On 19 November 2008 the Hon Julia Gillard MP, Deputy Prime Minister attended Council's 12th meeting in Darwin. Council updated the Deputy Prime Minister on its activities in 2008 and discussed ways forward for 2009.

L-R: Professor Jeannie Herbert, Professor Martin Nakata, Professor MaryAnn Bin-Sallik, Associate Professor Tracey Bunda, Professor Roger Thomas (Chair), the Hon Julia Gillard MP, Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Kaye Price, Ms Jill Milroy (Deputy Chair), Mr Gary Shipp, Professor Boni Robertson, Professor Mark Rose, Dr Maggie Walter, Mr Graeme Gower.
The Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council’s Stakeholders’ Forum on Indigenous Higher Education: Our Place in the Education Revolution was held in Canberra on 14 August 2008. The purpose of the Forum was to identify key issues and recommendations for submission to the Review of Australian Higher Education, maintaining Council’s commitment to consultation and partnership with Indigenous centres and staff in universities and sector stakeholder groups.
Over 80 delegates from 31 universities and a number of professional organisations attended the Forum, including Heads and Directors of Indigenous centres, leading Indigenous academics and researchers and Indigenous professional staff including Indigenous student support centre staff. The Stakeholders’ Forum showcased the depth of knowledge, skills, expertise, experience and commitment of Australia’s Indigenous higher education community.
The main themes covered at the Forum were:
1. Students (access, participation, retention, outcomes and finances)
2. Research and Innovation
3. Resourcing and Productivity
The Stakeholders’ Forum dinner was a chance to celebrate successes and saw the presentation of a number of awards including the Indigenous Elders and Leaders Awards, Indigenous Staff Scholarship Awards, the Neville Bonner Scholarship Award and the University Indigenous Education Partnerships Award. Professor Richard Larkins AO, 2008 Chair of Universities Australia, was the guest of honour.
Professor Roger Thomas (Chair)
Professor Jillian Milroy (Deputy Chair)
Ms Clair Andersen
Professor MaryAnn Bin-Sallik Ed D (Harvard)
Associate Professor Tracey Bunda
Mr Graeme Gower
Professor Jeannie Herbert
Dr Tamara Mackean
Professor Martin Nakata
Dr Kaye Price
Professor Boni Robertson
Professor Mark Rose
Mr Gary Shipp
Dr Maggie Walter