ILC CEO John Maher said the Board was pleased to announce Mrs Button’s promotion to the role and looked forward to working closely with her to deliver the ILC’s strategic repositioning agenda in 2018.

“Tricia’s appointment signals the renewed focus on our core mandate, as the new Board and Executive challenges the ILC to reset its agenda to strategically invest in Indigenous-held land to foster prosperity and empowerment for Indigenous Australians,” Mr Maher said.

“We will do this through our unique nation-building role in creating opportunities for Indigenous Australians through sustainable land ownership and management. Strong leadership within the ILC is critical to seeing us meet our objectives.”

Mrs Button brings dynamic leadership qualities to the role, complemented by her extensive experience in Indigenous Affairs, having spent more than 20 years in State and Federal Government.

Mrs Button joined the ILC in 2015 as the divisional manager of the Eastern Division and was subsequently appointed executive director Program Delivery, driving land acquisitions, land management, landholding and land grants nation-wide.

As deputy CEO Mrs Button will be focussing on the operational aspect of the ILC and the organisation’s core mandate to deliver on land acquisition and land management whilst maintaining a strong commitment to cultural and environmental protection of Indigenous assets.

This includes making a greater impact across Indigenous Australia by establishing new opportunities for the ILC within its priority sectors; agribusiness, tourism, niche markets, renewables, and urban investment.

Mrs Button said her vision for the ILC is to strengthen the organisation’s position as a champion, enabler and noble supporter of the future of the Indigenous Estate.

“We have a role to take our economic and social impact to another level – 40 per cent of the country is in Indigenous hands – protecting that cultural knowledge and intellectual property is extremely privileged work. Central to supporting Indigenous groups is land ownership and management and the rights, benefits and opportunities they bring,” she said.

“As the peak agency for managing the Indigenous Estate, we empower Indigenous Australians by linking them with global markets and real economic opportunities, and hence fostering cultural and community outcomes.”

Mrs Button is Kungarakan (Finniss River) and Warumungu (Tennant Creek) with large and extended family connections throughout the Northern Territory. As a senior businesswomen, she is seen as a role model by her peers and young Indigenous and non-Indigenous women.

“I have been blessed having always had support and sponsorship from some remarkable women and I believe we have an obligation to create a sisterhood and support network to ensure we pave the way for future generations,” Mrs Button said.

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For more media information, please contact 
Peter Keough | Public Affairs Officer | Indigenous Land Corporation
Adelaide Office  |  www.ilc.gov.au
P: 08 8100 7106  0409 090 852