Professor Reuben Bolt is set to return to the University of Sydney after being appointed the institution's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy and Services).
Commencing in July, Professor returns to the University of Sydney, his alma mater, after leading Charles Darwin University as Deputy Vice-Chancellor First Nations Leadership since 2020.
The Yuin/Wandandian and Monaro/Ngarigo man brings more than 25 years of experience in Indigenous education, research and leadership to the role.
University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott welcomed Professor Bolt's appointment.
"We're delighted to have Professor Bolt stepping into this important leadership role and know our community will benefit from his insight, energy and vision," Professor Scott said.
"His dedication to advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in higher education and his inclusive, community-focused leadership mean he is ideally placed to lead our work creating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and valuing Indigenous culture."
Professor Bolt began his academic career at the University of Sydney, pursuing a diploma before enrolling in a Bachelor of Health Science before carrying out research which exposed institutional racism in the judicial system during his honours degree.
Returning to research after completing a Master of Media Arts and Production, Professor Bolt went on to become the first Aboriginal person to earn a PhD from the University of Sydney's Faculty of Medicine and Health (then the Faculty of Health Sciences).
The University says Professor Bolt will continue "leading the University's efforts to elevate First Nations knowledge systems and deepen community engagement" following the departure of his predecessor, Professor Lisa Jackson Pulver.
"I've had the pleasure of working with Professor Jackson Pulver on several national projects and would like to acknowledge the very significant work that she's done at the University," Professor Bolt said.
"I'm excited by the opportunity to build upon the existing work being done by the University and expanding higher education opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students."
Professor Bolt's grandmother was only permitted to attend school until Year 6, his mother until Year 8. As a result, he was determined to complete Year 12.
"My grandmother was part of a generation of Aboriginal people who weren't allowed to continue their education and seek further opportunities – a result of colonial narratives that set the parameters and limitations on what Aboriginal people could achieve and do," he said.
"My grandmother had around 45 grandchildren, and I was around the middle. As a child, my biggest goal was to finish high school, because none of the other older boys in the family had. University wasn't even on my radar."
That changed when family including his father, uncles, aunties and cousins began studying a diploma at the University of Sydney's then Faculty of Health Sciences, opportunities which opened doors to higher education and sparking a lifelong academic journey focused on identity and Aboriginality.
"As a teenager, I struggled with the narrative I heard about Aboriginal people – it didn't reflect my lived experience. I ate McDonald's, wore Western clothes, and that seemed to contradict what I was told about Aboriginality, and what it was supposed to look like from a Western perspective," Professor Bolt said.
"Through my research and experiences, I have come to know that your identity comes from your story, and your story is related to your community and connection to Country, and the culture and discourses you've been socialised in."
Professor Bolt's tenure as University of Sydney Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy and Services), commences 28 July.
