Richmond is delighted to announce Angela Burt's appointment as Director- Indigenous Leadership, a role that will see her lead the Club's Korin Gamadji Institute (KGI).
The proud Palawa woman brings a wealth of experience to the role, having spent two years as the KGI's Head of Programs before moving into the Indigenous Player Development Manager role in 2022, working across Richmond's AFL and AFLW programs.
The KGI was officially opened in 2012 by then Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Its Indigenous-designed and led programming focusses on cultural identity and resilience, empowering young people to shape their own futures.
Burt replaces the outgoing Aaron Clark in the KGI's most senior leadership position, who departs to be Director- First Peoples Engagement with the Commonwealth Games.
Burt will also continue to support the football department and the Club's broader business, including commercial and government relations.
Prior to working at Richmond, Burt spent a year as Indigenous Development Manager at Hawthorn; she also spent five years at Club partner, Swinburne University of Technology, working across various Indigenous education and strategy roles.
Burt, the daughter of North Launceston Football Club games record holder and Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame member Neil Maynard, remains a Ph.D. scholar with Swinburne, highlighting her deep connection with football and passion for Indigenous empowerment and academics.
Reflecting on the honour of being appointed as the Club's first Director of Indigenous Leadership, Burt said that the Club had a rich history of empowering Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people.
"In my time here at Richmond, I have had the pleasure of working at both KGI and in the football department, which has given me a really great understanding of the people that make this place special," she said.
"It is through the connection that they have with each other, with their communities, and with their families that makes this such a culturally safe place to be day-to-day.
"My role within that is to ensure that culture continues and that we (continue to) remove barriers to participation and ensure that Punt Road Oval remains a welcoming place for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people because, without us in the building, it is not quite the same.
"Particularly on the field, without those Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players and our coach (Xavier Clarke) as well, we know that we would not have achieved the success that we have.
"We also look forward to launching the next iteration of our Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) later in the year. Our work in the reconciliation space is a whole of Club responsibility, requiring ongoing education and commitment. With the guidance and expertise of our Reconciliation Advisory Board, I know that we have the capacity and resources to make significant change".
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale added that Burt's appointment was exciting news for the Club.
"Korin Gamadji Institute is such an important part of our Club. It has empowered Indigenous voices, enabled us to listen and learn, and helped establish cultural safety, which is an integral part of high performance," Gale said.
"Angela will build on that legacy. She is an energetic and visionary leader, and we look forward to what lies ahead for the KGI and the broader business.
"I would also like to congratulate Aaron Clark for his outstanding contribution across seven years and wish him all the best for the future. It is always sad to see good people go, but we are thankful for his work across his KGI and the entire Club."
Burt noted her involvement in last year's Laguntas Dance and the KGI 10-year celebrations and rebrand as her highlights at the Club thus far, with the best still yet to come.
