Elley Blacklock

Background

About Elley Blacklock

Elley Blacklock is a proud Ngarabal, Nucoorilma and Biripi woman with strong connections to north-west NSW and across Sydney, where she was born and continues to reside. Elley has held executive and strategic leadership roles across Aboriginal Community-Controlled and not-for-profit organisations, NSW Government, and the corporate sector. She holds qualifications in Social Work and a Master of Indigenous Business Leadership from Monash University.Most recently, Elley served as Acting Executive Director of the Aboriginal Languages Trust, working under the direction of the Trust Board and leading the agency through a period of growth, with a focus on strong governance, strategic planning and operational systems.Elley is currently Principal Advisor to the CEO at the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, sitting within the Executive Leadership Team. In this role, she provides strategic advice and support across key priorities, with a focus on governance, policy, stakeholder engagement and whole-of-organisation impact.Elley has led critical reform work in child protection, including as part of the original team supporting the Family is Culture Review chaired by Professor Megan Davis, reviewing the experiences of more than 1,100 Aboriginal children in out-of-home care. She later supported the Department of Communities and Justice to lead the implementation of its systemic response.Elley played a key role in establishing and delivering the Aboriginal Languages Trust, the first Aboriginal-led NSW Government agency of its kind, supporting a coordinated and sustained effort to protect, strengthen and revitalise Aboriginal Languages across NSW.Elley is deeply committed to truth-telling, Community-led decision making, and walking alongside Aboriginal Communities to support self-determination and strong futures.