The Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity (AFSE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Damien Miller as the new Executive Director, starting on September 2, 2024. Damien, a Gangulu man from Central Queensland and a Senior Fellow from the 2018 AFSE cohort, joins AFSE from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), where he served as Assistant Secretary of the European Union Branch.
Professor James McCluskey, AFSE Advisory Board Deputy Chair and recent member of the Atlantic Institute Governing Board, expressed his excitement about Damien’s appointment. “Damien’s extensive international experience is invaluable to the program, especially as it continues to grow the community of AFSE Fellows, reach further into the Pacific, and foster stronger relationships between the six other Atlantic Fellowship programs around the world and the Atlantic Institute in Oxford,” said Professor McCluskey. He also thanked the recruitment panel, highlighting Associate Professor Te Kawehau Hoskins, the University of Auckland Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori and AFSE Advisory Board member, for her significant contribution.
Damien has held several high-ranking positions within DFAT, including Australia’s Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States and Minister Counsellor (Strategic Communications) at the Australian Embassy in Washington, DC. In 2013, he made history as the first Indigenous Australian to be appointed head of an overseas mission, serving as Australia’s Ambassador to Denmark, Norway, and Iceland.
“It’s an honour to be appointed Executive Director of AFSE, and I thank the AFSE Advisory Board and Pou for the trust they have placed in me,” said Damien.
Professor Ian Anderson, AFSE Advisory Board Chair, commended the current Executive Director, Professor Elizabeth McKinley, for her leadership and achievements. “On behalf of the Advisory Board, I extend our sincere gratitude to Professor McKinley for her remarkable leadership, which has played a pivotal role in transforming AFSE into the highly regarded and respected program it is today,” said Professor Anderson.
Professor McKinley expressed her enthusiasm for working with Damien to ensure a smooth transition. “It’s wonderful to see one of AFSE’s own Senior Fellows return to the program and take on the role of Executive Director. I look forward to working closely with Damien to ensure a smooth leadership transition,” she said.
About AFSE
The Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity (AFSE) is a transformative fellowship program dedicated to Indigenous social equity in Australia, Aotearoa, and Pacific Island nations. Each year, approximately 20 Fellows from these regions participate in the program, completing a foundational year that includes a Master of Social Change Leadership and the development of individual social change projects. Graduates join the lifelong Global Atlantic Fellows community and begin implementing their projects.
Established in 2016 at the University of Melbourne in partnership with the University of Auckland, AFSE is funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies, a foundation established by the late philanthropist Chuck Feeney. It is part of a network of seven global Atlantic Fellows programs. Over 20 years, AFSE aims to amplify the influence of hundreds of social change makers, connecting them with thousands of peers worldwide.
For more information, visit AFSE’s website.
