Jacki Turfrey, Board Member
Jacki Turfrey is a proud Palawa woman who has lived and worked in Victoria for 37 years.
Jacki is qualified in law, graduating with honours from the University of Melbourne in 1999 and has been admitted to practise law for more than 24 years. She also has a Graduate Diploma in Equal Opportunity Administration.
Jacki has lived in Western Australia, working with the Yawuru Native Title Holders in negotiations with the WA government. In addition to her official role as a lead negotiator, Jacki set up the corporate entities and governance structures of the Yawuru corporate group and ran the group operations as CEO.
Jacki joined the Bar Roll in Victoria as a commercial barrister in 2011 and in 2013, she became the Director of the Koori Justice Unit and established the Koori Women’s Diversion program in Mildura. In 2016, Jacki moved to Aboriginal Victoria as the Director for Treaty to start the critical work that has led to the establishment of the First People of Victoria Assembly.
Jacki continued as a barrister in 2017 in Mildura across all jurisdictions and expanded her practise into criminal law and child protection. She is an accredited mediator and has conducted mediations for state and local government, courts and various Aboriginal groups and entities across Victoria. Jacki was the CEO of Mallee District Aboriginal Services from 2019 to 2022 and now is a senior executive with Haven Home Safe.
Jacki was a Director on Aboriginal Housing Victoria from 2003 to 2014, leading the transition of that entity from a co-operative to an independent company, taking ownership and control of the Victorian Government’s Aboriginal Housing rental stock. She was also a Director on the Worawa Aboriginal College Board from 2016 to 2017. Jacki recently retired as a director on the Mallee Catchment Management Authority.
