NIYMA

Latest News From NIYMA

2nd July 2009

Dear Friends and Supporters of NIYMA,

As many of you would acknowledge, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are now living in a fast-changing political climate. After 11 years of the oppressive environment that the Howard Government created, we as Indigenous people have a unique opportunity to start afresh and define for ourselves how we want to move forward as a people, rather than have others define that for us. As NIYMA continues to maintain, young Indigenous people should be at the forefront of this leadership push and we have spent considerable time building the organisation so that it can facilitate, where able and needed, real and credible involvement in the struggle for young people.

In 2009, we believe that this building of the organisation has led NIYMA to a critical turning point.

As such, we would like to inform you of the key changes within NIYMA and seek your continued support for the organisation.

Changes to the Executive
It is with sadness, but also great love and affection that we farewell our Chair, Adele Cox. Adele has been the Chair of NIYMA since 2006 and has provided a steadying hand and dedicated leadership to the organisation. Many words have been used to describer her - intelligent, strong, compassionate, amazing - but without a doubt she is all of these things, summed up as a true Leader. We wish Adele all the very best in her future and thank her for the strong leadership she has selflessly given NIYMA. Without a doubt, she has left her indelible mark on the organisation and we are more than happy to be left with her legacy.

Likewise, we sadly farewell our dear brother Billy Gordon who has provided constant leadership, vast knowledge and true inspiration to us all. Without Billy's vision, NIYMA would not be where it is today and we thank him for his commitment to the organisation over the years. Billy has provided innovative leadership and strategic vision to NIYMA, first as a Founder of the organisation and more recently as an Executive Committee Member. We sincerely wish Billy all the best in to the future and thank him for his pioneering contributions to NIYMA. His strength of belief in the organisation has never wavered and we look forward to his continued support of NIYMA from outside the organisation.

It is with acknowledgement of past leadership and our commitment to carrying on the legacy of those before us that we announce the new leadership team for NIYMA. It has been resolved by Tim Goodwin, Genie (Eugenia) Flynn and Peter Beath, as remaining Executive Members, that Tim will serve as Chair and Genie as Deputy Chair, effective immediately. Peter will continue as Executive Member until such time as a replacement Member is appointed.

Movement Forward
With the new leadership in place, we thank and honour past leaders of the organisation for building NIYMA's capacity and clout. As a result of this previous leadership, NIYMA is now in a position to have the new leadership team take the organisation into the next stage of expanding NIYMA's work program. This will involve two key phases:

• Phase One will involve the new leadership team undertaking some initial strategic planning, with help from key/strategic advisors. As part of this phase, we are inviting NIYMA's members to provide their vision for the organisation. We are committed to ensuring that their views are considered during our initial strategic planning.
  
• Phase Two involves the new leadership team pulling together an expanded Board. Once this expanded Board is in place, more strategic planning will be undertaken. We intend to keep you, our supporters, updated on this second phase.

Once again, we would like to thank Adele, Billy and all of NIYMA's prior leaders for their vision, leadership and hard work. As we move in to this next exciting stage in NIYMA's growth, we would also like to thank you for your support and contribution to the organisation. Please do not hesitate to contact us about these exciting new developments via email info@niyma.org or via phone - Tim Goodwin: 0404 849 259, Genie Flynn: 0411 899 183.

In Spirit,
Tim Goodwin - Chair
Genie Flynn - Deputy Chair
Peter Beath - Executive Committee Member