changed. Attending boarding school, doors and opportunity opened for him. James played Rugby, Volleyball, Basketball and Atheletics for the college. He was involved in many theatre productions run at the school. Being around students from all over the world and being in an environment that valued education is something James says is the key to his success today.  

James has come on board with GenerationOne as a Media Officer, his background is in business administration and Management. His skills range from PR to creative writing, and general clerical duties. Prior to joining GenerationOne James was working with the Aids Council of NSW (ACON) where he was the Community Development and Health Promotion Officer. James also spent five years working with Australia's leading health and fitness provider Fitness First, here James worked from Junior Receptionist to Customer Care Manager. James also completed a Business Administration Traineeship with the Queensland Government. James hopes to enter University studying a bachelor of Communications and journalism. James has also written two plays one which was performed with young Aboriginal actors in Sydney, directed by Wayne Blair. He hopes to write a book and also write a short film. 

James has a strong passion for working with the community, he gains inspiration in the hope that Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians can create a community with cultural understanding and tolerance.

My name is Kyra Kum-Sing and I've recently become a part of the GenerationOne team as the Research and Administration Officer. I'm a Malera Bandjalan, Mitakoodi Juhnjlar woman from northern New South Wales and Cloncurry Queensland. My grandmother moved from Grafton to Sydney in the early 60's for more opportunities to gain a better quality of life for herself and family back home on the north coast. By working in Sydney, my grandmother was able to send financial assistance home to support her mother, disabled brother and other family members. Many different families did this, especially in country towns where jobs often were not available to our people.

There were tough times living in Sydney for my grandmother when my grandfather had passed away. At that time my mother was 12 years old. My mother had to drop out of school to help support the family by helping my grandmother look after her brothers while my grandmother worked. She never got the opportunity to go back and study until much later in life.

My mother believes that education is the key to success - to learn and have knowledge. As a young Goori Dubai (woman) who never had the opportunities of a basic education, she made sure that I had the opportunity to get an education. My first experiences in education as a young Aboriginal woman living in Sydney was to make sure that I always maintain my connection to my land through my family's blood and culture. Having a supportive family environment and coming from a close-knit community is a big part of who I am today as a young Aboriginal woman.

My education started in South Grafton. I then attended La Perouse Public School and then the International Grammar School in Suva, Fiji. Once back in Australia I went to Inverell Public School. Mum didn't believe NSW country high schools offered much to young Aboriginal people in those days so we came back to Sydney and I started and completed high school at the McDonald College of Performing Arts in Strathfield. I believe that I wouldn't have the opportunities that I have now without the support of my family. My experiences going to different schools were very different. La Perouse Public School, where most of the children who attended the school were Aboriginal, compared to the McDonald College where I was the only Aboriginal student- It was hard going to school. I was told I didn't belong at the McDonald College and I wanted to leave, but my mother said "Are you going let people get in the way of your chance of having an education?" I said "No" - so I stayed at the school was I the first woman in my family to complete the HSC.I also got top marks in dance and got to do a solo performance at the Opera House, which made my family proud.

I believe in empowering my people through encouraging the younger generation to participate in education and maintaining their connection to land, family blood and culture. Both are very important to me and if I didn't have this opportunity to learn, I would have missed the opportunities to gain education and employment. I wanted to show that if you believe in yourself with the support of family and community you can achieve anything. Standing up for equality, ethical progress and a sustainable environmental future for all Australian- working together towards new ways for change to end the disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

Johanna’s Aboriginal family from central Australia have been a driving force in her commitment to ending Indigenous disadvantage in Australia.  After finishing her Arts and Teaching degrees she worked in Western Sydney as a high school teacher.  Using the classroom as a platform to promote equality and understanding she was continually inspired by the young adults in her classes. 

Most recently Johanna worked as an academic support teacher for Indigenous students, from the country and the city, at a private school in Sydney.  Currently studying a Masters in Indigenous Education, she knows the importance that education and training can make to employment.

“Aboriginal affairs have always been important to me and my family.  When I started working as a teacher I became increasingly aware that our Indigenous youth are facing the same disadvantages that our parents, grandparents, Aunts and Uncles faced.  There is so much change taking place in Australia and I want to be a part of the change that leads to the equality for all Australians”.

 

Tony has been involved in campaigning for most of his working life. From the late 1970s he worked for a range of unions where he was an experienced negotiator, advocate and organiser. In 1997 he joined the Australian Council of Trade Unions, concluding his union work there as its Policy Coordinator in 2001.

While at the ACTU one of his areas of work was the Indigenous portfolio where, along with other Indigenous and non-Indigenous unionists, he organised the inaugural ACTU Indigenous Unionist Conference. He was closely involved in a number of major industrial disputes during his time at the ACTU including the Patrick waterfront dispute.

Since 2002 he has worked as an Executive Manager at the City of Sydney, a consultant researcher on two federal election campaigns, and as a researcher for other clients.

In 1997, Tony and his partner married, decked-out a Toyota troopie and went bush for six months, travelling through outback NSW, SA, central and western Australia. They experienced first-hand the strength and wisdom of Indigenous culture and witnessed the disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

Five years ago, Tony moved from Redfern to the Blue Mountains where he has the space to also pursue his passion for music, playing and building classical guitars in his Katoomba workshop. He sits on the management committee of the Elizabeth Evatt Community Legal Centre which services the Blue Mountains and parts of central western NSW.

Tony believes that GenerationOne encompasses the essential elements for a successful movement - meaningful aspirations, practical and defined goals, collective bi-partisan support, and committed, dedicated supporters around the country.

Vicki is an Accountant, a Mother and a Designer of embroideries and quilts.  Growing up in the baby boom years in the western suburbs of Sydney taught her the importance of a good education and of the need for the support of family and friends.

Vicki worked in the banking and consultancy industries before taking time out from paid employment to raise her daughters.  Once they were in school, she worked with Learning Links for over 8 years.  Learning Links was formed to enable children with disabilities and learning support needs, and their families and communities, to realise their individual potential. While there she learnt just how lucky she was to have children that were happy, healthy and intelligent – children that could go on to have and fulfil their own dreams.

Vicki is working at GenerationOne so that all Australians can be that lucky.  She has learnt that sometimes working hard is not enough and that sometimes help is needed to get a start or to cope with setbacks.  Her goal is to be part of building a society where all people – Indigenous and non-Indigenous, Disabled and Able-bodied – have the opportunity to be all they can be.

 

Heather grew up in Sydney’s multicultural south and graduated with a Bachelor of Communication & Media Studies (Journalism and Marketing) and a Bachelor Arts (Politics) from the University of Wollongong.  She has also attained her TESOL certificate 4. 

Since then Heather has worked in a series of Marketing Communication and Customer Service roles in a variety of industries.  She was responsible for the corporate social responsibility in her previous role, working closely with some of Australia’s leading charities.  Heather spent a period of time living and volunteering in the township communities of South Africa, which strengthened her passion for education and community development.  She also tutors school students in her spare time. 

“Working for GenerationOne has given me the opportunity to work in an area that I am deeply passionate about.  Access to and support for high quality education and training is essential for all of us to meet our true potential and live our best lives – regardless of where we have come from”.

Heather has a love of travel and is always looking for her next adventure. Visiting some of the most remote communities in the world has only cemented the notion that ‘we are all more the same than we are different’. Other interests include travel photography, writing, scuba diving and being with her much loved friends and family.