Dr Chris Sarra is a Gurang Gurang / Taribelang Bunda man and is the Institute’s founder and CEO. His career spans more than 30 years in positive education reform for Indigenous students based on the Stronger Smarter Philosophy.

Chris is a highly sought-after advisor on Education, Indigenous policy reform and strategy, and is well respected in First Nations communities across Australia. Prior to returning to the role of CEO in 2025, he was the Director General of numerous Queensland Government Departments including the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Other roles performed by Dr Sarra include a Professor of Education with the University of Canberra and Co-Chair of the Prime Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Committee. Throughout his career he has received numerous honours, including NAIDOC Person of the Year 2016, Queenslander of the Year, Australian of the Year finalist, NRL Commissioner. Dr Sarra is also a 2018 New York Marathon finisher.