Inspirational win for IPS director Kristal Kinsela

Inspirational IPS Director Kristal Kinsela has been awarded the 2017 Aboriginal Woman of the Year Award for her work in education and training, organisational and workforce development, and supplier diversity working across government, corporate and not-for-profit sectors.
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Kristal received the award at the 2017 NSW Women of the Year Awards at a gala ceremony in Sydney on the morning of International Women’s Day, Wednesday 8 March. The event was attended by over 400 guests, including Members of Parliament and presented by MC Gretel Killeen.

Kristal presented with the 2017 Aboriginal Woman of the Year Award in Sydney.
Source: sbs.com.au
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Kristal, a proud Jawoyn and Wiradjuri woman, is a natural born leader, gifted with the ability to speak confidently, inspirationally and with referent influence. She has been recognised for her innovation and success and using her passion and skills to help corporate and government clients increase their productivity, performance and Indigenous engagement through coaching, training and facilitation.

​Kristal Kinsela is a passionate supporter and mentor for young Aboriginal women.
​Source: kristalkinsela.com
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Speaking to NITV, Kristal was elated with the award and said: “It’s pretty unbelievable, I did not expect to win at all.”
Kristal said that although she was overwhelmed, as is all of her very proud family, “it’s recognition of my work and does give me greater motivation to continue doing the work I’m doing and making a difference, it [the award] means I am on the right path.”

Kristal has advised the Australian Government on policies to foster social inclusion and Indigenous economic independence. She has spoken at international conferences, including an address in London last year on Global Opportunities for Minority Business at the Minority Supplier Diversity United Kingdom Council Conference. 
For more than 10 years Kristal has worked across Federal and State levels of Government, Corporate and Not for Profit sectors. She has also volunteered time to coordinate programs in a community capacity at grass roots level through Birpai Aboriginal Land Council.

A passionate supporter and mentor for young Aboriginal women, Kristal has shared motivational talks with young Aboriginal girls through Birpai Aboriginal Land Council and with high school students through Rotary Youth Leadership.

Kristal was recently announced the Sydney Ambassador for Indigenous Women in Business; a not for profit network to connect and support Indigenous women who run their own businesses.
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Kristal was joined by three other incredible finalists, including Bundjalung woman and the Director of Jarjum Centre Inc Maurita Cavanough, Wodi Wodi Elder and a driving force in the establishment of the Aboriginal Medical Service in Coomaditchi Aunty Joyce Donovan and NITV’s own Birri and Guugu Yimidhirr woman Tanya Orman who has worked for NITV for 10 years. NITV is very proud to say that Tanya is one of the youngest television executives in Australia, and one of only a handful of Aboriginal women in a leadership role in media. She regularly volunteers her time, including in her role as Chair of the Media Reconciliation Industry Network Group, a group of media organisations committed to the development of reconciliation and employment of Indigenous people in the media industry.

See the SBS story “2017 NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year: Kristal Kinsela” here: http://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2017/03/08/2017-nsw-aboriginal-woman-year-kristal-kinsela