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Welcome to Country announces appointment of Chief Executive Officer
13 September 2022, Media Release
Welcome to Country, the not-for-profit marketplace for First Nations experiences and products, is delighted to announce the appointment of its new CEO, Gurindji/Ngalakan man Desmond Campbell.
Welcome to Country Chairman Troy Rugless said Desmond was chosen after an extensive and competitive selection process. “Desmond is an excellent cultural fit for Welcome to Country. His passion and vision will lead us into the future as a thriving social enterprise” he said. “The Board, of which a majority of Directors are Aboriginal, myself as Chair included, look forward to working with Desmond over the coming years.”
Originally from the Northern Territory, Desmond is of the Gurindji (Southern-Western Desert) and the Ngalakan (South-East Arnhem Land) people. Prior to taking the role of CEO at Welcome to Country, he was First Nations Practice Lead at Social Ventures Australia (SVA), where he worked on a range of projects influencing better service delivery in sectors such as health, social justice, family welfare and strategy development in community-led social ventures.
Commenting on his appointment to the role of CEO, Desmond said he was excited to take on the position. “Welcome to Country has a unique vision and position in the current social and political climate. It is on the forefront of a wave of cultural change in Australia and I am looking forward to being involved in directing and supporting this change.” said Desmond.
“Welcome to Country is an innovative organisation, with a premium marketplace which fills a gap in the national market for Indigenous cultural experiences and products and it carries strong support from the 175 Indigenous businesses currently listed. I invite everyone from individuals and families to small business and corporate Australia to connect with Welcome to Country and discover the incredible experiences and products our talented, committed and passionate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander operators and suppliers have to offer.” he said.
Professor Stan Grant, Chairman of Indigenous Capital Limited (ICL), a long-time supporter of Welcome to Country said, “This appointment marks a new chapter for Welcome to Country. ICL is looking forward to working with Desmond to ensure Welcome to Country continues to deliver on its vision and purpose for prosperous and empowered Indigenous communities”, Prof. Grant said.
Welcome to Country is a not-for-profit organisation with a vision for prosperous Indigenous communities. The experience marketplace is designed to be accessible, engaging, and easy to use on the go, connecting travellers with exceptional First Nations cultural experiences around Australia. Welcome to Country also gives consumers the chance to browse and purchase over 1,000 different products from the online shop. Every purchase made with Welcome to Country benefits Indigenous communities, businesses and people.
The Chairman and Board of Directors is: Chairman Troy Rugless, Director Rhoda Roberts AO, Director Paul Ah Chee Ngala, Director Roger Allen AM, Director John Morse AM and Director/CEO Desmond Campbell.