Ros Moriarty

Ros Moriarty is a business leader, author, social investor, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Balarinji and the Co-Founder, Honorary Managing Director and Co-Chair of Moriarty Foundation.

A leading Indigenous design studio since 1983, Balarinji is best known for the ground-breaking Balarinji-Qantas Flying Art collection of aircraft featuring Aboriginal designs. Moriarty Foundation works to enable Aboriginal families and communities to unlock their children’s potential through its locally-led solutions.

More about Ros Moriarty:

Ros is a highly respected and distinguished businesswomen. Established in 1983, Balarinji’s work for public and private sectors spans public art and curatorial, cultural design principles for major infrastructure, stakeholder engagement, branding campaigns and digital. The studio’s clients include Qantas, Transport for NSW, Microsoft, Caltex, Aurecon, WSP, Transport for NSW, Downer EDI, Lendlease, Woods Bagot, Hassell, the Australian Paralympic Committee and many more.

Established in 2011, not-for-profit Moriarty Foundation delivers two groundbreaking community initiatives. Indi Kindi is an early years solution for under 5s that integrates health, wellbeing, education and development to give children the best start in life. John Moriarty Football (JMF) is football for good – Australia’s longest running and most successful Indigenous football initiative for 2 – 18 year olds. JMF’s transformational skills program uses football for talent and positive change – with a track record of improving school attendance and achieving resilient, healthier outcomes for some of Australia’s most remote Indigenous communities.

Ros was named Winner Business Enterprise in the 2015 Financial Review/Westpac Australian 100 Women of Influence Awards. She is an inductee of the Australian Design Institute Hall of Fame, the Australian Graphic Design Association Hall of Fame, and the Australian Businesswomen’s Hall of Fame.

An alumnus of the Australian National University, Ros’ awards include a UNESCO Achievement Award, the St Peters Citizenship Award, and the Advance Australia Award for Service to Industry and Commerce. She was a finalist in the 2017 Third Sector Volunteer of the Year, and in 2018 was named a Companion of the University by Charles Darwin University.

Ros is the Independent Chair of the Football Australia Women’s Football Council and she is currently a Commissioner for the Future of Sydney CBD. Her Board appointments have included Menzies School of Health Research Darwin, the National Gallery of Australia, Australian Major Events SA and the Australian Academy of Design.

Ros’ memoir, Listening to Country (Allen & Unwin 2010), was shortlisted for both The Age 2010 Book of the Year, and the Australian Human Rights Commission Literary Award. She has also authored eight picture books for children (Allen & Unwin 2012-18), variously listed for The Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Award (2012 & 2015), and the 2013 Australian Environment Award for Children’s Literature.

Ros Moriarty talks about:

Ros is a memorable speaker and storyteller who presents with authenticity, passion, and authority. She is able to speak on a range of topics, including:

·         Leadership

·         Women in leadership

·         Indigenous design, co-design, and engagement

·         Contemporary design

·         Cultural design principles

·         Diversity

·         Indigenous football

·         Women’s football

·         Indigenous programs

Ros is also able to speak on the personal and moving story she shares in her memoir, Listening to Country, where she takes an emotional journey across country and culture in Northern Territory’s Tanami Desert with the matriarchs of her husband’s Aboriginal family to perform Ceremony.