Natalie Walker, a distinguished figure in the field of social and economic policy reform, has been awarded 2023 QUT Outstanding Indigenous Australian Alumnus. The award recognises Natalie for her exceptional contributions to society and her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable individuals and communities.
A Kuku Yalanji woman from the Daintree Rainforest, Natalie has dedicated her career to advocating for social justice and driving meaningful change. She earned her Bachelor of Laws degree at QUT, setting the stage for a remarkable journey of leadership and advocacy.
As a testament to her commitment to creating a better world for all, Natalie serves as the Social Commissioner for the Greater Cities Commission in New South Wales. In this role, she plays a pivotal function in shaping policies and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of urban communities.
Natalie is also the founder of Inside Policy, a private advisory firm specialising in social and economic policy matters. Inside Policy provides valuable guidance to governments on critical issues, including Indigenous economic development, domestic and family violence, and children and family services.
In addition to these prominent roles, Natalie serves as a non-executive director on the Paul Ramsay Foundation and Life Without Barriers boards, and Deputy Chair of the Goodstart Early Learning board, where she leverages her expertise to contribute to meaningful change.
Natalie’s impact extends as the inaugural CEO of Supply Nation, an organisation focused on increasing the participation of Indigenous businesses in Australia's largest companies' supply chains; her dedication to advancing Indigenous economic empowerment has been instrumental in fostering a more inclusive business landscape.
Reflecting on her journey, Natalie has expressed her deep commitment to making a difference in the world: "All of the work that I do as a non-executive director, as an advisor to governments, is really about trying to make the world a better place, in particular for those in our community who experience the most vulnerability."
Her experiences growing up in country Queensland as an Aboriginal young person have shaped her dedication to social justice. She experienced and witnessed adversity and racism but was also inspired by the resilience and hope within her community.
Her advocacy has made a lasting impact both at home and abroad. At just 22 years old she represented Australia at the United Nations to address issues related to Indigenous youth overrepresentation in the criminal justice system. Later, she was appointed by the then Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull AC, as Australia’s representative to the Businesswomen Leaders Taskforce of the G20 in 2018.
Looking ahead, Natalie envisions a future where her children and future generations continue her legacy of community and nation-building. "That will be success for me when I look at my family and see that they're a community and a group of change makers," she reflects.
The QUT Outstanding Indigenous Australian Alumnus award recognises Natalie Walker's exceptional achievements and her tireless dedication to creating a more equitable and inclusive world. Her contributions stand as an inspiration to all, and QUT is proud to celebrate her accomplishments.