<p>Dr Michael Limerick is a barrister and consultant from Brisbane, Australia specialising in indigenous governance and policy.&nbsp; He has degrees in law and political science and recently completed PhD research involving case studies of the performance of Aboriginal councils in north Queensland.&nbsp; Michael worked for the Queensland Government from 1994 to 2007, holding a range of legal, policy and management positions including Director of the Policy Research Branch in the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy.&nbsp; He led a number of key government initiatives including developing new legislation for Aboriginal councils and the introduction of alcohol management plans and justice system reforms in remote indigenous communities. &nbsp;Since 2008, he has worked in private practice, focusing on policy research, program evaluation and community governance and development in indigenous and regional communities.&nbsp; He has also been facilitating a government-industry partnership to increase indigenous participation in the resource sector in North West Queensland and the Bowen Basin. &nbsp;Michael has drafted local laws for several Queensland local governments, drawing on his legal qualifications and knoweldge of government legislation and local government service delivery issues.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>