Paul Callaghan is an Aboriginal man belonging to the land of the Worimi people, now called Port Stephens.
Paul has held several senior executive positions in his career including CEO of New England TAFE and currently occupies Professor roles at University of Melbourne, RMIT University and Charles Sturt University. He has qualifications in surveying, drafting, commerce, training, executive leadership, company boards and executive coaching. He also has a PhD in Creative Practice. His most important learning, however, has been through going bush with Elders.
Paul’s best-selling book, The Dreaming Path received the Australian Book Industry Award for ‘Small Publisher’s Adult Book of the Year’ in 2023. His children’s book, Adventures on the Dreaming Path was published July 2025 and his book on leadership, Leading from the Dreaming was published February 2026.
TOPICS
- Aboriginal culture capability and spirituality
- Aboriginal education (school, TAFE and University)
- Aboriginal post-colonial experience
- Aboriginal pre-colonial ways of knowing, being and doing
- Aboriginal socio-economic disadvantage and remedies
- Avoiding burnout
- Engaging with Aboriginal communities
- Improving children’s understanding, resilience and lives through story
- Improving Aboriginal service delivery
- Leadership
- NAIDOC
- Racism, equity and inclusive practice
- Reconciliation
- Self-care
- Trauma informed care targeting Aboriginal people
- Wellbeing using Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing
Testimonials
“We engaged Paul to deliver a motivational and instructive talk to a cohort of managers and senior specialists in our organisation. As a newly formed organisation, this was the first time the cohort had met together. Feedback from participants on Pauls presentation was overwhelmingly positive, and I am sure Paul will be back with us in the near future to continue this work.”
“Paul has an extraordinary capacity to help leaders see beyond the horizon of today’s assumptions. His insights didn’t just add to existing thinking, they often reoriented it entirely, revealing possibilities that were hidden in plain sight.”