Governance
The National Centre for Indigenous Genomics (NCIG) is led by an Indigenous-majority Board, ensuring Indigenous control over the NCIG Collection of biospecimens. Protected by the 2021 Statute, the Board oversees ethical use, community engagement, research access, and governance policies, ensuring transparency and benefit for Indigenous communities nationally and internationally.
Informed by Community. Guided by Indigenous wisdom.
NCIG is governed by an external Indigenous-majority Board, reflecting our commitment that Indigenous peoples must lead decision-making regarding their data and knowledge systems. At NCIG, Indigenous leadership is not a symbolic gesture but the foundation of all strategic direction and governance. The University has permanently protected this commitment to Indigenous-led governance through its National Centre for Indigenous Genomics Statute 2021.
About the Statute
Statute was first established in 2016, with minor amendments made in 2021. It key features are:
- to place a unique historical collection of Indigenous biospecimens (called the NCIG Collection) under Indigenous custodianship (the NCIG Board);
- to structure the Board as an Indigenous-led and Indigenous-majority entity;
- to charge the NCIG board with the responsibility to manage and grow the collection; develop policies to ensure the ethical, transparent use of the collection; oversee strategic direction; and promote the collection as a national and international resource.
View the NCIG Statute on the Federal Register of Legislation
About the Board
The NCIG Board consists of 10 members. The Chair of the Board and the majority of members must be Indigenous persons. The University appoints two members. The remaining eight members are appointed as members recommended by the Board.
An esteemed roster of scientists, ethicists, health practitioners, and policy and governance experts – Indigenous and non-Indigenous – has served proudly on the Board. The current Board is chaired by Ngunnawal Elder Dr Caroline Hughes AM. Learn more about the NCIG Board , and our alumni.
Our Policy Framework
Successive Boards of NCIG have established a succinct suite of policies to give effect to the Statute. The Governance Framework sets out the NCIG’s principles and policies for:
- Indigenous Community Engagement
- Ethical oversight of the Collection and research using the Collection
- Additions to the Collection
- Access to the Collection for research
- Media and communication
- Publication of academic papers
- Conflicts of interest