MICHAEL MUNDINE Snr is Chief Executive Officer of the Redfern Aboriginal Housing Company.

Michael is a proud Bundjalung man and devoted father of 6 children. Michael was born in Grafton on the North Coast of NSW Australia in 1947 and spent the better part of his wayward youth roaming the missions up and down the NSW coast. On arrival to Sydney in 1965 he crossed paths with Koumajay Dr Charlie Perkins. This chance meeting changed his life forever and with the guidance of Uncle Charlie [as Mick referred to him] Michael began his long involvement in the struggle for the betterment of Aboriginal people in Sydney's Redfern community, aka as the Block. In 1975 Michael was employed as a painter on the Block with the newly formed Redfern Aboriginal Housing Company (AHC). His tough and honest work ethic caught the eye of the Board of Directors of the Company and he was quickly promoted to foreman for all building work on the Block. His meteoric rise through the ranks saw him appointed office manager a few years later. In 1983 the then retiring Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Richard Pacey encouraged Michael to apply for his position. Being a humble quiet achiever Michael didn't rate his chances high but the Board of Directors of the time had faith in the young Aboriginal man and divested the future direction of the AHC in his hands, by appointing him CEO, a position which he holds to this day. Leadership is often thrust upon even the most reluctant of us and Michael Mundine has certainly risen to the occasion.

Over the last 15 yrs Michael has been a director of the
• Redfern Aboriginal Medical Service
• Redfern Aboriginal Children's Service.
• In 1990 he helped establish the Redfern CDEP [Community Development Employment Program] of which he is one of its founding directors.
• In 1994 he helped resurrect the new Redfern Aboriginal Legal Service as its chairperson, a position he still holds.

His resolute and generous leadership style has earned him great respect and admiration amongst his peers, the community, politicians and government bureaucrats and peoples from all walks of life.

Michael has also been involved in many non-Indigenous groups including:
• Redfern Waterloo Community Council which represents a wide cross section of local stakeholders advising the Premier of NSW.
• Redfern Drug and Alcohol Task force and the Redfern Community Safety Taskforce.
• Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.
• Property Council of Australia

Despite his great career achievements Michael is not all work and no play. He is a keen all round sportsman with a particular affinity for rugby league football. In his youth he played with the Baryulgil Red Devils and the Woodenbong All Blacks. In Sydney he was a shinning star with the Redfern All Blacks and in 1974 led the South Sydney Jr league team to victory in the Grand Final. He played representative football for many years and in 1981 was with Zetland when they won the Grand Final, the Kentucky Cup and the Aboriginal Knockout all in the same year. Now retired from representative sport he coaches basketball and touch football every year.

The best way to describe Michael Mundine is that he is a people person with a good head on his shoulders and a lot of love in his heart. His vision for Redfern is for a better future where the next generation of Aboriginal people can share in the prosperity that all other Australians already enjoy.