Stories
New CEO at DKA
Jul 12, 2019
Services: Connecting
Dr Dan Tyson joins the DKA team
Dr Dan Tyson has been appointed as the new chief executive of Desert Knowledge Australia. Dr Tyson replaces outgoing CEO Lauren Ganley, who served in the role for two years.
Based at the Desert Knowledge Precinct in Alice Springs, DKA is a national not-for-profit organisation that encourages learning, research and sustainable socioeconomic development in desert and remote Australia.
Dr Tyson has extensive experience in public health research, Aboriginal health and Aboriginal economic development and has worked at the executive level in not-for-profit, government and private sectors. Most recently he has been based in Katherine, where he was the CEO of Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation. Sunrise is an Aboriginal community-controlled health service that provides comprehensive primary health care to nine remote communities in southern Arnhem land.
Dr Dan Tyson, CEO of DKA.
Dr Tyson is descended from the Yirandali people of the Hughenden region of Queensland, and his qualifications include a PhD in medical anthropology. Describing himself as having an affinity for the dry inland, Dr. Tyson looks forward to living in Alice Springs and leading DKA as it continues its work on desert leadership, digital innovation, desert research and renewable energy.
“I have a long-standing interest in the potential of inland as a region with major opportunities for the economic and social development of people living different lives from those on the coastal fringes,” said Dr Tyson.
“I am particularly interested in how desert Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal knowledges can combine to create an intellectual capital resource to provide sustainable economic and social benefits to our society.”
“Central Australia is a place of vast geographic, topographic and biological diversity – after all, inland Australia has supported Indigenous people and economy for thousands of years,” he said.
DKA Chair Chris Fry enthusiastically welcomed Dr Tyson to the role on behalf of DKA’s staff and board.
“Dan’s considerable skills will strengthen DKA’s work to advocate for the desert and its people. Given his experience in the not-for-profit, government, and private sectors, particularly in the Northern Territory, Dan has a lot to bring to the organisation.”
Dr Tyson commences at DKA on Monday 15 July.
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