ProfessorGabrielle Russell

Gabrielle Russell is Academic Director at the National Centre for Cultural Competence. Her diverse experience has been gained working in non-government organisations, politics, business, and higher education. Gabrielle is particularly interested in how to develop cultural competence from a non-Indigenous perspective and in particular how to facilitate a deeper understanding of transformative ways to learn and work together. Gabrielle’s formal qualifications include a BA (UNSW), an MBA (MGSM) and a PhD (SCU), as well as a Graduate Certificate in University Teaching (UNDA).

Gabrielle’s PhD research, From Pumpkins to Property Management: Developing the Organisational Capacity of the Jubal Aboriginal Corporation (2011) looked at Indigenous community enterprise development and capacity building in a Northern NSW context. By examining the experiences and activities at one Aboriginal Corporation, this study sought to better understand some of the factors necessary to support the development of community enterprises in the Bundjalung Nation, North Eastern NSW. The study also provided some insight into the experiences and development needs of a Bundjalung community as it engaged with capacity and organisational development.

Gabrielle has had a long interest in human rights and social justice issues. Early in her career this interest led her from working in the private sector to the NGO sector and then into politics as an adviser to a Federal Senator in the Foreign Affairs and International Development portfolios. In addition to her academic interests, she has held advocacy and education roles with a particular focus on Indigenous social justice issues.