Help lead a Traditional Owner-led initiative driving systems change towards an empowered future for Healthy Reef and Healthy People!

• Identified positions for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates (must be a Reef Traditional Owner to apply).
• Flexible Location – preference for Queensland within the Reef catchment.
• Fixed-term appointment until 31/10/2026
• May require occasional travel.

About ReefTO

The Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owner Taskforce (ReefTO) is a Traditional Owner-led initiative dedicated to the health, management, and protection of the Great Barrier Reef. ReefTO honours the decades of work by Elders to assert their cultural authority and rights to sea country and to drive genuine partnerships across the Reef.

Guided by the Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Implementation Plan (TO Implementation Plan), ReefTO focuses on six critical areas: climate change, land & coast, sea country, partnerships and capacity, knowledge systems, and investment.

ReefTO has three key objectives over the next 2-3 years:

• Engage with Traditional Owners to establish a Sea Country Alliance.
• Oversee strategic policy and capacity building actions in the TO Implementation Plan.
• Monitor and report on the delivery of actions in the TO Implementation Plan.

ReefTO is hosted by Pollination Foundation until a Sea Country Alliance is set up.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Are you an organisational wizard with a knack for creating unforgettable, on-brand experiences? ReefTO is on the lookout for an Events Manager superstar to join our passionate team, driving transformational change for Reef Traditional Owners!

As our Event Manager, you'll be at the core of our mission, collaborating closely with the General Manager, the ReefTO leadership team, and the ReefTO Taskforce to plan and execute an incredible Sea Country Summit for Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef in September 2026. But that’s not all! There will be other smaller events along the way that you’ll support on to keep things interesting.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

Event Coordination and Logistics

• Develop a comprehensive plan for event organisation, including timing, budget, communication, and service providers.

Programming and Content Curation

• Support the General Manager and Taskforce Members in planning event programming and curation.

Sponsorship Management

• Identify potential sponsors and create sponsorship packages.
• Maintain relationships with sponsors to secure funding and support for the event.

Coordination of Creative Experiences

• Manage the process for collecting and curating event artwork, stories, and an event song.

Budget Management

• Develop event budgets, seek quotes, contribute to the development of RFQs and scope documents, and track expenditure.

Community Engagement/Social Event Coordination

• Plan and coordinate social aspects of the event, such as field trips and closing events.
• Engage with the community to encourage participation in the creative initiatives and foster a sense of involvement and excitement around the event.

ABOUT YOU

We're looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic (not to mention super-organised) event maestro with a passion for creating unforgettable experiences! If you have a knack for coordinating events with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities, we want you on our team. You should be a logistics wizard, able to spot gaps and risks in event plans with ease. Communication is key, so bring your top-notch writing and analytical skills and your polished confidence in negotiating with external service providers.

Got a flair for event programming and designing content for different audiences? That's a huge plus! We're after someone with deadly organisational skills who can juggle quotes, briefs, and spreadsheets like a pro. Familiarity with Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) is a bonus, but not a dealbreaker. Most importantly, you should be a people person, able to build strong relationships at all levels, and bring an infectious positive attitude and diligent work ethic to our team. If this sounds like you, let's create magic events together!

workplace culture

We are committed to building a strong, agile team and to fostering a positive, flexible and supportive work culture. We are a small team – we think it is important to have each other’s back and for us all to be aligned and working towards a shared vision and goals. To achieve this, we need different points of view, and we encourage the team to respectfully disagree and challenge one another.

ReefTO is supportive of flexible working arrangements. This includes consideration of preferences to work-from-home and/or in an office, job share arrangements, and of course, appropriate leave entitlements to enable team members to fulfil cultural and family responsibilities. What is important to you in terms of flexible working arrangements? Let us know!

How to Apply

Apply directly through our ReefTO careers page by clicking 'Apply Now' to submit your application by the closing date.

To perform this role, it is essential that the person is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person. It is therefore a genuine occupational requirement under section 25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991. Applications will only be considered from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

A position description is attached.