The Aunty Pamela Mam Oration is held annually by the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health and is a ceremonial act of honouring Our Patron, Aunty Pamela Mam and reflecting on her words of wisdom and all that she exemplified.

As Patron of IUIH, over the years Aunty Pam’s guidance has staunchly driven IUIH in relentless pursuit of creating transformational change for Our People. For in Aunty Pam’s words “Nothing is to stop, everything must continue”.

In the continuance of Aunty Pam’s legacy, we are pleased to announce Mr. Neil Wilmett as the 2023 orator of the Aunty Pamela Mam Oration, with the theme being ‘Living in Yes: A Drive to Create Change’.

Living in Yes: A Drive to Create Change

The 14^th of October 2023 is a date that will go down in the history of this Country. A date in and amongst many dates but is it a date that will go on to define us?

Join us as we reflect on not only our learnings from Aunty Pam and to celebrate 50 years of Community Control in South East Queensland, but to also discuss the challenge of what the next 50 years will bring.

Orator – Mr. Neil Wilmett

Our Orator for this year’s event is Mr. Neil Wilmett; a Waanyi and Kuku Yalanji Man from Far North Queensland. Neil has a historical connection to Aunty Pam and to the political mobilisation of our communities throughout significant points of time in Queensland.

Neil is a national leader in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing, health, economic development and administration. He is known as a leading thinker and for his work in strategy and policy development and implementation.

Throughout his career, Neil has led a number of peak body organisations and is the former Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC). While the Chief Executive Officer of QAIHC between 2017 and 2020, he built member sustainability, improved partnerships and advocated strongly for inward investment in the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heath Sector.

With national and international experience in business strategy, policy and change leadership within dynamic business environments, Neil has a proven track record in achieving outcomes. This has been forged while in leadership roles in Australia, government, the private sector and whilst a visiting (Winston) Churchill Leadership Fellow in the USA, Canada and New Zealand.

Neil brings a deep understanding and broad experience of community control, leadership and governance.