Leila Gurruwiwi - Hire Keynote and Guest Speaker

Leila Gurruwiwi

Australian Media staple, Indigenous support worker, Education superstar

Leila Gurruwiwi is a Yolngu woman of the Galpu Clan from Northeast Arnhem land, a cultural awareness advocate and mentor.

As well as dabbling in some acting in both award winning series Glitch Season 1 and 2 and The Secret River (both ABC series) and KAGE theatre production Team of Life, Leila has combined a successful media career, including 11 years as a reporter and newsreader on The Marngrook Footy Show, with community pursuits in her former roles mentoring young girls in the Wirrpanda Foundation's Deadly Sista Girlz program and being an Indigenous Support Worker at the Pavillion School, a school for young people who have been disengaged or excluded from mainstream education.

Leila is the Education Officer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education at Catholic Education Melbourne where she helps Indigenous student excel in school and supports their families. She hopes to foster a sense of strong identity in Indigenous students and throughout schools in the Melbourne Diocese, a strong knowledge and embracing of Indigenous culture.

Leila Gurruwiwi is also co-producing a documentary called “Jarracharra” which looks at the rise of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fashion designers in the fashion industry both locally and internationally.

Leila is also now a proud mum to her son Uzoma who she hopes to instill strong cultural connections to both his Indigenous and Nigerian cultures.

Leila Gurruwiwi Book as a speaker/entertainer for your next event

Key Points for Leila Gurruwiwi

Leila Gurruwiwi is a proud Yolngu woman originally from Galiwinku on Elcho Island in North East Arnhem land who started her career on the The Marngrook Footy Show in 2017. She presents the news, injury report, interviewing current and former Indigenous and non-Indigenous footballers as well as having a women’s tipping segment called 'Tiddas Tips'.
She has been a regular panellist alongside Gilbert McAdam, Grant Hansen and Shelley Ware. Leila has performed in shows such as KAGE’s Team of Life, ABC’s Secret River and ABC’s Glitch.
Leila is an Indigenous Support Worker, helping schools create a culturally safe space for Indigenous students to study and create passion for the Indigenous culture in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students and staff alike.
She is a former Deadly Sista Girlz mentor at the Wirrpanda Foundation, mentoring Young Indigenous Girls in Schools in Melbourne and Regional Victoria.
As an MC, Leila has hosted a number of events in Victoria and interstate and is also a cultural awareness speaker in schools across Melbourne.

Topics for Leila Gurruwiwi

Cultural awareness
Diversity and inclusion
Master of ceremonies

Testimonials for Leila Gurruwiwi

Leila's approach to our whole staff conversation on reconciliation was inclusive, engaging and heartfelt. She did an amazing job at speaking at a level that everyone could engage with, and her concepts and ideas were thoughtful and fascinating. She has sparked an interest in reconciliation in the school's teaching community where staff have already approached me with ideas as to where the school can improve its visible presence of First Peoples and Torres Strait Islander imagery and curriculum, and a real passion for supporting our First Peoples students to feel safe and supported.
Whitefriars College

Leila Gurruwiwi gave a wonderful keynote address at the 2023 OV Conference. Her insights, expertise, and engaging delivery left a lasting impact on our audience, and we received incredibly positive feedback from everyone who attended.
Outdoors Victoria

Leila Gurruwiwi was absolutely amazing, her stories about her childhood experiences leading to her passion for education, sport, and entertainment really stood out. Every single person in the room was engaged by her.
Australian School of Applied Management

Leila Gurruwiwi was really engaged, friendly, a great speaker and storyteller, wonderful to listen to. She spoke with passion, humour, warmth and intelligence.
Officeworks