Djarra Delaney is a Quandamooka traditional owner from Minjerriba, North Stradbroke Island, Mulgumpin, Moreton Island and the surrounding Redland Shire region, Queensland, Australia. He has resided in Melbourne, Victoria since 2014, where he has led the development of community engagement strategies at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, to build effective and collaborative relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. His management of the revitalisation and ongoing expansion of the Indigenous Weather Knowledge project has positioned the Bureau as proactive in ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and their traditional knowledge and understanding of the natural environment are valued, respected and sensitively shared.
In 2019, Djarra graduated with a Master of Environment at the University of Melbourne, focusing on Climate Change Adaptation Planning for vulnerable coastal communities. Djarra is currently undertaking a PhD at Melbourne University to continue his work in Climate Change Adaptation and Planning for impacts in vulnerable coastal communities in Australia and around the world.
Djarra's work at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and his postgraduate studies at the University of Melbourne have built valuable knowledge, experience and expertise in working alongside remote and local Indigenous communities in Australia and the Torres Strait, and remote and rural communities in Timor-Leste and the Pacific.
Djarra's background, professional experience in communications, community engagement, policy development and traditional knowledge project development, in addition to his academic expertise in adaptation strategies for the complex problem of climate change uniquely positions him to advocate for communities, to ensure their voices are heard during planning processes.