Jaymee Beveridge, is a proud Indigenous women and UOW’s Executive Director of Indigenous Strategy and the Director of Woolyungah Indigenous Centre (WIC). She has worked within the public service sector in community agencies for over 18 years, as well as leading and managing multi-disciplinary teams in the non-government and not for profit human services sector. Jaymee continually works to support mob as well as be an exemplary role model and leader within the community.
Jaymee’s leadership and dedication to the community has led her to be the recipient of the Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation Scholarship for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women leaders in Australia. The recipients of this year’s scholarship are all leaders and positive role models for Indigenous Australian women and have a passion for creating significant social change. This scholarship gives recipients the opportunity to study at Harvard to further develop their leadership skills and deepen their ability to create positive change in the community.
Jaymee was sent the information for this scholarship by two very successful non-Indigenous executive women. After contemplating whether she should apply, she came to realise the impact that winning this opportunity would have, not only for her but also her children, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander woman in general and the entire Indigenous student and alumni cohort. Jaymee has faced many adversities and experienced traumatic life events, however, she never let her struggles define her or hold her back from being a community role model.
“I hope to show younger Indigenous woman that, yes - you can be an executive woman in a massive white organisation with a global reach. Essentially, I hope the notion of ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’ is reduced in all realms of higher education, including attending university and even working within the academy.”