Professor Sean Taylor is a descendant of the Dauareb Tribe of Mer (Murray) Island in the Eastern Torres Strait and a nationally recognised leader in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. With more than 30 years of experience spanning clinical practice, academic leadership, research, and health system reform, his career has been dedicated to improving health outcomes and embedding culturally safe, community- and consumer-centred models of care across Australia.
Rom is a Djugun man whose family come from Broome.
In 2024, Rom completed a term as Commissioner with the Productivity Commission where he led a body of work including the first review of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Visual Arts and Crafts and Indigenous Evaluation Strategy.
Prior to the Commission, he led key national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations as CEO of the Lowitja Institute and the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association.
Rom previously worked for the Australian Government where he had policy and program responsibility in areas such as substance use, male health and eye health, within the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.
At the state level, he was the first Aboriginal policy officer appointed to the New South Wales Department of Ageing and Disability.
Rom was a past chair of the Indigenous Governance Awards, National Health Leadership Forum, the Canada–Australia Indigenous Health and Wellness Working Group and the Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors Congress CEOs’ Forum.
He is a board member of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and patron of Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services.
Im the managing director of an Aboriginal business called Bindi Bindi Dreaming where I was educating many about our people and communities. I offered different experiences but our most popular was our on country which included a Bushtucker bbq. Unfortunately my business stopped as I went down. I landed myself in hospital. Little did I know I had contracted a flesh eating disease known as necrotising fasciitis. It almost took my life.
My near death experience has been life changing which Im adapting to now having a disability as a bilateral woman. Life has been tough. I’ve had to adjust and do things a little bit differently. Technology has given me hope. I spent 11 months in hospital. Rehab was the most hardest part as I had to relearn everything including walking and standing. My family has been my biggest support throughout my ordeal and I’m so thankful that I have them in my life.
Ka tiro ake au ki te mauka, Te Poho o Tamatea,
e rere raro te awa o Omaru,
ki nga wai o Whakaraupo,
ki te pa tuwatawata o Te Rapaki o Rakiwhakaputa,
tu mai te Whare o Wheke.
He uri ahau no Kai Tahu, Te Ati Haunui-a-Paparangi, me Ngati Rangi.
Ko Hohepa (Joseph) Tyro toku ingoa.
For more than 25 years, I have worked across the iwi, hapu, health, tertiary education, and social services sectors, dedicating my career to improving outcomes for whanau and communities. I am a Registered Social Worker and have held a range of roles within the health sector, including Maori Health Worker, Clinical Social Worker, Clinical Manager, Principal Advisor, General Manager, Director, and Deputy Chief Executive.
One of my proudest achievements was beginning my leadership journey through local government as a member of my community’s Youth Council, where I developed a lifelong commitment to public service, community leadership, and creating positive change.
I currently serve as Chairperson of Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke (Rapaki), operate my own consultancy company, and work as a Kaihautu supporting tangata whaikaha, whanau with intellectual disability challenges. I am also a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors, the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, and the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons Board of Studies. In 2023, I was honoured to receive the Emerging Director Award from the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena tatou katoa.
Watch this space for more exciting speakers to be announced!