Priscilla Atkins

CEO, North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency

Priscilla Atkins is Eastern Arrernte from Central Australia and mother of 10 children and grandmother to 17 grandchildren. Priscilla is the CEO of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency which is the largest legal service in the Northern Territory providing high-quality and culturally appropriate legal aid services for Indigenous people. She is fully engaged in pursuing the rights of Indigenous people through law and policy reform and has a long history of actively promoting Indigenous culture, language, dance and music worldwide.

Previously, Cilla was the CEO of the CAAMA Group, the largest Indigenous owned and operated multimedia organisation in Australia, managing their commercial enterprises through radio broadcasting, remote Indigenous broadcasting, independent music label, film and television production company, shops and television broadcasting. Cilla also previously held a position on the NT Indigenous Affairs Advisory Council, was a Board Director on Indigenous Business Australia, Chairperson of the Indigenous Australian Communications Association, Board Director of Imparja Television, National Indigenous Television Service and Indigenous Screen Australia.

Highly regarded across various fields, Cilla was included in the 2008-2015 edition of Who’s Who of Australian Women, and has been awarded an array of accolades including: Northern Territory Businesswoman of the Year (2011) Community and Government Sector, Certificate of Recognition in Aboriginal Leadership from the Department of Attorney General and Justice, Northern Territory Correctional Services, Northern Territory award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership in 2020 and was a state finalist for the Australian Leader & Excellence Award. Cilla was also featured in a book in 2014 called "The Climb" written by Geraldine Doogue on the 14 top women leaders in Australia.

Hear from Priscilla is Session 4: Doing justice differently – what’s working and why? here.