14 November 2017

The Chair and Deputy Chair of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) have been re-elected at a meeting in Sydney today.

Councillor for Sydney/Newcastle Roy Ah-See will lead the largest member-based Aboriginal organisation in Australia until the 2019 election with Councillor for North West Region Anne Dennis as Deputy.

Cr Ah-See and Cr Dennis were re-elected unopposed following a vote of NSWALC's nine elected councillors.

Elections for the positions of Chair and Deputy Chair are contested every two years.

Cr Ah-See said he was proud to lead a united team of Councillors through its four-year term.

"The clear message from today is the NSW Aboriginal Land Council is united and focused on continuing the important work that lies before us.

"Through the collective wisdom of this Council we've achieved a great deal for Aboriginal peoples in New South Wales.

"Over the next two years, the Council will work to deliver the actions of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council's Strategic Plan to guide the Land Rights network for the next five years.

"The draft Strategic Plan will also be focused on acquiring more land and gaining new members who are fully-engaged in the vital work of leveraging land for culture and economic development.

"The Strategic Plan also commits the Council to securing the signing of a Treaty between government and the First Peoples of New South Wales."

Deputy Chair Cr Dennis said she was proud to be part of a leadership team tasked with improving the lives of Aboriginal peoples throughout the State.

"With 120 Local Aboriginal Land Councils and 23,000 members, the Land Rights network is well-positioned to use land as a way to strengthen culture and create jobs, particularly in our regions.

"The NSW Aboriginal Land Council will demonstrate its strong leadership and advocacy in critical areas like culture and heritage."

About NSWALC Chair Cr Roy Ah-See

Cr Ah-See is a Wiradjuri man who was born and raised on Nanima Reserve, near Wellington.

A member of Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council, he was elected to Council in 2007 and was most recently the Deputy Chair of NSWALC.

Cr Ah-See has qualifications in social welfare and has worked at various government agencies and at NSWALC as a policy officer.

About NSWALC Deputy Chair Cr Anne Dennis

First elected in 2011, Cr Dennis is a Gamilaraay woman who was born on Namoi Reserve and has lived most of her life in Walgett.

Cr Dennis has a strong background in education spanning more than 30 years as a teacher and administrator.

Cr Dennis has been a member of the Walgett Local Aboriginal Land Council for more than 15 years and was formerly its Chief Executive Officer.

____________________________________________________________________
MEDIA CONTACT: Andrew Williams 0429 585 291