Tilé & Olly Meets: Melia Benn & Joshua Creamer

When we recorded this episode back in February, we had no idea it would end up getting published, fortuitously, we think, on Reconciliation Week. You are in for a treat as we meet with not one, but two leading Australian barristers, Joshua Creamer and Melia Benn. Their accolades are many (and we try to provide a snapshot below), but they are truly down to earth individuals and we really enjoyed our yarn.

Joshua Creamer

Joshua is a descendant of the Waanyi and Kalkadoon people from North Western Queensland.

Joshua is a barrister who specialises in human rights class actions and native title. He was previously a member of the Board of Legal Aid Queensland and a past President of the Indigenous Lawyers Association of Queensland.

Joshua is ranked in Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific and Doyle’s Guide for his work in the native title jurisdiction. In 2017, Joshua was the recipient of the National Indigenous Legal Professional of the Year Award.

In September 2023 he was appointed as a Commissioner of the Queensland Law Reform Commission. He has recently been appointed as the Chair of the Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry in Queensland.

Melia Benn

Melia is Mamu and Gunggandji. She is one of only two Aboriginal women barristers practicing at the Queensland Bar. She grew up in Far North Queensland and was called to the Bar in 2018.

Melia has a dual practice in both Endeavour Chambers, Cairns and Aspect Chambers, Brisbane. She has a broad practice in Class Action proceedings including advocating for First Nations People, Coronial Inquests, Discrimination and Human Rights matters.

Melia is a sessional legal member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal. In 2021, Melia was awarded the Australian Lawyers Alliance’s Queensland Civil Justice Award, which recognises individuals or organisations who have displayed an outstanding commitment to the pursuit of justice. In 2023, Melia was awarded the Outstanding Indigenous Alumni Award by James Cook University.