Chief Executive Officer

Robyn Forester hails from Bundaberg in South East Queensland.  She is a Yuwibara and Australian South Sea Islander woman but now calls the nation’s capital, Canberra home.

In January 2018, Robyn joined the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre as its’ Chief Executive Officer bringing with her a wealth of knowledge, experiences and a commitment to advancing leadership opportunities for all.

In July 2013 Robyn stepped into the Senior Executive Service with the ACT Government to lead the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (OA&TSIA).  OA&TSIA provides advice on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs across the ACT Government.  Robyn came to the ACT Government from Australian Federal Police but has over 23 years experiences working in a number of commonwealth agencies including Families and Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet; the former Department of Social Security / Centrelink and The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to just to name a few.

An experience HR and Public Relations Practitioner with over 28 years’ experience working in the government, Robyn has worked across a range of policy development and programme delivery arenas.  She has represented the Commonwealth government nationally and internationally at various forums including the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and she has sat on various committees in both government and community organisations.

In 2012, Robyn was awarded a Churchill Fellowship which enabled her to travel to Canada, the USA, the UK and New Zealand.  Her research was titled Peer Support and Mentoring Networks for Law Enforcement Officers from Diverse Backgrounds. In 2015, Robyn attended INSEAD, the International Business School in Singapore as a Roberta Sykes Scholarship holder to undertake a short course “Leading for Results”.

Outside her public sector employment Robyn is an active member of the local community. She studied Communications specialising in Public Relations at the University of Canberra. She is a skilled facilitator, trainer and coach specialising in the delivery of Cultural Diversity Training & Career Development.  Robyn has a keen interest in the Arts and is also a qualified Dance and Theatre Practitioner using these talents to support emerging and established artists.

Robyn is passionate about exploring the world having travelled to more than 35 countries and sailed away on over 23 cruise ships, she one day hopes to “Make a living, living” travelling the world as a full time tourist.

Robyn believes that nothing is impossible and that we are the only ones who can determine where we are going and how we will get there.  Once you set a goal the only person standing in your way is you.