THE Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) last week appointed local leader Cameron Costello as its Chair following the resignation of Prof. Valerie Cooms.
“On behalf of the QYAC Board I want to acknowledge Aunty Val for her decades of service to the Quandamooka People and the past decade as Chair of QYAC,” Mr. Costello said.
“Aunty Val has led the organisation from its infancy and has achieved significant milestones for our people, including the transition from the cessation of sand mining, the joint management of the Naree Budjong Djara National Park, and the 2019 Native Title Determination over Mulgumpin (Moreton Island).
“She also led our people through the COVID 19 challenges and has left a strong and positive legacy for future generations,” Mr Costello said.
Mr Costello brings organisational knowledge as the former QYAC CEO from 2013 to 2020 and was the inaugural Chairperson of Minjerribah Steering Group. He has extensive leadership experience in holding positions on local, state, and national Boards and Committees including the Queensland Tourism Industry Council, the Queensland Government’s Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Legacy Committee, and the Brisbane City Council Reconciliation Action Plan Advisory Group.
“I am humbled to be in this position, and I look forward to working with our Board to engage with community, industry, and Government to create a better outcome for our children’s children through Native Title outcomes,” Mr. Costello said.
The QYAC acts as the agent for the Quandamooka People’s Native Title rights and its interests in land and sea Country. QYAC is also the local registered Cultural Heritage Body under the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 (QLD).
Mr Costello is a Quandamooka traditional owner who says that his people will be First Nation hosts of some of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games venues.
Mr Costello has dedicated his professional life to advocating for the rights of First Nations Peoples.
He has encouraged a robust, equitable and environmentally sustainable society. Cameron additionally, brings a rich 25-year legacy of programs and projects across culture, arts, sport, tourism and the environment, strong connections across community and corporate sector in South East Queensland as well as across the broader state.
Mr Costello has received both the Griffith Business School’s Outstanding First Peoples Alumnus Award and the University of Queensland Indigenous Community Impact Award.
As a qualified lawyer, he has worked previously in the legal sector, is a current member of the UQ Law Advisory Board and was recently appointed to the Queensland Government’s First Nations Consultative Committee to establish a Voice model to the Queensland Parliament.
Mr Costello is currently the Deputy Chair of the Queensland Tourism Council.
