Professor Shane Hearn has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media peak body First Nations Media Australia (FNMA).

A proud Noongar man originally from Esperance, Western Australia, Professor Hearn has experience in fields such as health, management and research.

Professor Hearn said the First Nations media environment is the perfect breeding ground for innovation and creativity.

"I'm excited to get down in the weeds and work alongside grass roots initiatives across all media platforms", he said.

"In particular as a peak body I want to work in partnership with community to create the conditions and environment to allow people to perform at their best."

Motivated to amplify the voices of First Nations peoples, Professor Hearn said he's looking forward to sharing stories "from the world's greatest storytellers", exploring and celebrating the oldest living continuous culture on the planet.

"Our culture is our super power," he said.

"The appetite is high across all platforms and channels. It's what I have missed, working side by side to make the space for a genuine authentic expression of First Nations Voice. We are not invisible!"

Previous to joining FNMA, Professor Hearn was head of First Nations Engagement and Communication at communications and public relations firm Think HQ.

He has also held positions at numerous Australian universities, including Director of Indigenous Health and Education at the University of Sydney, Director of Indigenous Strategy at Macquarie University, and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) at the University of Adelaide.

FNMA co-chair Dre Ngatokorua said Professor Hearn's broad experience from multiple tertiary institutions, the business sector, Aborignal community controlled organisations and non-for-profits will be hugely beneficial for FMFA.

"Shane brings a wealth of engagement experience to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media and we look forward to his innovative ideas for the sector," Mr Ngatokorua said.

"Professor Hearn has valuable experience in research, scholarship and management `and will be a huge asset for our First Nations media family.

"We are pleased to welcome Shane into the First Nations media family."

Professor Hearn will begin the position on 16 January, 2023.