Lunch with a Leader – Canberra – Sheryl Hedges

Sheryl is a Senior Executive and proud Walbanga Woman leading the First Nations Water Branch within Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. With a background as a Detective Sergeant in the Australian Federal Police and service as a Captain in the Australian Army Reserve, she brings a foundation of strong leadership, integrity, and commitment to public service.

Sheryl chairs the Directorate established to oversee the interim governance of the Murray-Daring Basin Aboriginal Water Entitlements Program —steering the acquisition and allocation of $100 million in water entitlements to First Nations communities, guided by principles of cultural benefit, shared value, and First Nations-led governance.

A champion of meaningful engagement, Sheryl emphasizes the “pace of trust”—respecting community protocols, listening deeply, and proceeding at a pace defined by relationship and mutual understanding. Her work reflects a commitment to “nothing about us without us,” empowering First Nations Peoples to determine, lead, and own outcomes around Country and water.

Outside her official roles, Sheryl is also an advocate for learning and mentoring programs, an avid Sydney Swans supporter, and a Eurovision Song Contest enthusiast—underscoring her down‑to‑earth appetite for community and culture.