Biography: Craig Ritchie was appointed to the position of A/g CEO at AIATSIS in January 2017. Craig joined AIATSIS as Deputy CEO in April 2016. Prior to joining AIATSIS Craig worked in other senior roles in the Australian Public Service, most recently in the Department of Education and Training 2011-2016. There he was the Branch Manager for International Mobility and before that, Manager of the Access and Participation Branch.

At Education, Craig led two major systemic reform initiatives in higher education: the first, in reframing the national approach to widening participation policy and programs; the second, in implementing the findings of the Review of Access and Outcomes in Higher Education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

From 2002 until 2010 Craig worked for the ACT Government as the Manager for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Policy for the ACT. In that role he led the development of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Family Wellbeing Plan.

Craig also has experience in community sector, working at both the AWABAKAL Newcastle Aboriginal Co-operative and then as CEO at NACCHO the National Aboriginal community controlled health services.

Craig is one of a small cohort of Indigenous public servants who provide significant leadership in the broader whole-of-government Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs particularly as a member of the Commonwealth Indigenous Reform Group.

Craig is an Aboriginal man of the Dhunhutti/Biripi nations. He was born and raised in rural New South Wales.

Craig's first degree was from the University of Newcastle, Craig has a post-graduate qualification in management and is currently undertaking research into Aboriginal culture and public policy making for a PhD. In 2006 Craig was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to research models of Indigenous leadership in the USA and Canada.

Media: https://soundcloud.com/user-763545963/caepr-seminarbycraigritchie-050918