Professor Cindy Shannon is a descendent of the Ngugi people from Moreton Bay. She is an Emeritus Professor with the University of Queensland and was the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) at the University of Queensland from 2011–2017 and Director of its Poche Centre for Indigenous Health.
Prior to that she led the development and implementation of Australia’s first degree level program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers. Cindy has led major reforms in Indigenous health and played a key role is supporting the establishment of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health in supporting South East Queensland.
Professor Shannon has contributed to Indigenous health and education policy in Queensland and nationally. She served on the Council of NHMRC from 2005–12 and is currently the Chair of the Queensland Ministerial Advisory Committee on Sexual Health, co-patron of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation and sits on a number of not-for profit boards, including as the current chair of the Brisbane South Primary Health Network and Advisor to the Gold Coast Health and Hospital Board.
In 2017, Professor Shannon was recognised as a Queensland Great for contributions to Indigenous Health and Education and in 2020 was made a Member of the Order of Australia (in general division) for contributions to Medical Education and Indigenous Health. Professor Shannon was awarded the AMA Queensland Excellence in Health Care medal in 2022.
