The Leah Armstrong Scholarship program is a partnership between First Nations Foundation and First Nations Economics and is named in honor of trailblazing Torres Strait Islander woman, Leah Armstrong. The Scholarship is designed to empower First Nations economies through supporting the education of First Nations women and girls in areas such as economics, finance and community governance.

Leah, a proud Torres Strait Islander woman, is a senior professional with over 25 year’s business and not for profit experience. Currently Leah is leading First Australians Capital in innovating how Indigenous enterprises access the right capital and right support. This includes an ambitious Indigenous-led and managed impact investment fund. Leah currently serves on several Boards including a Trustee of The Nature Conservancy (Australia), Chairperson of the First Nations Advisory Group of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), member of the First Nations Governance Committee and Co-Chair of the First Nation Funders Network of Philanthropy Australia (PA) and a Australian representative of the Partnership Council for the Indigenous Peoples Economic Trade Co-operation Arrangement (IPETCA). 

Leah has played a pivotal role in national Indigenous affairs as past CEO of Reconciliation Australia; Director of Indigenous Business Australia; Director of Indigenous Engagement and Advancement at the University of Newcastle, a member of the Business Council of Australia’s Indigenous Taskforce, a member of the Prime Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council, a Fellow of the University of Sydney Senate, Chairperson of Supply Nation and Chairperson of Aboriginal Housing Office NSW. Leah was also a co-founder and Managing Director of Yarnteen Ltd, an Aboriginal community economic development organisation in Newcastle. 

Leah has been recognized as a “True Leader” by the Australian Financial Review Boss Magazine and named in the inaugural Australian Financial Review/Westpac 100 Influential Women Awards.