Professor James Charles (BPod, MthSci (Pod), PhD) is a very proud Kaurna man for the Adelaide Plains, South Australia and Director of the First Peoples Health Unit, Griffith University. Dr Charles has previously worked at the Deakin University, University of Newcastle, and Charles Sturt University. 

Prof Charles was one of the first Aboriginal podiatrists in Australia, the first Aboriginal person to receive a Master of Podiatry, and the first Aboriginal Podiatrist to receive a PhD (Aboriginal foot health). Dr Charles has volunteered his time at many Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, boards, and committees around Australia. James has provided clinical podiatry services to Aboriginal communities all over Australia, in urban, rural and remote places. 

Dr Charles was Chairperson of Indigenous Allied Health Australia 2009 – 2010, and Chairperson of the Indigenous Allied Health Australia Network 2008. Dr Charles was very proud to be a representative on the national “Close the Gap” committee in 2008-2009. Dr Charles was very honoured to receive the national NAIDOC “Scholar of the Year” award in 2017 for his teaching, research and work in the Aboriginal community. 

Dr Charles has also received the prestigious Alumni Accolade Award from the University of South Australia in 2018, and the outstanding Alumni Achiever Award from the University of Newcastle 2019. Prof Charles has received a UNESCO achievement award for scientific education in 2019. Prof Charles has conducted many research projects and published many research papers on Aboriginal health in peer-reviewed journals and several book chapters.