Janine Coombs
Emerging Leader 2013 – 2014
Janine Coombs is a Wotjoboluk woman who has taken on a number of significant leadership roles in her community in the area of native title, but she has also dedicated herself to promoting social and emotional issues and is passionate about the need for a stronger Aboriginal voice.
She has been at the forefront on advocating the rights and interests of all Traditional Owners not just for the Wotjobaluk people but for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and was an inaugural member of the Uluru delegation that designed the statement from the heart.
Janine believes that building and reclaiming cultural foundations are critical to survival and she is privileged to promote these foundations, and is determined to leave a legacy for generations to come.
Her experience includes the Deputy Chair of Barengi Gadjin Land Council, member of the Victorian Traditional Owner Settlement Framework Executive Committee, member of the National Heritage Trust’s Indigenous Advisory Committee, member of the University of Melbourne’s Traditional Owner and Elders Reference Group, member of the Victorian Aboriginal Treaty Working Group, Director of Barpa Construction, Chairperson of the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations, member of the Cricket Victoria Reconciliation Action Plan Advisory Committee and member of the Melbourne University Reconciliation Action Plan Traditional Owner and Elders Reference Group, member of the Collingwood Football Club – Expert Panel for the Do Better Report, and member of the Collingwood Football Club Reconciliation Action Plan.
Janine is currently the Manager, Recognition, Advisory & Media at Barengi Gadjin Land Council.