Our Board

Director since 2002 and Chairperson since 2005. Mr. Michael Bell is a proud Ngunnawal/Gomeroi man and a long-serving leader within NTSCORP. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to cultural integrity, community service, and the advancement of Aboriginal rights and recognition. Mr. Bell has been actively involved with several Aboriginal organisations over many years and remains connected to grassroots advocacy, including through the Onerwal Local Aboriginal Land Council. In his professional role as Indigenous Liaison Officer at the Australian War Memorial, Mr. Bell focuses on acknowledging the vital contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service men and women, and the broader role of Indigenous communities in Australia’s military history—both in times of peace and conflict. He played a central role in developing the For Country, For Nation exhibition, a major touring and temporary exhibition of the Australian War Memorial. In collaboration with Dr. Lachlan Grant, Mr. Bell co-edited the landmark publication For Country, For Nation: An Illustrated History of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Military Service (Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 2018). Mr. Bell continues to be a powerful advocate for truth-telling, cultural recognition and respectful commemoration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and service.

Director since 2009. Mrs. Stewart is a proud descendant of the Arakwal Bumberlin Bundjalung People of Byron Bay, located on the Far North Coast of New South Wales. She holds an Associate Diploma in Aboriginal Studies (Health Sciences) from Monash University and a Diploma in Project Management. With a strong management background in Indigenous organisations, Mrs. Stewart has extensive experience across the sectors of health, housing, strategic development, environmental services and cultural management. She has developed high-level expertise in project management, stakeholder engagement and community consultation throughout her career.

Her leadership roles include former Chair of both the Arakwal National Park and the Cape Byron Lighthouse Reserve Trusts. She has served as CEO of the Bundjalung of Byron Bay (Arakwal) Aboriginal Corporation and CEO/Director of the Broken Head Caravan Park. Mrs. Stewart currently serves as a Director on the Board of the Katungul Aboriginal Corporation Regional Health and Community Services and is an active member of the NSW Aboriginal Fishing Rights Group. She is currently employed as the Acting General Manager of Bundjalung of Byron Bay (Arakwal) Aboriginal Corporation.

Director since 2005. Dr Matilda House is a highly respected Ngambri (Kamberri), Wallabalooa (Ngunnawal), and Wiradyuri Elder, and a lifelong advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Born in 1945 on Erambie Mission in Cowra, she has been a central figure in Indigenous affairs in the Canberra region for over six decades. A trailblazer in activism, Dr House was a founding protestor at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in 1972, helped establish the Aboriginal Legal Service in the 1980s, and played a vital role in founding Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service and the Tjabal Indigenous Higher Education Centre at ANU. She also co-founded the Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council in 1984. Dr House made history in 2008 as the first person to deliver a Welcome to Country at the opening of the Australian Parliament. Her community leadership includes service on numerous advisory councils, including ATSIC, the ACT Heritage Council and the Tent Embassy Advisory Committee. She continues to support youth, promote education, and uphold cultural protocols and heritage. In 2017, the Australian National University conferred an honorary Doctorate upon her in recognition of her service. In 2023, she was named Female Elder of the Year, honouring her enduring impact on generations of First Nations peoples. Dr House currently serves as Chairperson of the Stolen Generation NSW and ACT. Dr House is widely regarded as a Blak matriarch—fierce, compassionate, and visionary—whose lifelong dedication to justice, culture and community continues to inspire across the nation.

Director since 2016. Mr. William Brian Bates, widely known as ‘Badger’, is a respected Kurnu Barkandji (Paakantyi) Elder born in 1947 in Wilcannia, New South Wales. He is a member of the Barkandji (Paakantyi) group, whose traditional lands extend along the Paaka (Darling River) between Wentworth and Bourke. Native title for the Barkandji People was formally recognised by the Federal Court in June 2015 and August 2017. Mr. Bates dedicated over two decades to cultural protection through his role as an Aboriginal Sites Officer with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service in Broken Hill, serving from 1983until his retirement in 2005. Since then, he has focused on his passion for art and his role as a cultural heritage advisor. An acclaimed traditional and contemporary Indigenous artist, Badger’s work is recognised nationally and internationally. He has exhibited extensively in Australia and overseas and has served as Artist-in-Residence for institutions such as Broken Hill City Council, West Darling Arts, Bankstown Art Centre, and the Armidale Keeping Place. Beyond the arts, Mr. Bates is a committed advocate for environmental activism, education, archaeology and cultural heritage management. He continues to play an influential role in preserving and sharing Aboriginal cultural knowledge and environmental stewardship. He previously served as a Director of the Barkandji Native Title Group Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC from 2015 to 2021 and remains a vital voice for his people and Country.

Director since 2018. Mr. Colin Jarrett is a proud Gumbaynggirr man from Nambucca Heads, born and raised on the Bellwood Aboriginal Reserve. A respected grassroots community leader, Mr. Jarrett has been actively involved in Aboriginal affairs for over 30 years, making significant contributions across health, governance and cultural advocacy. He is a current Director of the Wanggaan (Southern) Gumbaynggirr Nation Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC and along-standing member of the Nambucca Heads Local Aboriginal Land Council. Mr.Jarrett has played a key role in driving change and delivering positive outcomes for the Nambucca Valley, Gumbaynggirr People and the broader Aboriginal community. Throughout the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, he was instrumental in developing and strengthening programs addressing drug, alcohol and gambling addictions, helping to shape innovative approaches that continue to support Aboriginal health and wellbeing today.

Mr. Jarrett holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Technology Sydney andhas undertaken further studies at Batchelor Institute in the Northern Territory and Wontulp-Bi-Buya College in Queensland, further enriching his knowledge and advocacy work. His life and leadership are grounded in lived experience and a deep commitment to empowering his people through cultural, social and structural change.

Director since 2004. Mr. Frank Fischl is a Chartered Accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of New South Wales (UNSW). He has been a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand(formerly the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia) since 1990. Frank brings over four decades of experience in professional accounting, audit and financial governance. He retired in December 2000 as a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he worked for 32 years. During his career, he was also registered as a company auditor and liquidator and played a key role in advising large organisations on complex financial matters. From 1997 until 2016, Frank served as a member of the Disciplinary Tribunal of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, contributing to professional standards and ethical oversight within the industry. Frank’s deep expertise in corporate governance, risk management and financial accountability continues to add significant value to the strategic and compliance responsibilities of the NTSCORP Board.

Director since 26 November 2024. Valla Cohen is a proud Gumbaynggirr/Dunghutti woman and a committed advocate for Aboriginal Elders, children, families and communities. As Coordinator of Aboriginal Families Together at Uniting, she leads culturally grounded programs that help Aboriginal families remain strong, connected and together. Her work centres on family preservation, restoration, and kinship care, ensuring Aboriginal children stay connected to their culture, Country and community. Valla’s approach is grounded in the principles of self-determination, healing and First Nations-led practice in the child and family services sector.

Valla is a current Director of the Wanggaan (Southern) Gumbaynggirr NationAboriginal Corporation RNTBC and an active member of the Nambucca Heads Local Aboriginal Land Council, reflecting her strong and ongoing commitment to community governance, land rights and cultural preservation. She is widely respected for her compassionate leadership, deep community ties and her unwavering dedication to improving outcomes for Aboriginal families across New South Wales.

Director since 26 November 2024. Mr. Abie Wright is a proud descendant of the Anaiwan, Dunghutti, Gomeroi and Wonnarua Peoples and was born on Awabakal Country in Newcastle, New South Wales. He is the son of the late Mr. Jim Wright, one of NTSCORP’s founding directors, continuing a legacy of leadership and advocacy for Aboriginal communities. Mr. Wright is a respected musician and songwriter. Alongside his brother Warrick, he co-founded the acclaimed Aboriginal hip hop group Street Warriors, pioneers in their genre with a national following. The group was awarded Band of the Year at the Deadly Awards in2013, recognising their cultural impact and musical achievements. In addition tohis artistic contributions Abie is deeply committed to community leadership and cultural preservation. He serves on the Boards of the Yarnteen Aboriginal Corporation and the Awabakal Co-Operative in Newcastle. As Chairperson and Co-Founder of the Arwarbukarl Aboriginal Language Centre and Director of the Miromaa Aboriginal Language and Technology Centre, he plays a pivotal role in revitalising Aboriginal languages and advocating for native title rights, land rights and cultural heritage. Mr. Wright’s journey is a testament to the power of cultural resilience, artistic innovation and grassroots leadership. Whether through music, language, or community care, he continues to shape a future rooted in identity, pride and self-determination.

Director since 26 November 2024 until her resignation on 6 August 2025, citing personal and professional commitments. Kris Carriage is a proud Walbunja woman with deep ancestral ties to Walbunja/Yuin Country on the South Coast of New South Wales. A seasoned professional in land management and environmental science, Kris brings over two decades of experience across government, private sector, and community-led initiatives. Her career has been defined by leadership in managing protected areas, promoting sustainable land use, conserving ecological systems, and safeguarding Aboriginal cultural heritage. With a strong focus on regional development, Kris is known for her collaborative, place-based approach that bridges strategic policy with practical implementation.  Currently serving as Senior Project Officer with Transport for NSW’s Aboriginal Cultural Land Management and Network Resilience Program, Kris leads culturally informed disaster resilience initiatives, integrating Aboriginal perspectives into emergency planning and landscape management. Kris’s enduring commitment to Country and Community is reflected in her long-standing advocacy for resilient ecosystems and cultural connection. She brings to the Board a wealth of knowledge, strategic insight, and a deep understanding of the intersection between culture, environment, heritage, and community wellbeing.