Professor Hurriyet is Professor of Regional Economic and Policy Development at the James Cook University and also the Research Director at the Rural Economies Centre of Excellence. Hurriyet has a distinguished career over the last 25 years in senior leadership roles in higher education, public private partnerships and the public sector. She has held roles such as the Victorian Manager of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet; Executive Director, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Pro Vice-Chancellor; CEO of Tablelands Regional Council and director of research institutes. Hurriyet is currently the Chair of Regional Development Australia, Tropical North. Hurriyet is well recognised nationally and internationally including publications, keynote presentations, capacity building and other activities. She has been a member of high-profile international working parties such as the wellbeing working party of Council of Europe and OECD and steering committee member of the United Nations-Queensland Government Engaging Communities initiatives, including a major global conference on community engagement. She has recently completed a TEDx talk on Inclusive Economic Development. Her work relates to regional resilience, gender, social inclusion, workforce development and labour markets, regional digital connectivity, climate change and livelihoods, circular economy and waste management across Northern Austalia and the Indo-Pacific region. Hurriyet has been recognised for her work through a number of awards including the Order of Australia (AM) in 2014, Bi-Centenary Medal awarded by the Prime Minister, Telstra Business Women’s Award and the Multicultural Services Award. She is listed in the Australian Women’s Archives as an Australian women leader.