NAIDOC Week - Zayne Jeffries

NAIDOC Week is an opportunity to celebrate and honour the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year, Thales is shining a spotlight on the contributions, achievements and stories of Indigenous employees.  

Zayne, a proud Murruwarri-Ngemba man, started with Thales Australia in 2021 through CareerTrackers, an organisation that links Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with employers related to their career goals and interests. 

Over his three years at Thales, Zayne has worked in a variety of roles across the business including Avionics, Sales and Marketing and now, Above Water Systems. He has developed and delivered solutions that enhance efficiency and agility for both Thales and its customers.  

Reflecting on this year’s NAIDOC theme, "Keep the Fire Burning! Loud and Proud," Zayne draws inspiration from his mother, an Aboriginal Education Officer in Taree. "She always organises something awesome based on the theme for NAIDOC each year. This year, she’s working with the entirety of the Manning region schools throughout Biripi country. Really cool stuff, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with."

Zayne then spoke to his idea of ‘home,’ recalling the place he feels truly connected to “My Indigenous tribes, the Murruwarri and the Ngemba, dwell in Brewarrina. It’s arid and desert like, but that’s why I love it. I wouldn’t consider myself a spiritual person, but out there it’s different and very calming for someone with a connection to that land."

Read more about Thales Australia’s Commitment to Reconciliation.