Dean Parkin

Dean is in keen demand as a speaker and facilitator. From the Quandamooka peoples of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) in Queensland, Dean has strong natural leadership skills.

From 2020 to 2023, Dean was focused on achieving a successful referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament as the CEO of Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition and Campaign Director of YES23 (formerly From the Heart). While that goal was not reached, Dean led a national movement that achieved:

• 6.2 million votes in support, including strong support from remote Indigenous voters across the country
• 60,000 volunteers – many of them first-time – representing the largest political volunteer movement in Australian history
• An increase of awareness of Indigenous disadvantage from 15% to 50% in 10 months

One of Dean’s primary roles was as key spokesperson for the campaign. These engagements covered a spectrum from small community gatherings in remote Australia to national TV, radio and print interviews.

Dean’s leadership in the campaign grew from his role as a co-facilitator of the national dialogue process that resulted in the historic Uluru Statement From The Heart in 2017.

Prior to the referendum campaign, Dean was an investment analyst at alternative asset investment firm Tanarra Capital.

He has broad and deep Indigenous and non-Indigenous networks across the public, corporate, not-for-profit and political sectors at national, regional, and local levels. He has advised a range of clients on strategy, engagement and co-design, and has commercial experience both in Australia and the UK.

Dean has a Bachelor of Arts (Politics and Journalism) from the University of Queensland and a Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of Melbourne. He is a Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Fellowship for Social Equity and is a former director of the Library Board of QLD.