Career
He was a senior elder of the Wangurri Aboriginal clan of the Yolngu people. He was responsible for a number of traditional and ceremonial activities on behalf of his clan and the East Arnhem Land/Yirrkala Aboriginal community. He served as Chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), appointed on 6 December 1996 to 2000.
In 1984 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to the Aboriginal community.
Chairman of the Batchelor College Council, Northwest Territories
Director of the Board of the Indigenous Land Corporation
Director of the Board of the Land Enterprise Australia
General Manager of Yirrkala Business Enterprises in Nhulunbuy
Chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commercial Development Corporation
Director of the Henry Walker Group.
