Fourteen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders have been named Churchill Fellows for 2025. They will travel the world to bring back ideas that strengthen culture, communities, and Country.
Their projects span land management, health, education, justice, fashion, and the art; reflecting the breadth of First Nations leadership across Australia.
Churchill Trust chief executive Christine Dacey said the Churchill Fellows "are everyday people doing extraordinary things".
"They're curious, courageous, and deeply committed to their communities," she said.
"Their projects highlight the vision, expertise, and determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Fellows working to shape a stronger, more inclusive future for Australia."
Several Fellows will explore how Indigenous knowledge can influence better systems and outcomes. Projects include integrating Indigenous knowledge into acute health care, developing culturally safe bereavement models, repatriation practices, truth-telling in classrooms, and innovative justice diversion programs led by Aboriginal communities.
Among this year's Fellows, Alicia Veasey, a Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait Islander) woman and clinician based in regional NSW, will explore how Indigenous knowledge can transform acute health care and strengthen outcomes for local communities.
"Healing is intergenerational work for me. My father was an Aboriginal Health Worker, and I've followed in his footsteps - first as a nurse, then a doctor," she said.
"Every day, I witness the racism embedded within acute care systems and the cost my people pay for it. In my effort to understand how our health system came to be this way, I pursued Masters in public health and health management - yet none offered the answers I sought.
"In 2023, I completed an Atlantic Fellowship for Indigenous Social Equity, where I explored Indigenous sovereignty and knowledges within acute care. This led to the development of an Indigenist Health System Reform Agenda framework."
For Julie Ballangarry, a proud Gumbaynggirr woman, reconciliation means every Australian understands history, and governments lead by example. Through her Fellowship, she will learn from other First Nations peoples to help shape a movement in Australia that is courageous, community-led, and grounded in truth.
"Working in the community sector and as a teacher, I saw how the impacts of colonisation were still felt every day. I also saw how easy it was for institutions to lean on symbolic gestures while avoiding the hard work of truth-telling or structural reform. That's when I knew reconciliation had to be more than words, it had to uphold Indigenous rights and change the systems that harm us," she said.
"Much of my work has been in education, using it as a tool for truth-telling. In classrooms and lecture theatres, I've shared knowledge with students and colleagues, creating ripples I hope travel far beyond me. Those moments remind me that change is possible, when people truly listen, hearts and minds can shift."
Creativity and culture also feature heavily; Fellows will examine global Indigenous fashion collections, artisanal design, and international skateboarding exchanges to foster cross-cultural connections. Others will investigate textile recycling, artisanal craftsmanship, and how reconciliation is pursued in political contexts.
Jamie Hampton, a Warlpiri and Arrernte man from Alice Springs and Yuendumu, will use his Fellowship to strengthen culture and community through repatriation.
"My passion comes from my Elders, who have worked in museums and repatriation for over 40 years," he said.
"I'm motivated to help my community and young people create a better future for themselves using repatriation as the vehicle."
Conservation and science are also well-represented among this year's Fellows. George Brown, a proud Walbunga, Waddi Waddi, and Narungga man, will explore Indigenous-led co-management of national parks, combining ecological knowledge, cultural heritage, and governance to care for Country.
"Country, culture, and community are at the heart of who we are," he said.
"When we lead the care for our land, everyone benefits."
Now in its 60th year, the Churchill Trust was founded by over 200,000 volunteers in a nationwide doorknock appeal. A Churchill Fellowship is for "everyday Australians with extraordinary ideas". Applications open in February 2026. More information is available online at www.churchilltrust.com.au.
