Pat Anderson

Biography

Pat Anderson is an Alyawarre woman known nationally and internationally as an advocate for the rights and health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. She was Chair of the Lowitja Institute, Australia’s only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health research institute, for almost 20 years, and has extensive experience in Aboriginal health, including community development, policy formation and research ethics. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2014 for distinguished service to the Indigenous community as a social justice advocate, particularly through promoting improved health, and educational and protection outcomes for children. She was Co-Chair of the Referendum Council that released its final report in 2017 and has since led the work of the Uluru Dialogue in partnership with the ILC UNSW. In 2022 she was a co-recipient of the Sydney Peace Prize for the Uluru Statement from the Heart.