Australia’s Professor Megan Davis has been re-elected to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, one of 16 global independent experts to contribute to the panel for the next three years.
Davis, a researcher, teacher and lawyer based at the University of NSW who has worked on Indigenous international advocacy at the UN for more than 15 years, was recently recognised at the NAB Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards as an Inspirational Ambassador.
Having just completed an initial term with the Forum, she was elected for a second term in New York last week at a meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council.
The forum provides expert advice on Indigenous issues, covering economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights. Eight of the 16 experts are nominated by governments and elected by ECOSOC members (including Davis), while eight are nominated by Indigenous NGOs and appointed by the ECOSOC president.
While accepting her Leadership Award in March, Davis acknowledged her key mentors – including her mother – as well as the support of the Indigenous Affairs minister Jenny Macklin in nominating her for the Forum.
“I am in such deep gratitude to Jenny Macklin for choosing a young Indigenous women to take this leadership position when often these positions are taken by men,” she said.
She added that she was inspired by the young woman who put her forward for the Inspirational Ambassador award (mentees were asked to nominate their mentors in this category) because she had encouraged her to see her work with the UN through “fresh eyes”.
“The promise of the UN is about hope and states that individuals can be a better version of what we are now. That’s why I was inspired by the young girl who nominated me for this award,” she said.
“Working for the UN for so long you can get a little jaded and cynical about what impact you can have [through Amy] … I began to see the UN through fresh eyes. That is that it’s an amazing institution working hard to secure peace around the world.”