Caroline Martin

Caroline Martin is a Sovereign Boonwurrung and Wemba Wemba woman and a nationally respected cultural leader, policy reformer, and advocate for First Nations sovereignty, truth-telling, and systemic transformation. With more than 35 years of senior leadership across cultural institutions, government, education, and the creative industries, her work is grounded in lived authority, genealogical responsibility, and community accountability.
Caroline led the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Museums Victoria for twelve years, where she advocated for and managed the development of First Peoples, a multi-award-winning, internationally recognised exhibition renowned for its community-led governance and redefinition of institutional representation. The project set a benchmark for cultural authority, ethical engagement, and sovereign storytelling within mainstream institutions.
She is the Founder and Managing Director of Yalukit Marnang, a cultural strengthening and consultancy practice delivering transformative cultural safety, truth-telling, and institutional reform across Australia. As Creative Director of YIRRAMBOI First Nations Festival (2019, 2021), Caroline curated and delivered two landmark festivals featuring more than 350 First Nations creatives from across the continent and internationally.
Caroline is currently undertaking Higher Degree by Research study focused on sovereign methodology, cultural safety, and institutional reform. She is an Affiliate of the Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence Against Women at Monash University, serves on the Indigenous Governance Committee at RMIT University, and is an Executive Committee Member of Artists for Kids Culture.
Her work centres the restoration of First Nations authority and the design of futures grounded in cultural integrity, accountability, and truth.