Tom Calma PhD

Professor Calma is an Aboriginal elder of the Kungarakan tribal group, a member of the Iwaidja tribal group and a champion for the rights, responsibilities and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. He has been a member of the University Council since October 2008 and was appointed Deputy Chancellor in 2012 before taking over as Chancellor two years later.

Professor Calma was the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission from 2004 to 2010, and also served as Race Discrimination Commissioner from 2004 until 2009. His 2005 Social Justice Report laid the foundation for the Close the Gap Campaign; a collaboration of some 40 Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian health and human rights groups.