Sunday 31 August 2003, Media Release

APPOINTMENT OF NEW CEO

An Indigenous career bureaucrat has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council.

He is Mr. William Johnstone, currently the Deputy General Manager of the Indigenous Land Corporation.

Mr. Johnstone will take up his position as CEO of NSWALC from tomorrow, September 1.

NSWALC Chairperson, Les Trindall, said today Mr Johnstone was joining the Council at a crucial time.

"Council has spent considerable time in recent months conducting a root and branch examination of our policies and our procedures," Cr.Trindall said.

"We believe good governance is paramount to our ongoing work as the State's peak Indigenous representative body," he added

"We are now adopting a range of new policies and procedures to improve our governance to ensure we are better able to achieve our aims to protect the interests and further the aspirations of our members and the broader Aboriginal community

"Mr. Johnstone brings a unique blend of youth and extensive experience in Aboriginal Affairs, both at the State and Federal level, to NSWALC, and all Council members look forward to working with him to ensure these new policies and procedures are put in place."

"He also brings a wealth of experience to NSWALC, not only as a senior bureaucrat, but also as an Aboriginal politician."

Mr Johnstone is a former Chairperson of ATSIC's Murdi Paaki Regional Council and was instrumental in establishing a strategic plan for the region which won awards from the Royal Australian Planning Institute at both the State and national levels.

He was founding Regional Director of the Maari Ma Aboriginal Health Corporation which services rural and remote Western New South Wales before taking up a position as ATSIC's State Manager for New South Wales in October 2000.

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