Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) is pleased to announce that Mark Drury will be taking up the role of ANTaR National Director today. ANTaR is the pre-eminent national organisation promoting the rights of Indigenous peoples in Australia.

“Mark Drury has over 25 years experience in driving policy, projects and programs that educate, inspire and harness the power of individuals towards the common good. He has a strategic focus and experience in building consensus with people who have diverse agendas and contrary opinions. He is very focused on achieving real outcomes,” said ANTaR President, Dr Janet Hunt.

"Mark knows the community sector, has experience with the three tiers of government, the private sector and the union movement, Dr Hunt said.

“Above all, he has a long-standing passion for justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We are thrilled to have someone with such a breadth of experience and strong community networks to take this important leadership role in ANTaR,” Dr Hunt said.

In accepting the role, Mark observed that as a country we once again sit on the cusp of an opportunity. “This is the generation of Australians who can and must reconcile. After the Apology, we are, all of us looking for real improvements in the circumstances of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We also need to see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights fully recognised, including in our Constitution."

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations are showing us the way they would like to go forward. We have increased community awareness and expectation that issues will be addressed. We have governments that profess to care, want to close the gap and have committed to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People," Mark Drury said.

“As National Director of ANTaR, I want to work with and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations as they move forward. I want to build our capacity to organise and mobilise Australians as we express our desire for a fairer and more decent society. We will continue to pressure all governments to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations to make that real difference,” said Mark Drury.

Mark will be based at ANTaR’s new national office in Dulwich Hill.

Media contacts:
Janet Hunt: 0408 170 448
Mark Drury: 0448 722 942