CEO, Supply Nation

Michelle Deshong established her consultancy business in 2008 after extensive experience in both the public and private sector.  Michelle has held senior executive positions spanning the public service and non-government sector.  More recently she was the CEO of the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute guiding the growth of the organisation over the past 5 years, until transitioning into her business full time in 2021. 

Alongside these professional roles, Michelle has maintained a strong interest in community organisations and held many governance roles, including Director of the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre, Director of Supply Nation, Seed and the Reef Restoration Adaptation Program and member of AIATSIS Council.

Michelle holds a BA Honours in Political Science and Indigenous studies at James Cook University and is completing her PhD. In 2015 she was awarded the National NAIDOC Scholar of the year.  In 2016 Michelle received the Fulbright Indigenous Professional Scholarship and in 2018 a Churchill Fellowship to continue to research on gender equality, Indigenous rights, leadership and governance in a global context.