Adam Goodes announced as new Qantas Ambassador
Qantas has announced Sydney Swans AFL player and prominent Indigenous Australian Adam Goodes as a new Qantas Ambassador.
The announcement:
Qantas today announced Sydney Swans AFL player, dual Brownlow Medallist, dual premiership player and prominent Indigenous Australian Adam Goodes as a new Qantas Ambassador.
Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said he was delighted to welcome Adam to the Qantas team.
“As the national airline, Qantas is committed to promoting cultural diversity and increasing the appreciation of Indigenous culture. We are honoured that Adam, as one of the most respected and prominent Indigenous Australians, will now be working with us towards these goals,” said Mr Joyce.
“With Adam’s help we will increase the engagement with our employees and customers on Indigenous issues. His involvement is a key part of our strategy to create positive change through
sports, as well as through education, employment and the performing arts.”Mr Goodes said he was honoured to be chosen as a Qantas Ambassador.
“As a proud Aboriginal man, I’m thrilled to be working with such an iconic Australian brand. Qantas has a longstanding commitment to promoting reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the broader Australian community,” said Mr Goodes.
“I’m really looking forward to being involved with Qantas supporting the work they do with reconciliation. It’s an honour for me to play an active part in engaging the public in the Indigenous
program.“The Qantas Reconciliation Program is very important to me and together we are committed to the process of reconciliation in this country and educating more people about Indigenous Australia,” he added.
Through Qantas, Adam Goodes will be involved in the Recognise Campaign, which is working towards a referendum to include Indigenous Australians in the constitution, Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week.
Qantas launched its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2007. The current Qantas 2012-13 RAP focusses on four key areas:
- Continue to develop and integrate partnerships supporting the education to employment pipeline and our commitment to increasing Indigenous employment opportunities across the Qantas Group;
- Supporting Indigenous-owned enterprises through our supplier diversity program;
- Offering Qantas employees a range of opportunities to experience and appreciate Indigenous culture and promote cultural diversity within the company and to the travelling public; and
- Using our unique position in the Australian community to promote and educate Qantas’ partners and customers about Indigenous art, culture and excellence in education, sport and the performing arts to actively support reconciliation and Indigenous issues.
Qantas continues to expand its extensive partnerships, which include sponsorship of Indigenous groups and organisations, including Reconciliation Australia, Yothu Yindi Foundation, the Clontarf Foundation, the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation and Bangarra Dance Theatre.
Qantas currently employs around 355 Indigenous Australians.
Adam joins current Qantas Ambassadors Miranda Kerr, John Travolta, Mark Webber, Daniel Ricciardo and Kelly Cartwright.
Source: Qantas Corporate Communication media release
