A boarder from Moranbah, Dean Parkin '98 was Vice Captain of Harlin House and a member of the First XV. As a Year 12 student he addressed the School Assembly on 'Racism and Prejudice'.
After an Arts degree with majors in politics and journalism at The University of Queensland, Parkin worked in political offices in Queensland, as a consultant to the UK Department of Health, and in Indigenous community development in Australia, before moving to an investment banking position with Tanarra Capital in Melbourne.
As part of a team appointed by a bi-partisan Referendum Council, Parkin travelled around the country facilitating 'Dialogues' with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people ahead of the First Nations National Constitutional Convention in May 2017, which issued the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Parkin describes the Statement not as a petition or protest but as "an invitation to the Australian people", making three practical proposals: a First Nations Voice to parliament, a Makarrata Commission to strike treaty agreements, and a 'truth telling' process. In a TEDx talk he argues Australians need to rethink Aboriginal policy, starting with changes to the Constitution. His work in Indigenous affairs continues around economic and business development and structural reform.
Source: Grammar News Winter 2019. Read the original edition