October 2026
We're excited to welcome Wesley Gleeson as our new First Nations Engagement Officer, bringing more than 15 years of public service experience spanning Aboriginal affairs, policy development and community engagement.
With a strong belief in building on the strengths of Aboriginal communities, Wes is looking forward to working alongside the Hub's partners, First Nations Engagement Group and communities across southern NSW to support greater cultural, social and economic resilience.
We caught up with Wes to learn more about his background, what attracted him to the role and his priorities for the months ahead.
Tell us a little about yourself and your background
I'm a Murri man with family connections to Barrungam and Mandandanji Country in south-west Queensland. I was born in Sydney but have spent most of my life living in rural and regional NSW, so I feel very connected to and at home in country communities.
I currently live in Bathurst with my wife and our two young children, an eight-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl.
I've spent about 15 years working in the public service, including the past decade with Aboriginal Affairs NSW and the Aboriginal Languages Trust. My roles have covered everything from working directly with communities on the South Coast, including during the recovery from the Black Summer bushfires, through to policy development and implementation at a state level.
What attracted you to the role with the Southern NSW Innovation Hub?
One of the things that really appealed to me was the Hub's approach to First Nations engagement.
Quite often, Aboriginal programs and initiatives are framed through a deficit lens, focusing on the challenges facing communities. What interested me about the Hub was its focus on community strengths and how we can build on those.
That includes supporting cultural continuity, creating opportunities for economic participation and recognising the land management knowledge and skills that Aboriginal people have developed over tens of thousands of years.
Aboriginal communities have lived through different weather systems and changing climates, continually adapting and managing Country. There's an enormous amount of knowledge and experience there that can contribute to building resilience.
I believe that strong Aboriginal communities benefit everyone, particularly across rural and regional NSW.
Having worked both directly with communities and in policy development, what have those experiences taught you about meaningful engagement?
Working directly with communities on the South Coast was an incredibly valuable part of my career. It reinforced for me that one of the key ingredients of a successful program is having community involved in both its planning and delivery.
More recently, through my policy work with Aboriginal Affairs NSW and the Aboriginal Languages Trust, I've seen the same principle apply at a different level.
Whether you're developing a policy or delivering a project on the ground, involving Aboriginal people in the decisions that affect them leads to better outcomes.
I'm hoping to bring both perspectives to the Hub: an understanding of community engagement and relationships, alongside experience in how policies and programs are developed and implemented.
Looking ahead, what would you like successful First Nations engagement at the Hub to look like?
For me, success would mean having an understanding of First Nations issues and a respect for First Nations knowledge embedded across the everyday work of the Hub.
There's often discussion about Aboriginal ways of knowing, doing and being. I think an important part of that is simply recognising and respecting that Aboriginal knowledge exists, that it has value, and considering how it can be incorporated where appropriate.
The Hub already has a strong foundation in its understanding of and respect for First Nations perspectives.
