Kate Russell
Attaché: Diversity & Inclusion, Government and People and Culture
Appointed: May 30, 2020
A proud Aboriginal woman, Kate is committed to empowering her community. She draws on her extensive background in working across all tiers of government and community sectors to promote opportunities for Aboriginal peoples. Kate promotes an intersectional perspective in all programs, policies and initiatives. She is passionate about engaging Aboriginal people and communities to co-design programs and services by using international best practice to effect change in policy.
In her current role Kate works to ensure equal outcomes and representation for the diverse communities of regional NSW. A new Department set up in 2020, Kate plays a key role in establishing the agency and is charged with optimizing processes, promoting knowledge sharing and building a collaborative culture. Prior to this she was the Director Diversity and Culture at the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment where she oversaw the design and delivery of inclusion programs across a portfolio of agencies and over 15,000 staff. Her broad expertise and experience in diversity and inclusion, organisational culture, leadership, human resources and knowledge and project management helps to develop programs that recognise the intersectionality of experience.
Kate commenced her career at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Sydney and Canberra. From 2008 to 2012 she worked in Spain for the Catalan Department of Education which greatly enhanced her insight and knowledge of minority nationalism at an international level. This experience provided her with a global outlook which has remained throughout her career. Returning to Australia in 2008, she worked in the community sector, focusing on Aboriginal employment and leadership development before joining the NSW State Government in 2016.
Kate is a Board Director at NSWALC Employment and Training and the Diversity Council Australia, of which she is the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander External Advisory Panel Chair. She is a graduate of Bachelor of International Studies (Distinction) and completed an MBA in 2013. She is currently completing an Executive Masters of Public Administration through Sydney University and has previously served on the Glebe Youth Services and Rabbitoh’s Souths Cares boards.
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