Director Information
Member Directors
Michael Bell
Mr Bell was appointed to the board of the company in October 2002. He was elected as Chairperson in May 2005. He is involved with several Aboriginal organisations dedicated to serving the community. They include the National Indigenous HACC Reference group, among others. Mr Bell further assists the community in socio-economic development, particularly in the areas of aged care, employment and education.
Jim Wright
Mr Wright was appointed to the board in October 2002. He was elected to the position of Deputy Chairperson in November 2005 and continues to serve the company in this position. Mr Wright is the current Chairperson/Business Manager of Youloe - Ta Indigenous Development Association Inc and Chairperson of the Yarnteen Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corp. Mr Wright is a past chairperson of the Sydney/Newcastle Regional Aboriginal Land Council and served as a Councillor for the Many Rivers ATSIC Regional Council for 15 years and as an ATSIC Commissioner for one three year term. His portfolio includes sports, youth, elders and disability.
Eddie Briggs
Mr Briggs was appointed as a member-director of the board of the company in October 2002. He is a director of the Kamilaroi Aboriginal Housing Corporation and is a former national committee member of the Aboriginal Medical Health and Research Association and the Northern Tablelands Region Aboriginal Land Council. Mr Briggs has a long and distinguished career in Aboriginal affairs and has been recognised by the community for his efforts in advancing Aboriginal issues.
Allan Lamb
Mr Lamb was appointed as a member-director of the company in August 2002. He is a Yuwaaliyaay & Wiradjuri man and lives in Goodooga. Mr Lamb gained his Bachelor of Arts (Language and Linguistics) and is currently studying for a Graduate Diploma of Management and Administration at the Bachelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education in the NT. He is a director of the Muurdi Paaki Regional Enterprise Corporation. He was also an ATSIC councillor for the Muurdi Paaki region for 15 years.
Norm Newlin
Mr Newlin was appointed as a member director of the company in November 2004. Mr Newlin is a descendant of the Worimi people and is a war veteran. He has an honours degree in communications from the University of Technology and has had his poetry published. Mr Newlin’s involvement in Aboriginal affairs spans almost half a century and he sits on numerous boards including membership of the NSW/ACT Aboriginal Legal Service and the Campbelltown City Council Aboriginal Advisory Committee. His tireless efforts on behalf of the Aboriginal community were recognised in 2006 when he received the Campbelltown City Council Heritage Award. He is also a Justice of the Peace and a Living Book for the Campbelltown Library, and works with detainees of Long Bay jail as an Aboriginal Elder.
Matilda House
Mrs House was appointed as a member director of the company in November 2006. She is an Ngambri clan woman. Ms House’s efforts on behalf of the Aboriginal community of the ACT and NSW are long recognised. She has received the prestigious 2006 ACT Citizen of the Year award and was honoured by the Boomanulla Oval community. Mrs House is involved in various boards including Fatsil (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation of Languages), Country Energy, NSW/ACT Aboriginal Legal Service, Reconciliation Place and Burringiri Aboriginal Cultural Centre. She is a member of the Murrumbidgee Catchments Area Group, ACT Women’s Reference Group and co Chair of the Namadgi National Park Advisory Board.
Gina Milgate
Ms Milgate was appointed as a member-director of the company in September 2007. She is an Aboriginal woman from the Kamilaroi and Wiradjuri clans of NSW. Ms Milgate is currently employed as a researcher for the Australian Council for Educational Research. She has an undergraduate and post graduate degree in marketing and management and a teaching degree in higher education. Ms Milgate’s strong background in marketing and education has helped her contribute widely to the community through programs that include projects that educate and inform parents of Aboriginal children with disabilities, promotion and motivation of Indigenous students, and coordination of several projects that promote social awareness in the community. Ms Milgate contributes to programs and policies at local, state and national levels that make a difference and improve outcomes for Indigenous people.
Anthony Ashby
Mr. Ashby was appointed as a member-director of the company in September 2007. He is a Gamilaraay Yuwaalaraay man from north western NSW and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (UNSW) and is a Chartered Accountant and Registered Company Auditor. His public practice career includes Ernst & Young, Lawler Partners and the Moore Stephens Group New York/New Jersey offices. His commercial experience consisted of time as the Financial Manager for the Darrell Lea Group. Subsequently he established his own boutique chartered accounting firm.
Yvonne Stewart
Ms Yvonne Stewart has a strong management background with Indigenous organisations, particularly in health and housing, working with people with Disabilities. She also has experience in strategic environmental management and cultural and natural history. Throughout her career Ms Stewart has developed high-level skills in project management and stakeholder engagement and liaises with various bodies, government agencies and local communities. Ms Stewart is the CEO of the Bundjalung of Byron Bay Aboriginal Corporation and holds positions on several Boards, Committee and organisations, including as Chair of the Arakwal National Parks and Chair of the Cape Byron Lighthouse Reserve Trust, Byron Bay for the last 12 years.
Katie Wyatt
Ms Wyatt is a business and communications consultant operating in Melbourne. Ms Wyatt has strong experience in human resources and people management. Her particular expertise is developing internal communications frameworks; human resource documentation; training and development materials; tender documents; and online marketing materials. Ms Wyatt currently works as a change management consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers, as well as being a freelance writer. Prior to that Ms Wyatt was a change management consultant with Accenture. She began her career working as a University Cadet for the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Non-Member Directors
Frank Fischl
Mr Fischl was appointed as a non member director of the company in December 2004 and is a chartered accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce (UNSW) degree. He has been a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia since 1990 and is a member of their Professional Conduct Tribunal. Mr Fischl is a retired partner of accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, having been with them for 32 years. He was formerly registered as a liquidator and company auditor.
Terry Lawler
Mr Lawler was appointed as a non member director of the company in November 2003. He is a founder and Managing Director of the Lawler Partners Group which provides specialist skills to strategically value add, strengthen and improve client’s businesses. Mr Lawler has a Bachelor of Commerce and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia, fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, registered tax agent and company auditor. He is a former Hunter Region Businessperson of the Year and widely recognised for his expertise in his chosen profession. Mr Lawler’s dedication to community service is reflected in his service on national, state and local boards providing business, internal audit, operational and strategic advice.
Leah Armstrong
Ms Armstrong was appointed as a non member director of the company in September 2006. Ms Armstrong is the Executive Director of the Yarnteen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation. She has a long standing involvement with the corporation, being
a founding director and employee upon the corporation’s inception in 1992. A leading role in the promotion of business women in the Indigenous community has seen Ms Armstrong appointed to a number of directorships and committees including her appointment on Indigenous Business Australia in 2001, Chair of the Aboriginal Business Roundtable NSW (2002-2004), and a member of the NSW Board of Vocational Education and Training (2003-2005). Ms Armstrong resigned on 22 June 2009 due to her other work commitments.
