Oakleigh Foundation

Our Ambassadors

Our Ambassadors were instrumental in establishing the Oakleigh Foundation and continue to champion its scholars and values.

  • Portrait of Prof N Martin Nakata, AM, PhD

    Prof N Martin Nakata, AM, PhD

    Martin is the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Indigenous Education & Strategy) at James Cook University. He is a Torres Strait Islander and has worked in Indigenous education areas for more than 40 years. He is widely published and is regarded as one of Australia’s leading scholars in the field of Indigenous education.

  • Portrait of Sandy Hollway, AO

    Sandy Hollway, AO

    Sandy is well known for his role as CEO of SOCOG, the Sydney Organising Committee for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, where he led over 120,000 people in delivering ‘the best Olympics ever’. Before that, Sandy was a senior public servant heavily involved in Indigenous affairs.

  • Portrait of Simon Balderstone, AM

    Simon Balderstone, AM

    Simon Balderstone is a former journalist and a general manager of SOCOG. He was Strategic Adviser to the Yothu Yindi Foundation and Garma Festival 2001-2010, and has had a long involvement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policies, programs and issues.

  • Portrait of Gary Ella

    Gary Ella

    Gary was born in Sydney and is proud of his Yuin and Dharawal ancestry. His career includes a number of State and Federal Government management positions involving Indigenous affairs, and a period when he coached Rugby Union on a professional basis.