Head of Inclusion in Sport - Affirmative Measure (First Nations)

About the role

Sport Integrity Australia is seeking an exceptional Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander leader to join our Senior Executive Leadership Team as Head of Inclusion in Sport.

This is a rare opportunity to provide strategic leadership across the agency and the sport sector, shaping and driving work that strengthens cultural safety, inclusion and integrity in Australian sport. You will lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of inclusion strategies, priorities and programs, build sector capability and trust, and help create safer, fairer and more inclusive sporting environments.

Reporting to the Deputy CEO – Safety in Sport, you will contribute to agency-wide strategy, governance, performance, culture and long-term organisational capability while leading the Inclusion in Sport function. You will provide authoritative advice to the CEO, SIA Executive, Minister and Government on complex, sensitive and emerging issues relating to inclusion, culture, safety, integrity and participation in sport.

Working across government, sport and community sectors, you will lead system-wide initiatives and build trusted partnerships with sporting organisations, athletes, participant groups, integrity partners, community organisations and domestic and international stakeholders to strengthen coordination, capability and sustainable sector-wide outcomes.

Why this role matters

Discrimination and exclusion can undermine the integrity of sport by creating unsafe, unfair and exclusionary environments. Consistent with its statutory functions, Sport Integrity Australia works to prevent and address these threats and strengthen safe, respectful and inclusive sporting environments.

As Head of Inclusion in Sport, you will lead initiatives addressing culture and safety, psychosocial safety, discrimination, participation, wellbeing and organisational culture. You will help improve inclusion, participation and safety outcomes for women and girls, First Nations peoples, LGBTQ+ communities, culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse communities, and people with disability. 

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a senior Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander leader with strong expertise in culture, safety and inclusion, and the ability to provide strategic direction, lead through others and influence outcomes across complex environments.

You will be collaborative, outcomes-focused and values-based, with the judgement, cultural capability and resilience to navigate sensitive issues, build trusted relationships and deliver sustainable organisational and sector-wide impact.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• demonstrated capacity to operate as a senior executive leader in a complex agency, providing strategic direction, stewardship and leadership
• proven ability to lead through others, drive performance and accountability, foster a positive workplace culture and build high-performing teams
• strong knowledge of Australian Government processes and public sector accountability, including risk, workforce, financial and procurement responsibilities and stewardship of public resources
• strong understanding of the Australian sport system, its stakeholders, policy settings and emerging participation, safety, inclusion and integrity challenges
• highly developed ability to build and leverage strategic partnerships across government, sport, community organisations and international stakeholders to achieve shared outcomes
• demonstrated experience leading inclusion, diversity, equity and belonging initiatives, organisational culture reform or system-wide change, with the ability to influence policy, practice, capability and behaviour
• strong understanding of integrity, inclusion, psychosocial safety and organisational risks, with experience managing complex, sensitive and high-profile issues
• demonstrated cultural capability and respectful, effective engagement with First Nations peoples and other diverse communities
• exceptional communication and influencing skills, including the ability to provide authoritative, evidence-based advice, briefings, submissions and reports to senior decision-makers
• a collaborative, authentic and values-based leadership style, underpinned by sound judgement, personal integrity and a strong focus on results

To become our Head of Inclusion in Sport you must:

• be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent; and
• identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; and
• be accepted by their community as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and be able to provide documentation as evidence to confirm your Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage.