Ryan James

Tell us something that might surprise others to learn about you.

Probably that I completed a university degree while I was still playing professional rugby league. I became the first active Indigenous NRL player to complete a degree while playing, and I later went on to complete my MBA as well. When people see a footy player, education probably isn't the first thing they think of, so I'm pretty proud of that.

What inspired you to pursue your current career path?

A big part of it came from my own experiences. Rugby league gave me some amazing opportunities, but education gave me something that football couldn't – confidence that there was a life and a purpose for me outside of the game.

Being a proud Bundjalung man, I've also always wanted to give back to our young people. I spent a few years as an ambassador with Beyond the Broncos and got to visit schools and meet the students firsthand. I could see the impact the program was having, so when the opportunity came to move into the education space full-time, it felt like a natural next step.

What challenges or obstacles shaped who you are?

Professional sport shaped me massively. You're constantly being judged on performance, dealing with injuries, selection, pressure and uncertainty.

Being an Indigenous athlete and then moving into education and leadership has also made me conscious of the importance of representation.

I've had to learn how to walk into different rooms and back myself, whether that's a football dressing room, a university classroom, a boardroom or a community meeting. All of those experiences have shaped how I operate today.

Can you share a valuable lesson you learned from a setback or failure in your career?

Rugby league teaches you pretty quickly that things aren't always going to go your way. I've had injuries, losses, missed opportunities and plenty of times where I've questioned myself.

One thing I've learnt is that a setback doesn't have to become your whole story. You can be disappointed, learn from it and keep moving.

I think that's something I've carried into leadership as well. You're going to get things wrong. Own it, learn from it and try to be better next time.

Why does your work matter?

Because our people matter.

A big part of my work with Beyond the Broncos is focused on young people. Sometimes all a young person needs is someone consistently showing up, believing in them and helping them see opportunities they might not have thought were possible.

We're not there to tell young people what their future should look like. We're there to help give them the confidence, support and opportunities to decide that for themselves.

But I'm also fortunate that my work now goes beyond education. Through the work I do with Indigenous businesses, communities and Traditional Owners, I get the opportunity to support our people in different ways. Whether it's helping a young person see a pathway after school or helping a community build something sustainable for the future, it's all about creating better opportunities for Indigenous Australians.

What impact are you most proud of having?

The impact on young people is what I'm proudest of.

Playing NRL was a dream and something I'll always be proud of, but there's something pretty special about walking into a school and having a young Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student see someone who has played professional sport, gone to university and now works in education and leadership.

If that helps even one kid think, "Maybe I can do that too," then that means a lot to me.

Can you share a specific initiative or current project you are working on that excites you?

I'm currently the First Nations Education Program Manager with the Brisbane Broncos, working across our Beyond the Broncos programs.

What excites me is looking at how we take an already successful program and make it even better. We're working with thousands of young people across Queensland and northern New& South Wales, and I want to make sure we're not just getting kids through school, but helping them understand what is possible afterwards.

Whether that's university, further education, employment, leadership or something completely different, I want our young people leaving school believing they have options.

Outside of the Broncos, I'm also continuing my work through Indigenous Innovation Ventures. One project I'm particularly excited about is our work with the Mabuiag Island community in the Torres Strait. We've helped secure around $2 million in funding, but for me the exciting part now is what comes next – helping with the planning and business support so we're building something sustainable rather than creating something that continually relies on more funding.

It's a different space to the work I do with young people, but the common thread is really the same: helping create opportunities that can have a long-term impact for our people.

Did you have any mentors from Griffith who influenced you?

Rather than one individual mentor, the GUMURRII Student Success Unit was a massive support for me during my time at Griffith. Having access to tutors and people who understood the challenges of balancing university with everything else I had going on made a huge difference.

At the time I was juggling professional rugby league, training and travel alongside study, so having that extra support when I needed it helped keep me going. It also showed me how important culturally appropriate support is within education – something I probably appreciate even more now working with young Indigenous people myself.

What advice would you give to a current Griffith student or recent graduate?

Don't think you need to have your whole life mapped out.

When I was playing rugby league, I wasn't sitting there thinking that one day I'd be managing First Nations education programs. I just knew education would give me more options when football eventually finished.

Take opportunities, meet people, ask questions and don't be afraid to put yourself into rooms where you might feel a little uncomfortable.

And don't underestimate where your degree might take you. The job you eventually love might be something you don't even know exists yet.

What does it mean to you to be recognised by Griffith?

It means a lot.

I've been lucky enough to receive recognition for things I've done in rugby league, but being recognised for the work and impact outside of football is different.

Education became a really important part of my journey, so to now be recognised by Griffith feels like things have come full circle a little bit.

I'm also proud that a Bundjalung man and former rugby league player can be recognised in this space and hopefully show other young people that there isn't just one pathway available to them.