Gemma Pol

she/her
CEO
Wiradyuri, Ngemba and Paakantji

Gemma Pol is a Wiradyuri, Ngemba and Paakantji woman from a small coastal town on Worimi Country. She’s a freelance writer, support worker for people with disabilities in her local area, and the CEO at Common Ground.

Gemma sees how storytelling can be a tool to build movements that protect people and Country. She is passionate about truth-telling and creating safe spaces for First Nations people to share their stories, their ways.

Prior to working at Common Ground, Gemma worked as a tutor at Griffith University, and as a learning support officer in a high school.

More People

Name Surname
she/her
Communications Lead
Wiradjuri, Ngemba & Paakantji

Rona is a proud Kaytetye woman from Central Australia who works with high impact organisations to create systems that centre First Nations people, knowledge and solutions.

Rona is the founder of Common Ground and brings 7 years 
of professional experience working across First Nations organisations and not for profits. Rona was previously the Director of First Nations at YLab, a social enterprise that puts young people with diverse lived experiences at the centre of designing and developing innovative and impactful solutions 
to complex social issues. Over her career, Rona has worked in policy at the Central Land Council, the Research Unit for Indigenous Languages at the University of Melbourne, Reconciliation Victoria, and the Foundation for Young Australians.In 2020, Rona was a finalist for the Victorian Young Achiever awards, was awarded a Westpac Social Change Fellowship. In 2019 Rona won a Diana Award and was named a 'Woman of the Future'  by Women's Weekly.Through her work with First Nations communities across Australia, Rona aims to create future systems that centre First Nations people, knowledge and cultures.Rona currently resides in Mpartnwe on Arrernte Country.