Yarra Valley Water has appointed Yorta Yorta and Boonwurrung man Jamil Tye as an Independent Aboriginal Delegate to its Board of Directors.
Mr Tye is the organisation’s first Independent Aboriginal Delegate to be engaged in the role, effective in September 2024.
Yarra Valley Water Managing Director, Pat McCafferty, welcomed Mr Tye to the team.
“Jamil brings a wealth of community engagement experience and leadership, and his commitment to governance, Aboriginal cultural awareness, and caring for Country, makes him a valuable addition to our board meetings,” Mr McCafferty said.
Before joining Yarra Valley Water, Mr Tye was the Director of the William Cooper Institute, named after the revered Yorta Yorta Aboriginal activist, and who is family to Mr Tye through his sister, Ada. He currently serves as the Executive Director of External Community Engagement and Impact at Monash University and has extensive experience across the education, government and mining sectors.
Mr Tye welcomed the opportunity to play a pivotal role in water provision.
“This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for me. It aligns with my values, as well as my commitment to advocate for the education, health, and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples,” he said.
“On my Yorta Yorta side I am a James/Cooper man from the Wollithiga/Wallithica clan, which means ‘meeting of the waters,’ whilst I am of the Yalukit-willam clan through Louisa Briggs, which translates to ‘river camp’ or ‘river home’. I understand the important position water holds in my Peoples’ cultures and for everyone’s way of life. I believe that if we all saw water as a living entity and a part of us, it would be treated with much better care.
“This role offers a unique opportunity to learn more about water management initiatives at the highest level.”
The Independent Aboriginal Delegate role is designed to assist in developing the skills and experience relevant to applying for a Board position within the Victorian water sector.
Mr Tye noted that it’s a significant chance to learn and work alongside Yarra Valley Water Board members, including fellow Yorta Yorta representative Karen Milward.
This appointment aligns with the Victorian Government’s Water for Victoria policy, which aims to increase opportunities for First Peoples in water management.
Mr Tye is a graduate of the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership Program and holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology and a Master of Teaching (Secondary) from Monash University.
Featured image: Independent Aboriginal Delegate, Jamil Tye. Image: Yarra Valley Water.
