Aden Ridgeway was born in Macksville in northern NSW in 1962. He is a proud member of the Gumbayyngirr people. His life has seen him rise from the treadmill of poverty and growing up on an Aboriginal reserve. His early experiences have resulted in strong family traditions and he is the very proud father of two adult sons and a younger daughter. He attended boarding school at St John’s College, Woodlawn, and left in 1980. He has been a park ranger, court assessor, chief executive officer and federal politician. Aden is the first Indigenous person to be elected as a Parliamentary Leader when he held the position of Deputy Leader, Australian Democrats, during 2001-02. He retired as a Senator for NSW having served in the Federal Parliament for six years. He discusses workplace diversity and inclusion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, particularly in Australia’s creative and media industries.

<p>Aden Ridgeway was born in Macksville in northern NSW in 1962. He is a proud member of the Gumbayyngirr people. His life has seen him rise from the treadmill of poverty and growing up on an Aboriginal reserve. His early experiences have resulted in strong family traditions and he is the very proud father of two adult sons and a younger daughter. He attended boarding school at St John&rsquo;s College, Woodlawn, and left in 1980. He has been a park ranger, court assessor, chief executive officer and federal politician. Aden is the first Indigenous person to be elected as a Parliamentary Leader when he held the position of Deputy Leader, Australian Democrats, during 2001-02. He retired as a Senator for NSW having served in the Federal Parliament for six years. He discusses workplace diversity and inclusion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, particularly in Australia&rsquo;s creative and media industries.</p>

Talking Business is an inflight entertainment radio program on Qantas, hosted by Alan Kohler. Each month business leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators are interviewed about their expertise, businesses, and careers. This is where you can podcast all of the guests from Talking Business.

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