Ebony Allen is a Kamilaroi and Dharug woman based in Garramilla, Larrakia Country/Darwin, Northern Territory, working independently and collaboratively for and with First Nations people Australia-wide.

Ebony is a dynamic professional with over 19 years leadership in advocacy, strategy, policy and projects for and with Indigenous people.

As a self-proclaimed career chameleon and a person with a penchant for waffling, Ebony has difficulty providing an elevator pitch on who she is, what she’s done and what she can do. Notwithstanding this, this is your professional introduction to her so hopefully we can tell you what you want to know!

Overview

  • Ebony has been operating Ebony Allen Consulting for eight years; five of which were done on top of a full-time job in the public service (because who needs free time?!).

  • Ebony currently runs Ebony Allen Consulting full-time, as well as another small business; Little Big Sista, that sells beautiful things featuring the artwork of Ebony’s family including her mother, Linda Davidson (#EbsMum).

  • Ebony has a Bachelor of Laws in Australian Indigenous Laws and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the University of Techonology Sydney. Ebony has also been admitted to practice law in the Supreme Court of New South Wales (2009).

  • Ebony has held a number of roles on distinguished government and non-government committees and boards, including

    • The National Youth Roundtable;

    • The New South Wales Premiers Council for Women; and

    • The New South Wales Youth Advisory Council.

  • Ebony has worked across non-profit, government and non-government organisations in a range of different industries, in a full-time and consulting capacity.

  • Ebony is Supply Nation registered and a certified member of the Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network.

  • Ebony is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and has a current OCHRE card (Working with Children Clearance - Northern Territory Government).

A sample of some of Ebony’s professional experience

Solicitor, NTSCORP (formerly NSW Native Title Services)

Manager, KPMG Australia

Manager, Winangali

Community Engagement Coordinator, City of Sydney

Director, Indigenous Education NT Department of Education

First Nations Advisor, Goodman Fielder.

Sub-contracting experience

Ebony has undertaken a range of roles in a sub-contracting capacity since commencing consulting in 2015. Ebony is proud to say that most, if not all, sub-contracting that she has undertaken has been for and with Aboriginal businesses.

The roles undertaken have involved:

  • Research and facilitation

  • Events and related logistics

  • Report writing

  • Strategic development

  • Advice on approach to Indigenous engagement and culture(s)

  • Introductions and brokerage with Traditional Owners and Indigenous communities specific to a particular location or region

  • Communications

  • Project management.

Fun Facts

  • When Ebony isn’t being serious and working, Ebony is passionate about volunteering and until mid-2024, was proud to take an active role in the organisation of Darwin’s Sunset Soup Kitchen - a mobile initiative that fed individuals in Darwin that are sleeping rough, financially distressed or are just in need of some company and a meal.

  • Ebony is a keen traveller who has been to every state and territory in Australia and 23 different countries around the world. In 2013, she travelled to Europe, Canada and the United States in a unicorn onesie and documented it on her (now-dead) website, The Travelling Unicorn.

  • The first concert Ebony went to was Yothu Yindi at the Piggery (now the Arts Factory Lodge in Byron Bay), when she was five years old. EbsDad had to convince the door staff that Ebony was a “very well behaved eight year old”, which delighted to her to no end. Ebony now attributes her reduced hearing levels to this and other gigs.

  • Ebony has been paid for some interesting jobs over the years, but credits being a Professional Zombie for Halloween at a mansion in Long Beach, California, as a career highlight.

  • Despite being in her late 30s, Ebony remembers the dance moves to S Club 7’s Bring It All Back that she choreographed in the 1990s.