Professor Marcia Langton
Professor Marcia Langton AO
Melbourne Laureate | Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor | Foundation Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies
Indigenous Studies Unit
Melbourne Laureate Professor Marcia Langton AO, PhD, is a distinguished anthropologist, geographer, and academic renowned for her groundbreaking work in Indigenous studies. Descended from the Yiman and Bidjara nations of Queensland, Professor Langton has dedicated her career to advocating for the rights and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Professor Langton's journey into advocacy began in 1977 when she assumed the role of General Secretary of the Federal Council for Advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. This marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to advancing Indigenous rights. During the 1980s, Professor Langton pursued her studies at the Australian National University, where she honed her expertise in anthropology.
Following her academic pursuits, Professor Langton spent five years as an anthropologist with the Central Land Council in Alice Springs, where she conducted crucial research into Indigenous land rights. Her involvement in the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody from 1989 to 1992 further solidified her position as a leading voice in Indigenous advocacy.
Professor Langton's contributions to policy and legislation are profound, notably her instrumental role in the passage of the Native Title Act in 1993. Throughout her illustrious career, she has held esteemed academic positions, including Ranger Professor of Aboriginal Studies at the Northern Territory University and the Foundation Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies and Appointment to Associate Provost at the University of Melbourne.
A prolific and acclaimed author and editor, her recent publications include Welcome to Country: A Guide to Indigenous Australia (2021); Law: The Way of the Ancestors (2023, co-edited with Professor Aaron Corn); Dhoombak Goobgoowana: A History of Indigenous Australia and the University of Melbourne – Volume 1: Truth (2024, co-edited with Dr Ross Jones and Dr James Waghorne); Indigenous Knowledge: Australian Perspectives (2024, co-edited with Professor Aaron Corn and Dr Samuel Curkpatrick), and 65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art (2024, co-edited with Judith Ryan AM). This acclaimed catalogue coincides with the exhibition of the same name showing at the Potter Museum of Art (Showing 30th May – 22nd November 2025 – Curatorial Team: Professor Langton AO, Dr Judith Ryan AM and Shanysa McConville).
Dhoombak Goobgoowana: A History of Indigenous Australia and the University of Melbourne – Volume 2: Truth (2025 co-edited with Dr Ross Jones and Dr James Waghorne) was recently launched and is available in online as a PDF or ebook.
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