In July 2016 Mr Joseph Elu was re-elected for the sixth term to the TSRA Board for Seisia.  His previous terms on the TSRA Board were 1994-1997, 1997-2000, 2000-2004, 2008-2012 and 2012-2016.

At the inaugural meeting of the new TSRA Board in September 2016, Mr Elu was elected as the TSRA Portfolio Member for Economic Development.

Mr Elu is the Divisional Councillor for Seisia on the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council.  He is the Chairperson of Seisia Enterprises Pty Ltd and Seisia Community Torres Strait Islander Corporation.  In 2017 Mr Elu was appointed the Deputy Chairperson of the Indigenous Land Council (ILC). He was the Chairperson for Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) (formerly known as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commercial Development Corporation) for 12 years.  In 2008 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia and awarded the NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award.  In 2001 and in 2002 was awarded the Centenary Medal.

During his career, Mr Elu has been an influential leader in Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal affairs and Indigenous economic development.  With 21 years’ experience as Council Chairman for Seisia, Mr Elu has been instrumental in assisting Indigenous people throughout Australia to develop sustainable economic enterprises.