Christina Coleman’s path to becoming a First Nations Talent Attraction and Acquisition Manager at EY Australia is anything but conventional – but it will definitely leave you feeling inspired!
Her career trajectory reflects her incredible resilience, cultural advocacy, and commitment to inclusivity.
A proud Wiradjuri/Murrawarri woman who now resides on Gubbi Gubbi Country (Sunshine Coast QLD), Christina’s story is not just about her personal journey but also about paving the way for others from underrepresented communities.
A challenging start
Growing up in a regional Aboriginal community in New South Wales, Christina faced racism at an early age. Targeted by peers, she initially responded with anger and physical fights. However, a pivotal conversation with her mother led to a change in her mindset.
“As I got a little bit older, my mum said to me, Chrissy, you will never get anywhere by having a chip on your shoulder and fighting. You’re either going to end up dead in jail or on drugs, and it’s not going to do you any justice being an angry little Aboriginal girl running around just fighting people. It’s not going to solve the problem. Very wise words from Mum! So I took that on and thought, what kind of role model do I want to be to my younger brothers?”
Taking her mother’s advice to heart, Christina redirected her energy towards advocacy. She became a defender of her school’s underdogs—the students who felt excluded—and her leadership soon led to an unexpected role: becoming school captain.
“That was the first time an Indigenous person had ever been a school captain there, and it gave me a sense of purpose, standing up for those who felt unseen. And that set me on a trajectory to want to create change in my life, but also be a role model for others.”
The first big leap: University and homelessness
At 18, Christina embarked on a journey to Sydney to pursue an arts and exercise science degree at the University of New South Wales. Initially, the excitement of university life was exhilarating. But after a few months, financial struggles began to overshadow her studies.
Unable to balance study with enough work to pay her bills, Christina faced a tough decision: she gave up her apartment and lived homeless on campus for almost 18 months.
“I bought a sleeping bag, a camp stove, and a swag. I set up camp in the botanical gardens, waking up before dawn to pack my things and head to the gym to shower. It was a harsh Sydney winter, but that experience shaped me. It eliminated distractions and allowed me to focus on my education.”
After a year of living this way and the mounting pressures of her studies, she realised she needed support and reached out to her family, who were, in Christina’s words, gutted to learn about her situation:
“I didn’t tell anyone because I was too ashamed. I didn’t know there was any kind of support at the university—maybe there was a scholarship or bursary I could have been eligible for, but I didn’t know how to ask those questions.”
One thing that immediately stands out about Christina when you speak to her is her resilience and sense of strong self-advocacy. Despite how challenging this experience was, Christina rose to meet the challenge. Now, further along in her journey, she’s fully able to see where this experience was leading her, and she embraces it as a core part of her ongoing journey:
“It was after this experience that I realised I wanted to help the ‘Christinas’ of the world, those who weren’t being seen and falling through the cracks of society. The only place I knew I could find them was in youth justice. That’s why I started working as a youth worker with kids who had fallen into the prison system.”
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A passionate drive to create change
Throughout her life, Christina has never lost sight of her desire to help others. After leaving university, she pursued a career in youth justice, spending 15 years working with Indigenous youth.
“As an Indigenous woman, I understood the barriers we face in the justice system and was passionate about making a difference. For some of these kids, there’s no place lower than prison—except being six feet under. I spent 15 years working in youth justice, moving from frontline roles to strategic leadership, trying to understand how to create real change.”
Chatting with Christina, it’s clear how deep her passion for helping others runs, but she also acknowledges how challenging this work can be when you’re up against entrenched systemic structures. While she was deeply committed to her work, she reached a point where she knew she had to take a different approach:
“I wanted to create some change within the system, but it was so much bigger than me. I eventually got burnt out. I had my family young, and by the time COVID-19 hit, I decided it was time to leave my role in youth justice. After that, I briefly worked in the mining industry, travelling around Australia and facilitating cultural capability training for senior mining leaders. I helped them embed cultural strategies and gave them the tools and skills they needed to feel confident as leaders, especially in change management. During this time, I also co-founded a not-for-profit organisation with a friend to support Indigenous women. We acted as an external retention mechanism for mining companies, providing cultural safety and building trust within the sector.”
During this time, Christina’s earlier chance meeting from 2017 came back around, sparking a new, exciting career trajectory.
Moving into corporate Australia
Christina’s transition from youth justice to corporate Australia was unexpected. It was sparked by a chance encounter with Paul Mitchell, EY‘s Global Mining and Metals Sector Leader.
“I met Paul in 2017 and had no idea who he was. He and his team supported our not-for-profit organisation, and they were so genuine and authentic. I thought to myself, if I ever got the opportunity to work at EY Australia, I would love to.”
That opportunity came in 2021, and Christina made the leap:
“My experience with Paul and his team reinforced that my differences were valid. When a role in Talent Acquisition opened, I didn’t hesitate. I knew EY Australia was a place where I could thrive.”
Since joining EY Australia as the First Nations Talent Attraction and Acquisition Manager just over two years ago, Christina has focused on creating culturally safe touchpoints within their recruitment and hiring processes. While this was a significant change from her previous career, she shares that she has never felt hindered by any potential ‘lack’ of skills. She’s only ever felt celebrated for everything she brings to the team:
“I may not have the technical skills of a traditional talent acquisition background, but I know what connection to culture is, and I understand the lived experience. We have so many amazing people at EY Australia with those technical skills, and I provide the cultural overlay. We’re walking hand in hand on this journey, combining what I bring to the table with what I’m learning from our recruiters and female leaders. I’ve taken a lot of guidance from these women—seeing the barriers and challenges they face and how they stay solution-focused while staying true to their authentic selves, creating change in their spheres of influence.”
Creating cultural safety at EY Australia
One of Christina’s main focuses at EY Australia is fostering cultural safety for candidates and employees.
This includes contributing to developing resources like Acknowledgment of Country guides and addressing concepts such as ‘shame’ in recruitment, which can impact Indigenous candidates. As part of her role, Christina also supports initiatives like Yarning Circles, which provide safe spaces for employees to ask challenging or uncomfortable questions.
“My job is to create culturally safe touchpoints for our recruiters and hiring managers. I work with the team to ensure they understand the nuances of Indigenous culture and why it’s important to approach recruitment with a high-context, culturally sensitive lens. We run sessions called ‘You Can’t Ask That’ because we know people want to ask these questions, but they’re too polite or worried about being politically incorrect. These conversations are necessary, and I’m here to make sure they happen in a safe, respectful way.”
One of Christina’s most significant achievements at EY Australia has been developing the firm’s Indigenous Engagement Strategy.
“This is something I’m incredibly proud of. It’s not just a document—it’s a living strategy that involves an implementation plan and key deliverables. It’s about embedding diversity at every level of the organisation.”
Christina’s work extends beyond policy development. She’s also created tangible tools for hiring managers and recruiters, including interactive models that track cultural learning and maturity.
“We have decision trees where managers can assess where they stand in terms of cultural understanding at the beginning of the program and see measurable outcomes by the end. It’s not just about hiring Indigenous candidates; it’s about ensuring they’re supported and developed once they’re part of the team.”
And one thing Christina is clear on is the incredible support of her team, without whom none of the work she does would be possible:
“Our DE&I team is incredible. We have operational meetings throughout the week, and there’s so much transparency. Even though we’re geographically dispersed, we never feel disconnected. Everyone applies their lens to every problem, and we create solutions together. It’s amazing to be part of such a supportive, authentic team. The great thing about our team is the transparency in our approach. Everyone knows what’s happening, and even though we’re focused on the Indigenous pillar, which is just one part of our DE&I efforts, we have the resources and support from everyone. When challenges come up, everyone brings their unique perspective. Each person applies their lens to the problem, and together, we devise a solution.”
Growing through shared vulnerability
A key theme in Christina’s career journey is the strength of vulnerability, and saying, “I don’t know this—can you teach me?” is a powerful tool.
“I’ve always believed there’s strength in vulnerability. In a corporate environment, we need to move past ego and be open about what we don’t know. When I started at EY Australia, I didn’t come in with the technical skills that others had, but I came with a genuine approach, a willingness to learn, and the ability to apply a cultural lens to everything I do. There’s so much strength in being honest about what you don’t know. And the support I’ve received at EY has made all the difference. My leaders and teammates have always been willing to guide me, and that’s helped me grow.”
When asked what success means to her, Christina’s answer is both personal and profound, and she credits COVID-19 with reshaping her view of work-life balance:
“Success to me is being genuine in every aspect of my life. We’ve learned that we can be full-time workers and mothers and manage everything while living our lives. Work doesn’t stop when family life starts. It’s all one big, beautiful mess, and if we can be genuine in both, that’s success.”
Christina’s journey—from homelessness to a leadership role at one of the world’s top firms—is nothing short of remarkable. But for her, it’s about more than personal success. It’s about paving the way for others.
“If we get it right for marginalised communities and help uplift them, we get it right for everyone. EY Australia becomes a stepping stone for success when we provide the support needed to help all individuals thrive. This isn’t just about the few; it’s about creating an inclusive space that reflects the diversity of our communities—embracing all backgrounds and driving meaningful change throughout our organisation.”
