2022 Solomon Lecture
The Office of the Information Commissioner is pleased to present Iam Hamm delivering the 2022 Solomon Lecture on ‘The importance of truth through Aboriginal eyes.’
The importance of information has never been greater and universally it is interpreted as the transparency and accountability of government. This is incredibly important given the amount of information and data that exists and continues to expand in the modern world. But what information matters, beyond the accepted situation, to Aboriginal people? What is the information unknown that Aboriginal people want to hear and need heard? In this talk, Ian will look at information through the eyes of the Aboriginal community at a macro and micro level. He will discuss truth telling and its implications for Australia as a nation and what benefits it brings us all (macro), and also discuss the importance of knowing your own story through the eyes of the stolen children (micro) in trying to make sense of your life.
Following Ian’s presentation he joined a panel discussion with Rose Barrowcliffe (First Nations Archives Advisor, Queensland State Archives) and Patricia Thompson AM (CEO of Link-Up Queensland). The panel discussion was moderated by well-known journalist Rhianna Patrick.
The Solomon Lecture has become an integral part of International Access to Information Day activities held annually on 28 September.
About Ian Hamm
A Yorta Yorta man, Ian has extensive government and community sector experience, particularly at executive and governance levels.
Ian worked for both the Australian and Victorian government in a career spanning more than 32 years, across a range of diverse portfolios, including Defence, Health, Justice and Aboriginal Affairs. He spent nearly 20 of those years at executive level, leading reform, policy development and program implementation, particularly in Aboriginal Affairs for the Victorian government.
The highlight for Ian as a public servant was being Deputy Director, then Executive Director of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (2004-2012), the then lead agency on Aboriginal matters for the Victorian government while significant reforms were developed and implemented. Some these include the development and implementation of the Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Framework, Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006, the Victorian Traditional Owners Settlement Act 2010, the Local Aboriginal Networks initiative, the Aboriginal Governance Program and the Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll.
After leaving Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, Ian led the development and implementation of the Victorian Aboriginal Economic Strategy, and the wider Economic Inclusion Framework for the Victorian government. He left government at the end of 2018 having “done everything I wanted to do”.
Ian began his work as non-executive director in 2000, when he was elected to the board of the Western Region Football League, one of the big community Australian Rules Football competitions in Melbourne. In 2002, Ian was elected president of the WRFL and served in that role till the end of 2007. Over the 6 years as president, the WRFL went through significant change from the board down, so by the end of Ian’s tenure, the league was financially secure, well governed and managed, and seen as a leader in expected behavioural standards.
In 2010, at the request of the Victorian Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Ian established Connecting Home Ltd, the Victorian Stolen Generations service. From 2012 onwards, Ian was appointed to a number of boards, including Aboriginal Housing Victoria, the First Nations Foundation, Tigers in Community Foundation (Richmond FC) and the Australian Red Cross.
After leaving government at the end of 2018, Ian embarked on making non-executive directorship his primary occupation / profession. Ian decided on this as it allows him to contribute to the strategic reform and progression of organisations, especially in the NFP and Public Purpose sectors. This fits well with Ian’s deep commitment to improving the life experience of ordinary people, by giving voice to the unheard and opportunity to the un-noticed. Specifically, and because of his experience in government, Ian is able bring a long view to vision, strategy and planning, often focussing on 10 year plus outlooks.