Arrernte woman and senior First Nations leader Evelyn Schaber has been appointed co-chair of Indigenous youth advocacy group Children's Ground.
Children's Ground said the appointment recognises the dual and equal roles of men and women in First Nations governance.
Ms Schaber has extensive experience across governance, education and Indigenous organisations.
Born and raised in Mparntwe (Alice Springs), she has worked for over five decades in roles supporting Aboriginal self-determination and community led systems. Her leadership spans the establishment of key First Nations institutions in the Northern Territory, contributions to national reform processes and decades of senior roles in tertiary education.
Ms Schaber worked with the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Aboriginal Legal Aid and the Central Land Council in their early operational periods. She also contributed to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody through the Underlying Issues Unit and has held roles with the Aboriginal Sacred Sites Authority and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
Ms Schaber joins founding chair and 2025 Human Rights Medal recipient William Tilmouth as co-chair, reflecting Children's Ground's "commitment to shared leadership grounded in First Nations governance".
"Stepping into this role is about continuing the vision of our Elders, especially the old girl, Dr M.K. Turner OAM, and carrying that vision forward through strong governance and community authority," Ms Schaber said.
"Shared leadership reflects how our people have always governed through collective responsibility. Having co-chairs strengthens decision making and creates space to comprehensively represent our communities.
"Working alongside William again is a really positive part of this next chapter. Our long history of working together brings trust and a strong foundation for leadership as we move this work forward."
Children's Ground said the appointment "supports continuity, succession planning and long-term leadership stability" as the organisation delivers its 25-year, community-led approach, and that the co-chair model reflects cultural governance principles, recognising shared responsibility, gendered leadership roles and collective decision making.
Children's Ground said Ms Schaber's appointment will strengthen the organisation's capacity to engage across communities, systems and institutions at local, Territory and national levels.
Mr Tilmouth said Ms Schaber brings "a lifetime of leadership, experience and cultural authority" to the role.
"She has been part of building the institutions our communities rely on today and understands what it takes to hold systems to account over the long term," he said.
"Shared leadership reflects how our people have always governed. Having Evelyn step into this role strengthens continuity, stability and succession as we continue to push for systems that respect community authority and deliver real outcomes."
Children's Ground CEO Jane Vadiveloo said: "Evelyn's appointment is critical to both our cultural and strategic strength."
"She has a deep knowledge of community, politics, and education. She is part of the generation who were at the forefront of self-determination in the 1970s," she said.
"Her combination of cultural, political and professional knowledge is incredible and brings depth and strength to Children's Ground at a critical time.
"As an organisation working over a 25-year horizon, strong succession planning and leadership continuity matter. Evelyn's leadership supports that long term vision and strengthens our ability to work with communities and institutions for sustained change."
