A charity CEO has been suspended from her role and had a local hero award placed under review following allegations that she perpetuated a “vulgar” and “highly sexualised” workplace.
Narang Bir-rong Aboriginal Corporation’s board confirmed CEO Heidi Bradshaw had been suspended after the Herald exposed allegations of a “toxic” culture where at least one former employee developed a psychological injury.
Bradshaw was accused of texting staff about which member of a sports team sponsored by the company she would like to sleep with, removing the belt of a government employee at a staff party and storing it in the office, and hiring someone she met on a dating app. She was also captured on a video sexually grinding on another staff member at a work Christmas party on a bus.
Further allegations have come to light in which Bradshaw is accused of using disgruntled employees’ emails to vote for herself in the 2021 Westfield Local Hero Award, for which she was awarded $10,000 for charity projects.
In a statement to the Herald, the corporation’s board said the decision to suspend Bradshaw was made following new information.
“Following careful consideration, Narang Bir-rong has suspended CEO Heidi Bradshaw. This decision has been made in light of new information that has come to hand, to safeguard stability, and to uphold community confidence in Narang Bir-rong,” the board’s statement read.
CEO of Narang Bir-rong Aboriginal Corporation Heidi Bradshaw is accused of rigging a local hero award.Credit: Sydney Morning Herald
“We take this matter very seriously and will continue to act in the best interests of the organisation and the communities we serve.”
The board previously denied the allegations against Bradshaw, saying the incidents had been investigated and found to have no basis or have been resolved to the board’s satisfaction.
The organisation received nearly $9.5 million last financial year from the state government to care for Indigenous children removed from their homes.
Heidi Bradshaw allegedly used other employee emails to vote for herself in the Westfield Local Heroes Award.Credit: Facebook
Bradshaw serves on the Leukaemia Foundation’s board of directors, is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and previously served on the boards of the Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies and the Financial Legal Rights Centre.
In 2021, Bradshaw was one of three Westfield Local Hero Awards winners. The award recognises people for the “positive impact they make on the local community or environment”. She was awarded $10,000 to help fund NBAC projects.
“I feel privileged that people acknowledge something that I am involved in and recognise the work that Narang Bir-rong Aboriginal Corporation does,” Bradshaw said in an interview published on Westfield’s website.
Narang Bir-rong Aboriginal Organisation CEO Heidi Bradshaw allegedly sent screenshots of her using former staff emails’ – including a personal email – to vote for herself.
“Being part of this organisation inspires me every day. I hope we can circulate that inspiration out to the wider community.”
However, the Herald has obtained screenshots of Bradshaw’s messages to other senior NBAC staff members, which allegedly show her using five other employees’ email addresses and the personal email of another former employee to vote for herself.
“Aw guys look at this,” Bradshaw allegedly wrote in a 2021 message to either senior staff members showing her using a former manager’s email. “How sweet of her.”
Three former staff members whose emails were allegedly used by Bradshaw confirmed to the Herald they had not voted for her and would not have if given the opportunity.
One former staff member reported the matter to police this year.
Scentre Group, which operates Westfield, is reviewing the matter after being contacted by the Herald.
Narang Bir-rong CEO Heidi Bradshaw was awarded $10,000 in the Westfield Local Hero awards.
The NBAC board said it was aware of the allegations.
“They are being investigated. Narang Bir-rong is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability,” the board said in a statement.
One worker has successfully pursued a workers’ compensation claim against NBAC, with a second claim lodged by another staff member. Both were for psychological injury.