Jude Ketchell comes from the saltwater people of Erub, Kemer Kemer Meriam Nation, connected with Wakaid tribe, Badu Island and Koedal Clan, Saibai island. Jude comes from a line of strong women, who were her first teachers and storytellers, women who passed on “gud pasin” values that equipped Jude for her life’s work. Her work has been about enabling our own people to represent and embrace change; people to become champions, advocates, thinkers, action people, people who can build nations of good leaders to protect our country.
Jude is a former school principal who worked at the local to national level in the education industry but retired from her Executive Principal role in 2019. More recently, Jude has used her consultancy business to influence Indigenous leadership, Indigenous women and youth agendas in her region. Jude has co-authored these publications:
- Footprints: To Country Kin and Cultures 1997
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education: Introduction to the Teaching Profession 2015
- Improving Schools using Systems Leadership – Turning Intention into Reality, Jan 2020
Jude’s work today is placed where the rainforest meets the sea – spiritual places that brings peace and balance with families– the ideal place to finish writing her own stories for her grandchildren.
