About
Michelle Deshong

Michelle Deshong established her consultancy business in 2008 after extensive experience in both the public and private sector. Michelle has held senior executive positions spanning the public service including roles such as National Manager for the Indigenous Services in Centrelink, and Senior Advisor in the Department of Prime Minister in Cabinet. She also has held roles in the non-government sector including Queensland State Manager for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategies for Australian Red Cross and more recently as the CEO of the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute.

Alongside these professional roles, Michelle has maintained a strong interest in community organisations and worked in a range of governance capacities including Director of the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre, QATSILS, Fair Agenda and is currently a Director of Supply Nation and Asia Pacific Indigenous Women’s Network.

Michelle holds a BA Honours in Political Science and Indigenous studies at James Cook University and is completing her PhD. In 2015 she was awarded the National NAIDOC Scholar of the year for her contribution to academia and community development. In 2016 Michelle received the Australian/American Fulbright Indigenous Professional Scholarship to undertake research across CANZUS countries on First Nations Leadership and Governance, particularly centred around Nation Building and Self-Determination. This was followed by a Churchill Fellowship in 2018 to continue to research Indigenous rights in a global context.

Michelle is involved in a number of professional networks, including being a Fellow with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF), a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS).

Michelle’ depth of work has also seen her profiled in the Queensland Government Deadly Stories initiative and was awarded the Runner Up in the 2012 Queensland Rural Woman of the Year. In 2013 Michelle was named in the Westpac/Financial 100 Women of Influence award.

Michelle’s consultancy business draws on her depth of experience in both Government/Non-Government and Not For Profit. She has an in-depth knowledge of Indigenous affairs and more broadly in the mechanisms of government, advocacy and political change. She is an accredited trainer and facilitator in Leadership, Governance, Australian and International politics and human rights fields.

Michelle Deshong’s consultancy has been engaged across a range of contracts including events/training, community development, strategic planning, gender equality and policy/service delivery reforms and reviews. Notably Michelle has also been the lead facilitator for the OXFAM’s Straight Talk program for the past 11 years and an Associate of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation. Michelle continues to deliver critical leadership training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.