Tania Major

Tania Major, a proud Kokoberra woman from the remote community of Kowanyama in Cape York, Queensland, has dedicated her life to advocating for Indigenous rights and social justice in Australia. Born and raised in Kowanyama, she made history as the youngest person ever elected to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) in 2004. Tania’s journey began with her pursuit of a criminology degree at Griffith University, where she became the first from her community to achieve a university education.

Tania gained national prominence for her fearless advocacy against social issues plaguing Indigenous communities, including domestic violence, alcoholism, and youth suicide. She courageously lifted the “blanket of shame” that obscured these issues from public view, urging both media and politicians, including former Prime Minister John Howard, to address the urgent needs of her people. 
In 2007, Tania Major was honoured as the Young Australian of the Year, recognising her exceptional leadership and advocacy. She continued to champion Indigenous rights through roles such as Youth Ambassador at the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership, where she focused on ending welfare dependency and improving health and education outcomes for Indigenous Australians. Tania also spoke to the media and politicians about sexual violence and rape, appearing on television programs such as Four Corners and Sixty Minutes.

Since 2010, Tania has served as the Managing Director of ‘Tania Major Consulting’, a company dedicated to fostering cross-cultural understanding and positive change across Australia. Her work spans from remote communities to urban centres, collaborating with businesses, government agencies, schools, and service organisations to build bridges of understanding between cultures. 

Tania’s unwavering commitment to achieving equity for Aboriginal Australians has earned her numerous accolades, including being named Queensland's Young Australian of the Year in 2006, and receiving international recognition as one of 10 outstanding young persons of the world from Junior Chamber International in 2008. She continues to inspire as a beacon of hope and resilience, demonstrating that through understanding and collaboration, a fairer and more inclusive Australia in within reach.