Leilani Bin-Juda is of Torres Strait Islander heritage. With an extensive career in the Australian Public Service spanning 24 years, Ms Bin-Juda has policy and program experience across international relations, health, fisheries, crime prevention and the arts and cultural industry.  

She was a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and has previously served overseas as First Secretary (Political/Gender/Sports Diplomacy), Papua New Guinea; Adviser (Economic Governance) to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands; and Manager of Australia’s Cultural Program at the Shanghai World Expo 2010. 

She is currently the CEO of Torres Strait Regional Authority. Prior to this, she was a Treaty Liaison Officer on Thursday Island and was responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the Australia-Papua New Guinea Torres Strait Treaty in accordance with the border protection and bilateral objectives identified in the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper.  

In 2000, she was awarded the Peter Mitchell Churchill Fellowship and examined Indigenous participation in museum development and governance structures drawing on models in New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.  

Ms Bin-Juda holds degrees in Business, Cultural Heritage and International Relations.  In 2019, she was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in promoting the inclusion of Indigenous heritage in Australia’s cultural and foreign policies.