Enterprise Professor Rodney Carter

Enterprise Professor Rodney Carter is a descendant of Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta people. He is currently residing in Central Victoria, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country.

Rodney worked for over ten years as the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (DJAARA) and the subsidiary company Dja Dja Wurrung Enterprises Pty Ltd, where he held the position of Chairperson of the Board for ten years.

Under his leadership, DJAARA received the Telstra Best Business Award and Best Indigenous Business Award (nationally) in 2024, recognising the significant growth in organisational size and economic activities.

A defining moment for Rodney was acting as Signatory and Claimant negotiating the Dja Dja Wurrung people's native title settlement in 2013, which resulted in a Recognition and Settlement Agreement under the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010. This outcome was the culmination of over a decade of discussions and negotiations with the State of Victoria.

Rodney was an inaugural member of the Aboriginal Heritage Council from its inception in 2006, until 2024. He was Chairperson until August 2021 and previous Chairperson of the Council during 2012-2014.

Rodney was also the Secretary’s nominee for the Dhelkunya Dja Land Management Board for implementation of the Dja Dja Wurrung Joint Management Plan for the 6 Aboriginal Titled Lands in the care of his people until December 2025.

In 2023, he was elected to the Victorian First Peoples’ Assembly for Treaty and has been appointed Co-Chair of its Elders Voice.

Rodney was until 2025 a member of the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owners Corporations, serving as Chairperson though 2018-2022. He has Chaired several State Project Control Groups including the Victorian Traditional Owner Cultural Burning Strategy 2019; Victorian Traditional Owner Game Management Strategy 2020; and Victorian Native Foods and Botanicals Strategy 2021, and was a member of the Victorian Environments CEO Forum for the Victorian Biodiversity Strategy 2037, and the Water for Victoria Plan 2016.

One of Rodney's notable achievements was working as Development Manager for the construction and opening of the Melbourne Museum, and becoming the inaugural Bunjilaka Aboriginal Centre Manager.

Rodney is also the proud recipient of the National Emergency Service Medal for the 2009 Black Saturday Victorian Bushfires.