Rory is passionate about using strategic communications to make systemic change. She lives and works on Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Country, and grew up on Dharawal Country on the New South Wales South Coast.
Rory has worked across a broad range of communications fields including publishing, creative, marketing, policy and advocacy. She has been with Common Ground since 2019 and previously worked for Amaze, a peak disability not-for-profit; Broadsheet Media; and numerous marketing agencies. Rory brings both a strategic and creative approach to communications together with knowledge of social impact and systemic change. She is committed to backing First Nations leadership and supporting First Nations organisations to achieve justice, self-determination, and protect Country.
Rona is a proud Kaytetye woman from Central Australia who works with high impact organisations to create systems that centre First Nations people, knowledge and solutions.
Rona is the founder of Common Ground and brings 7 years
of professional experience working across First Nations organisations and not for profits. Rona was previously the Director of First Nations at YLab, a social enterprise that puts young people with diverse lived experiences at the centre of designing and developing innovative and impactful solutions
to complex social issues. Over her career, Rona has worked in policy at the Central Land Council, the Research Unit for Indigenous Languages at the University of Melbourne, Reconciliation Victoria, and the Foundation for Young Australians.In 2020, Rona was a finalist for the Victorian Young Achiever awards, was awarded a Westpac Social Change Fellowship. In 2019 Rona won a Diana Award and was named a 'Woman of the Future' by Women's Weekly.Through her work with First Nations communities across Australia, Rona aims to create future systems that centre First Nations people, knowledge and cultures.Rona currently resides in Mpartnwe on Arrernte Country.