Dr. Vanessa Lee-Ah Mat (Lee), from the Meriam and Yupungathi peoples, is a visionary leader and spatial and analytical thinker with over 15 years of experience in driving policy, strategy, and cultural inclusion. Vanessa has a PhD in medical science. Dr. Lee-Ah Mat (Lee) has held key governance roles, including Chair of the RUOK? First Nations Advisory Board and director at Suicide Prevention Australia. As National VP on the Public Health Association board for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs, she influenced national policy and parliamentary submissions. Through her leadership in the Public Health Indigenous Leadership in Education Network, Vanessa contributed to public health higher education reform.
Vanessa is a co-founder of Miam Nayri Wingara Data Sovereignty Collective, where she has championed ethical, community-controlled data practices and Indigenous data rights. Dr. Lee-Ah Mat (Lee) served on the subcommittee on Indigenous Data Governance at the National Indigenous Advancement Agency to develop the national framework for the collection, management, and use of Indigenous data. Vanessa’s work with the First Nations-HPF and the National Advisory Group on Indigenous Health Informatics and Data has enhanced Indigenous identification in national data collections and informed key reports on child safety and health outcomes.
Internationally, Dr. Lee-Ah Mat represented Oceania on the ILGA World Board, advocating for changes in laws regarding homosexuality, remuneration to board members, and the inclusion of Indigenous kinship in definitions of coercive control.
Vanessa’s leadership is marked by a strong commitment to cultural empowerment and effective inclusive governance.