Head of Indigenous Engagement, Amazon Web Services Public Sector ANZ

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is seeking a senior experienced leader to serve as the Head of Indigenous Engagement for Australia and New Zealand.

The Head of Indigenous Engagement will be a senior leader and trusted advisor who brings deep cultural authority executive presence and a track record of building impactful large-scale Indigenous partnerships while at the same time championing the necessary change within the organization for success. You will serve as the single-threaded leader accountable for executing the Indigenous engagement strategy and elevating the work of existing Indigenous-focused staff across Amazons businesses. Working collaboratively with tenured Indigenous team members who have developed and deployed this strategy you will unify Indigenous Engagement execution across all seven Amazon businesses ensuring consistent culturally aligned and community-led outcomes.

This role requires an individual who can operate at the intersection of culture strategy and business building trust with Indigenous leaders navigating complex stakeholder environments representing AWS at the highest levels of government and industry and driving measurable impact across the organisation


Key job responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
Define own execute and operationalize the pan-Amazon Indigenous Engagement Strategy for ANZ translating multi-year strategic goals and success metrics into coordinated action across all business lines
Serve as the single-threaded senior leader accountable for Indigenous engagement outcomes across multiple business divisions.
Advise Amazons ANZ senior leadership team on Indigenous affairs cultural protocols and community expectations ensuring culturally informed decision-making at executive level
Evolve and refine the Indigenous Engagement Strategy based on community feedback measurable outcomes and emerging opportunities while maintaining alignment with the established strategic framework and core outcome areas
Drive the evolution and execution of Amazon Australias Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and Te Ao Maori frameworks in Aotearoa
Represent Amazon externally as a senior executive voice on Indigenous engagement building our reputation as the most trusted technology and services company for Indigenous Peoples in ANZ

Executive Relationships & Stakeholder Engagement
Maintain consistent engagement approaches across all Amazon businesses to ensure Indigenous communities customers and partners experience Amazon as a unified respectful organization that listens attentively and speaks candidly while maintaining respect front-of-mind
Build and maintain trusted relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative bodies native title bodies and Iwi through culturally appropriate meaningful consultation that recognizes their authority and ensures their voices remain central to Amazons decision-making.
Establish strategic relationships with government agencies and organizational partners positioning Amazon as a trusted partner aligned with policy objectives while maintaining clear boundaries that keep Indigenous voices primary in decision-making.
Engage with senior government officials policymakers and regulators on Indigenous policy procurement and digital inclusion initiatives
Represent Amazon at board-level and C-suite discussions with Indigenous organisations government and industry partners
Develop strategic partnerships with Indigenous-led organisations academic institutions and industry bodies to advance shared objectives

Thought Leadership & Advocacy
Serve as AWSs foremost subject matter expert on Indigenous engagement in ANZ shaping public discourse and positioning Amazon as a leader in the technology sector
Deliver keynote presentations participate in high-profile panels and contribute to publications that establish Amazons credentials in Indigenous innovation and digital inclusion
Develop and champion thought leadership on Indigenous data sovereignty digital self-determination and community-led technology adoption
Mentor and develop the next generation of Indigenous leaders within Amazon and the broader ecosystem

Cross-Business Coordination (OneAmazon)
Operate as the connective tissue across Amazon business to ensure a coherent enterprise-wide Indigenous engagement approach
Coordinate with AWS Public Sector account and partner teams to ensure Indigenous customer engagements are culturally aligned and strategically prioritised
Partner with Amazon Retail and Operations on Indigenous procurement supply chain diversity and community benefit programs
Collaborate with Amazons global Indigenous engagement and diversity functions to share best practices and align regional strategy with global direction
Work with Public Policy Legal Communications and Diversity Equity & Inclusion teams to ensure alignment across all Indigenous-facing initiatives

Team Leadership & Capability Building
Build and lead a high-performing Indigenous Engagement team attracting top Indigenous talent and developing career pathways
Establish the mechanisms governance and cultural protocols that ensure all Amazon teams engage authentically and appropriately with Indigenous communities
Drive cultural competency uplift across the organisation through training enablement programs and internal advocacy
Create scalable frameworks that allow business teams to engage Indigenous customers and partners with confidence and cultural alignment

Applicants in Australia:
Aboriginality is a genuine occupational qualification for this position. Pursuant to Section 50D of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (and equivalent provisions in other Australian jurisdictions) this role is open only to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Aboriginality is considered essential for this position.
Applicants in Aotearoa:
Genuine Occupational Qualification: Pursuant to Section 27 (or 73) of the Human Rights Act 1993 being Māori is a genuine occupational requirement for this position due to the highly specialized cultural competency and lived experience needed to fulfill the duties.



A day in the life
Key Competencies
Cultural Authority & Executive Presence
Demonstrated respect and standing within Indigenous communities with the ability to represent Indigenous perspectives authentically and earn the trust of Indigenous leaders and organizations
Executive presence to engage with the most senior leaders in government industry and Indigenous communities
Ability to hold complex sometimes difficult conversations with cultural sensitivity and strategic acumen
Deep commitment to Indigenous self-determination reconciliation and community empowerment
Strategic & Systems Thinking
Ability to develop multi-year strategies that span multiple business lines and geographies
Systems-level thinking to connect Indigenous engagement with broader business policy and societal outcomes
Strong commercial awareness and ability to articulate value propositions to diverse stakeholders
Data-driven approach to measuring and reporting impact
Leadership & Influence
Proven ability to build high-performing teams and develop Indigenous talent
Exceptional stakeholder management across complex matrix environments
Influence without authority ability to drive outcomes across business lines where you do not have direct reporting relationships
Collaborative leadership style that centres community voice and Indigenous knowledge systems


About the team
Diverse Experiences
AWS values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications and skills listed in the job description we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting hasnt followed a traditional path or includes alternative experiences dont let it stop you from applying.

Why AWS
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the worlds most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating thats why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses.

Inclusive Team Culture
AWS values curiosity and connection. Our employee-led and company-sponsored affinity groups promote inclusion and empower our people to take pride in what makes us unique. Our inclusion events foster stronger more collaborative teams. Our continual innovation is fueled by the bold ideas fresh perspectives and passionate voices our teams bring to everything we do.

Mentorship & Career Growth
Were continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earths Best Employer. Thats why youll find endless knowledge-sharing mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.

Work/Life Balance
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home which is why we strive for flexibility as part of our working culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home theres nothing we cant achieve.


- 5 years of team leadership experience
- Experience of high level negotiation and successful internal and external relationship management
- 10 years of progressive experience in Indigenous engagement Indigenous affairs Indigenous economic development or related senior leadership roles
- Deep cultural knowledge and authority in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and/or Tikanga Māori with demonstrated ability to navigate cultural protocols across diverse Indigenous communities
- Experience developing and executing enterprise-level Indigenous engagement strategies with measurable outcomes
- Proven ability to influence and advise C-suite and board-level executives on Indigenous affairs and cultural engagement
- Experience working across multiple business lines or functions in complex organisational structures
- Strong understanding of Indigenous data sovereignty self-determination principles and community-led approaches
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills including ability to deliver keynotes and represent an organisation in high-profile public settings
- Bachelors degree or equivalent professional experience

- Experience as a founder or executive focused on related segments or as a practice leader or business unit owner
- Experience selling to Fortune 1000 or Global 2000 organizations
- Bachelors degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. Law Political Science Public Policy Public Affairs Economic Development)
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage or Māori heritage strongly preferred
- Experience in the technology sector cloud computing digital transformation or innovation-led industries
- Knowledge of government Indigenous procurement policies supplier diversity programs and RAP frameworks
- Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles Native Title frameworks and Indigenous land rights
- Existing executive-level relationships within Indigenous business networks Peak Indigenous Bodies and iwi/rūnanga
- Experience with Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) at Elevate or Stretch level
- Track record in thought leadership including published work keynote speaking advisory board participation or policy contributions
- Experience operating in a multi-national or global company with matrix reporting structures

Acknowledgement of country:
In the spirit of reconciliation Amazon acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

IDE statement:
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status disability or other legally protected status.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process including support for the interview or onboarding process please visit for more information. If the country/region youre applying in isnt listed please contact your Recruiting Partner.