BA LLB (UNSW) PhD (ANU)

Dr Terri Janke

Solicitor Director

Areas of Practice

Terri Janke is a Wuthathi/Meriam woman and an international authority on Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP), known for innovating pathways between the non-Indigenous business sector and Indigenous people in business. As the owner and Solicitor Director of Terri Janke and Company, she manages her team to deliver excellent results to a diverse client base. Terri advises on legal matters including intellectual property, business law, shareholder agreements and governance of Indigenous organisations. She has written leading ICIP Protocols and models for various sectors including the arts, museums, archives, film and business. Terri is also a valued mentor, accredited mediator and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

​Photo by Jamie James

Artwork: Bibi Barba, 'Terri - Butterfly Flowers Dreaming' (2020)

Experience

Terri was admitted to practice in 1995. She holds an Unrestricted Practising Certificate and is a member of the Law Society of NSW. In 2019, she was awarded a PhD from the Australia National University for her thesis True Tracks: Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Principles for putting Self-Determination into practice. Terri is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and Resolve Mediators. She is currently on the board of the National Gallery of Australia and Chair of the First Nations Rugby Committee. Previous board positions include: National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (Deputy Chair), State Library of NSW, Jawun, Tourism Australia, National Indigenous Television (Chair) and Ngalaya Indigenous Lawyers Association (Chair). 

Recent Projects

• Lead Author, First Languages, Law & Governance Guide for Department of Communications and the Arts;

• Lead Author, Indigenous Knowledge: Issues for protection and management (2017) for IP Australia;

• Team Leader, First Peoples: A Roadmap for enhancing Indigenous engagement in museums and galleries (2019), a nationwide initiative for Australian Museums and Galleries Association (AMaGA);

• Reviewing ACT Legislation: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body Act 2008;

• Consultant for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on the Pacific Traditional Knowledge Action Plan.

Selected Awards

• NAIDOC Person of the Year 2011 

• Australian Attorney-General’s Indigenous Legal Professional of the Year 2012 

• Finalist, Telstra NSW Business Women’s Awards 2015 

• Finalist, Indigenous in Business, Ethnic Business Awards 2015 

• Finalist, Sydney City Regional Business Awards 2018 

• Community Lawyer of the Year 2019 (NSW Women Lawyers)

• Indigenous Business Leader of the Year 2019 (My Business Awards) 

Terri is an accomplished business woman and property investor. She is married and has two beautiful adult children. To relax she enjoys music, beach walks and exercising at NCIE gym.