MaryAnn Bin-Sallik

Emeritus Professor MaryAnn Bin-Sallik AO is a Jaru woman born in Broome, Western Australia, and spent most her life in Darwin, Northern Territory. In 1961, she graduated as a registered nurse from the Darwin Hospital. In 1975, she became the first Indigenous Australian person to be employed in Australia’s higher education sector, and was at the forefront of what is known as the Indigenous higher education sector. She retired from Charles Darwin University in 2008, and in recognition of her distinguished academic service was made an emeritus professor, awarded an honorary doctorate in 2016.

In 2017, MaryAnn received the NAIDOC Female Elder of the Year Award. In the same the year, she was awarded an Order of Australia for her distinguished contribution to Australia’s education sector. In 2018, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Western Sydney University.