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First Nations lawyer joins CQU Council
A Cairns pro bono solicitor has been named the newest member of CQUniversity’s governing council, seven years after graduating from CQU with a bachelor of laws.
Lauren Croft
Nareeta Davis will join the CQU Council officially on 1 July, after graduating from CQU in 2017.
“Since those days, coming onto Cairns campus with my little kids, juggling all my books and my job and everything, CQU has become family to me. Starting right at the bottom, and getting through that journey – I’m excited to bring that perspective to council, the student perspective, as well as my professional perspective,” she said.
“You might think joining council puts me at the top of the university, but I don’t see it like that – we are there to serve the students, and especially those who need support to get into uni, and to get through it.”
Davis is a descendant of the Purga Mission from Ipswich and has cultural connections to the Kullilli Thargomindah people and the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people. She is also a pro bono lawyer and First Nations adviser at Holding Redlich and said she was determined to advocate for inclusion and accessibility within CQU.
“My studies changed my life, and I’ve got so much admiration for CQUniversity – so I bring a lot of passion to council,” she said.
“My life journey has always been and continues to be that of supporting those in need, showing kindness and surrounding myself with people who have those same values. I am a very down-to-earth and grounded person, and I know that this will be welcomed with open arms by CQUniversity as the university has those same values.
“CQUniversity Council is a big job, and it will connect me to thousands of students and to communities across Australia – and to work with them to make the university a better place, and the world a better place, you need to be grounded.”
CQU chancellor Graeme Innes AM first revealed her appointment at the recent Cairns graduation event and said CQUniversity valued Davis’ contribution to the CQU community as an alumnus and advocate.
“CQUniversity is proud to be Australia’s most accessible and inclusive university, and Nareeta’s inspiring career pathway highlights how regional Australians, and mature-aged students, and people from every background can soar, if they can access an opportunity like our STEPS program,” Innes said.
“Nareeta’s connection to her community, and her passion to empower people around her, makes her a perfect fit for council.
“CQU’s vision for reconciliation is for all Australians to work together to address injustice and provide equality of opportunity, and I know Ms Davis’ insight and leadership can help us drive a tertiary education sector that truly embraces the knowledge and strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”
Lauren Croft
Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.
