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Five questions to Murray Saylor: this week on IndigenousX Five questions to Murray Saylor: this week on IndigenousX
(about 2 months later)
Tell us about yourselfTell us about yourself
I am a proud Torres Strait Islander man whose family still reside on Darnley Island (Erub), which marks the eastern edge of the Torres Strait. I realised at a young age I wanted to break the welfare cycle and challenge the negative stereotypes about Indigenous Australians and create my own destiny. I completed my business degree as a mature aged student at James Cook University, Townsville, which kickstarted my professional career. I am a proud Torres Strait Islander man whose family still reside on Darnley Island (Erub), which marks the eastern edge of the Torres Strait. I realised at a young age I wanted to break the welfare cycle and challenge the negative stereotypes about Indigenous Australians and create my own destiny. I completed my business degree as a mature aged student at James Cook University, Townsville, which kickstarted my professional career.
I have worked for over 15 years within strategic and operational roles within the public and private sector. Along with other aspiring Indigenous graduates, I completed the Atsic (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission) graduate program and was transferred to another department once Atsic was disbanded.I have worked for over 15 years within strategic and operational roles within the public and private sector. Along with other aspiring Indigenous graduates, I completed the Atsic (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission) graduate program and was transferred to another department once Atsic was disbanded.
I have worked on state and federal government strategic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy and program initiatives, including working hand in hand with remote Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities.I have worked on state and federal government strategic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy and program initiatives, including working hand in hand with remote Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities.
In recent years I’ve worked in the mining resource sector in the areas of supply chain management and procurement with Rio Tinto and Anglo American Coal.In recent years I’ve worked in the mining resource sector in the areas of supply chain management and procurement with Rio Tinto and Anglo American Coal.
I’m now living in Brisbane, managing my own business, Tagai Management Consultants, which specialises in providing a broad range of management consultancy services to small and medium enterprises, government agencies, resource sector companies, communities and other customers seeking a collaborative results driven service provider. My journey is to share knowledge with others, and facilitate empowering partnerships with people, communities and businesses creating their own destiny.I’m now living in Brisbane, managing my own business, Tagai Management Consultants, which specialises in providing a broad range of management consultancy services to small and medium enterprises, government agencies, resource sector companies, communities and other customers seeking a collaborative results driven service provider. My journey is to share knowledge with others, and facilitate empowering partnerships with people, communities and businesses creating their own destiny.
What do you plan on talking about on IndigenousX this week?What do you plan on talking about on IndigenousX this week?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture has kept alive and vibrant by sharing our stories, history, language and dance. I strongly encourage everyone to share the information that will be posted during the week. I will be talking about a myriad of topics but three areas will be my focus:Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture has kept alive and vibrant by sharing our stories, history, language and dance. I strongly encourage everyone to share the information that will be posted during the week. I will be talking about a myriad of topics but three areas will be my focus:
Indigenous Business: There is so much to talk about in the Indigenous business arena and I will be sharing various good news stories, business tools and initiatives from around the country, including my business journey. Indigenous Business: There is so much to talk about in the Indigenous business arena and I will be sharing various good news stories, business tools and initiatives from around the country, including my business journey.
Naidoc week: As my tenure as IndigenousX host coincides with Naidoc week, I will be sharing the various Naidoc week events and I encourage everyone to share what’s happening in their community. Naidoc week: As my tenure as IndigenousX host coincides with Naidoc week, I will be sharing the various Naidoc week events and I encourage everyone to share what’s happening in their community.
Torres Strait Islander culture: I will also be sharing stories, images, clips and other aspects of Torres Strait Islander culture from all regions of the Torres Strait Island communities. Torres Strait Islander culture: I will also be sharing stories, images, clips and other aspects of Torres Strait Islander culture from all regions of the Torres Strait Island communities.
What issue(s) affecting Indigenous peoples are you most passionate about?What issue(s) affecting Indigenous peoples are you most passionate about?
There are various issues that I am passionate about but we don’t have enough space to include them! Dear to my heart is the government funding reliance for our people and communities. When we were colonised, our ancestors were paid in flour, tobacco and sugar (if they were lucky). We are in the new millennium and there is still a reliance on government funding rations for survival. There are various issues that I am passionate about but we don’t have enough space to include them! Dear to my heart is the government funding reliance for our people and communities. When we were colonised, our ancestors were paid in flour, tobacco and sugar (if they were lucky). We are in the new millennium and there is still a reliance on government funding rations for survival.
There are inspiring stories of economic development (community and/or personal) but in the main government funds are still the main source of income. Material possessions were not what our Indigenous culture was built on – that was a western ideology.There are inspiring stories of economic development (community and/or personal) but in the main government funds are still the main source of income. Material possessions were not what our Indigenous culture was built on – that was a western ideology.
Who are your role models, and why?Who are your role models, and why?
My motivation is sourced from my Athe (grandfather) who would share myths and legends of our great spirits and leaders while we would be hunting in the shallows of the reefs against a backdrop of a glorious sunset. As a teenager, the music of Bob Marley and the words of Martin Luther King Jnr inspired me and made sense to me in a world that I was trying to find myself within.My motivation is sourced from my Athe (grandfather) who would share myths and legends of our great spirits and leaders while we would be hunting in the shallows of the reefs against a backdrop of a glorious sunset. As a teenager, the music of Bob Marley and the words of Martin Luther King Jnr inspired me and made sense to me in a world that I was trying to find myself within.
As an adult and father my greatest role models are my children as their laughter uplifts me and motivated me to establish my business. I want them to know that you can achieve your dreams and make a difference by thinking outside the box.As an adult and father my greatest role models are my children as their laughter uplifts me and motivated me to establish my business. I want them to know that you can achieve your dreams and make a difference by thinking outside the box.
What are your hopes for the future?What are your hopes for the future?
My hope is that the rights of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to our land, culture and language are formally recognised. I look forward to a day when our communities and people have greater economic independence and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture is equally taught in the education system. My hope is that the rights of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to our land, culture and language are formally recognised. I look forward to a day when our communities and people have greater economic independence and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture is equally taught in the education system.