People who have signigicantly influenced Koorie Education in Victoria.

	Chairpersons of the VAECG Professor Colin Bourke Alf Bamblett		Presidents of VAEAI Phillip Cooper Kennedy Edwards Dr. Mary Atkinson Geraldine Atkinson
	Executive Officer's of the VAECG Bruce McGuinness Dianne Fitzgerald Esme Halden Alan Brown Gary Murray Lionel Bamblett		Community Members Aunty Melva Johnson Aunty Laura Bell Wendy Brabham Vera Briggs Lil Pettit Terrylene Marks Uncle Albert Mullett Ambrose Golden-Brown
	Non - Koories Glynn Beaton Ian Adams Mr Ming Chui Jan Muller Alan Peach Joan Kirner Stephen Elder Bruce Kiloh

Phillip Cooper

Phillip became the first President of the newly incorporated VAEAI in 1985 and remained in the position until 1987. He was elected as President again in 1989. Phillip worked in Aboriginal Education and was involved in many programs before he left VAEAI and went to the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, where he worked for seven years. Phillip has continued his involvement in Koorie Education in a number of different roles since 1985.

Kennedy Edwards

Kennedy became President of the VAEAI in 1988. He worked extensively in the area of Aboriginal housing prior to this and left VAEAI in 1989 to pursue his interests in Aboriginal Housing. Kennedy was the Chairman of the Victorian Aboriginal Housing Board for a total period of ten years.

Dr. Mary Atkinson (Moira/Wiradjuri)

Dr. Mary Atkinson has been involved in Aboriginal Affairs since the 1960's. She became involved in Koorie education in 1976, and she was one of the founding members of the Goulburn Valley Aboriginal Education Consultative Group in Shepparton. In 1978, Mary was one of the first members from country Victoria to become a member of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Consultative Group. Aunty Mary was a member and later, President of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association, a member of the National Aboriginal Education Committee, and then Chairperson of the National Federation of Aboriginal Education Consultative Groups. Mary became the President of VAEAI in 1990 and continued on in that capacity until 1999 when she retired. As President of VAEAI, Mary negotiated with Joan Kirner in 1990 to formalise a partnership between the Koorie community and the Department of Education. The implementation of this partnership has seen joint management a reality in Victoria. In 2000, the Ballarat University conferred an Honorary Doctorate on Mary Atkinson because of her involvement in Koorie education in Victoria since 1978. Mary served on many other Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal committees during her years working in Aboriginal education.

Geraldine Atkinson (Moira/Wiradjuri)

Geraldine Atkinson has been involved in Koorie Education since 1976 when she was employed as an Aboriginal Teacher Aide. Geraldine as been a member of the VAEAI, serving as the adult specialist representative and then because of her extensive background in TAFE, as the TAFE specialist representative. Geraldine became President of VAEAI at the Annual General Meeting in 1999, and then was re-elected in 2000. Geraldine launched the Wurreker Strategy in 2000.