THE COMMITTEE

Aunty Pam Pedersen ~ Co-Chair

Aunty Pam is a Yorta Yorta Elder of the Victorian Aboriginal community and has been involved in Vic NAIDOC since she was 17 years old. Her parents, Pastor Sir Doug and Lady Nicholls, along with a number of other Aboriginal community members, were instrumental in the establishment of Vic NAIDOC.

Aunty Pam is as an Elder on the Children's Koori Court, the County Koori Court of Victoria, the Melbourne Magistrate's Court, and the Heidelberg Children's Koori Court. Aunty Pam has also been appointed to the Adult Parole Board of Melbourne.

Aunty Pam has been employed by the Jesuit Social Services in a capacity-building role that spans the organisation as well as the Victorian Aboriginal Family Violence Legal Prevention Service.

Aunty Pam is a passionate advocate for Aboriginal people and a master athlete in many sporting events especially half marathons! Her motto is "If you dream it, you can achieve it".

Aunty Alice Kolasa ~ Co-Chair

Aunty Alice is a recognised Elder of the Wurundjeri Tribe who has been working for the Wurundjeri Land Council for 10 years. Aunty Alice is a proud Woiwurrung/Wurundjeri-Baluk woman who has been involved in helping coordinate Wurundjeri Council's NAIDOC, Wurundjeri Week, Moomba and other major cultural events.

Aunty Alice was recently on the Yarra Ministerial Advisory Committee to help produce the new Yarra Protection Bill for the Victorian State Parliament, and was the first Victorian Elder to speak in language, in Parliament in 2017.

Marcia Legg ~ Chairperson

Marcia Legg is a proud Gunditjmara woman with connections to Yorta Yorta, and comes from a strong line of staunch women, leaders and activists that have helped pave the way for our Victorian Aboriginal community today.   Marcia feels honoured to be involved with the Victorian NAIDOC committee, stepping into her leadership and following in the footsteps of her strong family members.   Marcia has over 14yrs of event management experience from running her successful business hosting kids events, weddings and food truck park nights. Over the last 4 years she has played a key role in supporting the delivery of highly successful events; such as the Ricci Marks Youth Award, Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll and the NAIDOC state reception.  On top of all of this, she is also busy studying a Bachelor Of Law. The legal system is a huge passion for Marcia, enabling her to advocate for First Nations People, and fight for fairness and equality. 

Isabella Atkinson

Isabella Atkinson is a pound Wolithiga woman from the Yorta Yorta nations, living on Wurundjeri country.

Isabella is a young and passionate Koori woman who has been brought up strong in her culture and community. Isabella is passionate about our youth being connected and emersed in culture and facilitates this by running Marngrook making workshops with her mother. Since leaving school, Isabella has worked in Aboriginal organisations and is currently the First Peoples Engagement Coordinator for the Western Program Alliance. Isabella is honoured to be a part of the Vic NAIDOC committee as NAIDOC week holds a special place in her heart, especially after being awarded Miss NAIDOC in 2018, a title that her mother before her had also been awarded. Isabella believes that NAIDOC is a time for celebrating culture, acknowledging achievements in our community, and paying respect to our Elders who fought for us to have this week.