Celebrating 20 Years of Sarah Parriman | KLC Deputy CEO

KLC Deputy CEO Sarah Parriman

20 years of service

Last month marked 20 years of service at the Kimberley Land Council (KLC) for Deputy CEO Sarah Parriman. It’s a remarkable milestone that reflects her enduring commitment to the organisation, its members and the advancement of Kimberley Aboriginal people.

 Sarah is a proud Aboriginal woman of Yawuru and Jabirr Jabirr descent and plays an integral part at the KLC in supporting the strong corporate governance, operations and strategic direction of the organisation.

Sarah has built her career in native title, driven by her strong commitment to Aboriginal advancement and self-determination. She believes Aboriginal people can achieve greater self-determination by leveraging their native title rights and interests to create meaningful economic and social opportunities for their communities.

A career built at the KLC

Sarah’s career with the KLC began in 2000, when she joined the organisation on a short-term contract as a relief receptionist. She quickly found her place at the KLC, taking on a range of administration roles before moving into positions with increasing responsibility.

Sarah spent several years working outside the KLC in the resource industry, where she developed an interest in Human Resources and worked as a Recruitment Officer.

Returning to the KLC in 2006, Sarah’s ambition, strong work ethic and passion for Aboriginal self-determination and advancement saw her career quickly progress. Supported by training and professional development opportunities, including formal study in Human Resources, as well as strong mentoring from Kimberley Aboriginal leaders, Sarah continued to build her skills and experience across the organisation.

She went on to work as a Project Officer supporting the Yawuru ILUA negotiations, Executive Assistant to the Deputy CEO and in other roles within the Corporate Services unit before becoming Corporate Services Manager, leading a team of 14.

Sarah’s breadth of experience and professional development across a range of roles has given her a deep understanding of both the people and operations of the KLC, while building the confidence, knowledge and skills needed to step into leadership. 

In 2021, Sarah was appointed Deputy CEO. In her role, Sarah supports the ongoing operations of the KLC while helping guide the strategic direction of the organisation and working to create a better future for Kimberley Aboriginal people.

Supporting the next generation of leaders

Sarah’s own career has been shaped by the support and mentoring of strong Kimberley Aboriginal leaders, and she is committed to empowering others — particularly young Aboriginal women — to step outside their comfort zones, enter new spaces and embrace challenges.

In 2021, Sarah was selected to participate in the Jawun Emerging Leaders Program. The program provides Indigenous leaders with opportunities to connect across regions and sectors throughout Australia, build confidence and capacity, engage with leaders across Indigenous, corporate and government sectors, and develop greater awareness and understanding of business and policy.

Sarah was also awarded the 2022 Kullarri NAIDOC Award for her contribution to Indigenous affairs.

Sarah remains focused on ensuring the KLC delivers the best possible outcomes for its members and Kimberley Aboriginal people.

“I’m proud to be part of an organisation like the KLC that encourages staff to challenge themselves, develop new skills, gain confidence and empowers people to succeed. I’m excited to play a role in supporting and promoting others through their leadership journey.”

Reflecting on her own leadership journey, Sarah says recognising the strengths and contributions of others is just as important as understanding yourself.

“One thing I’ve learnt throughout my leadership journey, that to be an effective leader you have to have the ability to recognise and respect the competence and contribution of others, but it’s just as critical to have a strong sense of self, knowing your strengths, weaknesses, and values. It’s impossible to demonstrate authenticity as a leader if you’re unsure of who you are or what you stand for in the first place.”

Sarah currently serves on several boards, including the Indigenous Carbon Industry Network, and continues to look for opportunities to support Aboriginal leadership and advancement.

As she reflects on 20 years with the KLC, Sarah looks forward to continuing her leadership journey with an organisation she cares deeply about, working to advance the rights of Aboriginal people in the Kimberley through getting back country, looking after country and getting control of the future. 

The KLC is proud to celebrate Sarah’s 20 years of service and to continue supporting her, along with other emerging Kimberley Aboriginal leaders, in their personal and professional development.

“Aboriginal people and communities need to have the ability to choose how best to govern and enrich their own lives. Great things can be achieved when our people and communities are involved in driving change.”