Gunawuna Jungai, the community-controlled body representing Queensland's Doomadgee community, has announced the appointment of Atlanta Taylor and Kerry-Anne Gallagher to its board.
The appointments follow the resignation of Gunawuna Jungai chairman and director, Bary Walden, marking a significant transition in the organisation's governance and leadership.
The visionary and founder behind Gunawuna Jungai, Mr Walden has stepped aside to extend his influence across Queensland's northwest and Lower Gulf region, where his leadership is increasingly sought after.
However despite his resignation from his formal roles, Mr Walden says he will remain an integral part of Gunawuna Jungai as the Representative Member of his family group.
"My job has been to make sure the foundations are laid right, embedded in our culture and empowering everyone in the community. That job is done," Mr Walden said.
"From the beginning, Gunawuna Jungai was about everyone in Doomadgee, from the smallest to the biggest. Everyone gets to have a voice.
"Doomadgee has a great future ahead. We're just making sure that it's built our way, on our culture."
The organisation says as representative members for their respective family groups, Ms Taylor and Ms Gallagher's transition to representing the Doomadgee community through the governance of Gunawuna Jungai demonstrates the integrity and power of local culture in the process of self-determination and cultural democracy.
Following Mr Walden's resignation, Gunawuna Jungai chief executive officer, Kieran Smith, acknowledged his legacy and the significance of the transition period.
"Barry's decision to step down is not a departure – it is a deliberate step towards the cultural democracy that Gunawuna Jungai was built upon," Mr Smith said.
"From day one, Barry envisioned a governance model where community leadership and traditional authority shape the future of Doomadgee. His decision to transition from Chairman to Representative Member is a testament to the strength of that model."
Gunawuna Jungai said Mr Walden's transition marks a new phase for the organisation, saying the governance board, comprised of representative members from family groups, will guide the future of the organisation.
"The empowerment of community has always been at the heart of Gunawuna Jungai. This is the National Agreement's Priority Reform 2, Strengthening Community Control in action," Mr Smith said.
"Barry's leadership has proven the model, and we are now seeing the community stepping forward to take ownership of decision-making in a way that respects and honours cultural authority."
Following his resignation, the board, members and staff of Gunawuna Jungai extended their gratitude to Mr Walden for his vision and his unwavering dedication and leadership, while welcoming Ms Taylor and Ms Gallagher as the organisation enters the next phase of cultural democracy and Closing the Gap for Doomadgee.
Gunawuna Jungai Limited was created and endorsed as the community-owned and controlled body to represent Doomadgee as the Queensland site for Place Based Partnerships under the National Agreement for Closing the Gap.
