Professor Leanne Holt is a Worimi and Biripai woman and passionate about education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Prof. Holt has worked in higher education for over twenty years and is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous, University of NSW. She is President-Elect of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Consortium Aboriginal Corporation, Executive member of the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium, and sits on numerous community and government advisory and expert committees. She was previously Deputy Chairperson of Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Prof. Holt has educational qualifications in Human Resources, Business, and Education including a Masters in Business Management and a Ph.D. (Education). Her Ph.D. thesis recorded the development of Aboriginal education policy between 1975 and 1989 through the voices of National Aboriginal Education Committee. Prof. Holt was previously Director, Wollotuka Institute, which at the time was recognised as a national leader. She was recently a finalist in the 2019 Telstra Women’s Business Awards recognising her leadership and commitment to change towards the advancement and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through education.
