Smith to take lead Native Title role

Former National Native Title Council (NNTC) Chair and Deputy Chair and Queensland South Native Title Services (QSNTS) CEO Kevin Smith (pictured) has been named the first Indigenous President of the National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) by Attorney General Mark Dreyfus.

Mr Smith has three decades of professional experience in Indigenous Affairs and is a Native Title holder.

“I warmly congratulate my colleague and former deputy chair on his appointment,” NNTC chair Kado Muir said.

“This is a momentous occasion for Australia and for our native title community, as a highly regarded, well respected professional Indigenous mind takes over the reins of this significant national institution.”

“A loss for ‘our side’ but a gain for the wider community, as we can look forward with confidence that the Native Title sector will be guided by very capable, diligent and safe hands.”

NNTC CEO, Jamie Lowe agreed.

“Kevin has worked through the ranks in the Native Title sector and knows the system fundamentally back to front,” he said.

“To have someone who is a lawyer, a highly experienced senior executive within the native title sector, highly respected by First Nations communities with an innate cultural understanding, heralds an exciting future for native title.”

QSNTS deputy chair Bradley Saunders also congratulated Mr Smith.

“Under Kevin’s visionary guidance, QSNTS has provided excellent service to its constitutes and developed a suite of services that will continue to assist First Nations Peoples to achieve more positive native title outcomes and to look after their Native Title for the benefit of future generations,” he said.

“While QSNTS will miss Kevin we are confident that with the foundations he has put in place, the organisation will continue to grow and assist its constituents on their native title journey.”

Qualified in both law and legal management from the

University of Queensland, Kevin was admitted as a solicitor in 1994.

Mr Smith has contributed significantly to the development of law and policy as a member of Expert Technical Advisory Groups on reform of the Native Title Act and the national legislative response to strengthen the protection of Indigenous Cultural Heritage following the Jukkan Gorge outrage.

He has held senior positions with the National Secretariat of Torres Strait Islander Organisations, the Brisbane Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service, the National Native Title Tribunal and Aboriginal Hostels Limited.

He holds traditional connections to Ugar (Stephen Island) and Erub (Darnley Island).

Pic by Gemima Harvey.