Our Board

Chair

Professor Steve Larkin

Professor Steve Larkin is a Kungarakan man from Darwin in the Northern Territory. He is a Stolen Generations descendant and is currently the Pro Vice Chancellor of the Office of Academic and Student Engagement at the University of Adelaide.

A former social worker, Steve has worked in urban, rural, and remote Aboriginal communities with state and federal governments, the Australian Medical Association and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation in the areas of social health, substance misuse, and men and prisoners’ health.

Steve holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from QUT, a Masters in Social Science from Charles Sturt University, and a Bachelor of Social Work from University of Queensland. He also holds appointments on a number of other Boards.

Deputy Chair

Leann Wilson

Leann Wilson is a Bidjara and Kara-Kara woman from Queensland. She has a strong passion for her people, including strong cultural ties to her South Sea ancestry.

Leann has held leadership positions in both state and federal government departments. She is currently a Director of Regional Economic Solutions, an organisation that supports economic development for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Leann currently holds a Board position with the Qld Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Business and Innovation Panel, the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (ACPA), is a panel member of the Qld Reparations Review Panel and is a member of the Australian Red Cross Divisional Advisory Board Qld

She has been a finalist in the Queensland Telstra Woman of the Year, and is also a Fellow of Bond University.

Stephanie Harvey

Stephanie Harvey a proud Bidjara woman from Queensland. She is currently the CEO of Community First Development, the largest grass roots community development agency in Australia working to tackle Indigenous disadvantage.

For over 30 years Stephanie has worked in the human and community services sector for both government and not-for-profit organisations.

Aden Ridgeway

Aden Ridgeway, a proud Gumbayyngirr man, is the first Indigenous person to be elected as a Parliamentary Leader when he held the position of Deputy Leader for the Australian Democrats during 2001-02.

He is currently a partner at consultancy firm Cox Inall Ridgeway, a specialist Indigenous consultancy service. Aden is the past Chair of Bangarra Dance Theatre and the NSW Reparations Repayments Scheme Panel.

He is currently the Patron of the Centre for Aboriginal Independence and Enterprise and the Saltwater Freshwater Festival.

Nigel Browne

Nigel is a Larrakia and Wulna man. He has held the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Larrakia Development Corporation since 2013.

With 15 years of experience in the Northern Territory public sector, Nigel has held Board positions with the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, the Northern Australia Indigenous Reference Group, and other government and industry Boards and committees.

In August 2011, Nigel was announced as the National Indigenous Legal Professional of the Year in recognition of his advocacy, representation, and contribution to Larrakia people. Nigel studied at Northern Territory University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 2001.

Ian Hamm

Ian Hamm is a Yorta Yorta man who has been actively involved in the Victorian Aboriginal community for many years. He has extensive government and community sector experience, particularly at executive and governance levels. Ian has overseen major policy and strategic reforms for government and community organisations. He is currently the chair of Connecting Home Ltd, a Victorian Stolen Generations service, and also The Healing Foundation’s Stolen Generations Reference Group.

Ivy Trevallion

Ivy Trevallion is a Torres Strait Islander woman born on Thursday Island, where she resides with her husband and three children. Ivy’s family comes from the Dauan Island, Top Western Torres Strait. Ivy was the first Torres Strait Islander social worker to graduate from Queensland University in 1986. She has worked in health as a Social Worker for more than 30 years and continues to advocate for Torres Strait Islander rights and cultural safety. Ivy is also an active representative on several national bodies.

Kirsten Gray

Kirsten Gray is a Muruwari/Yuwaalaraay woman, mother and lawyer whose family hails from Angledool in Northwestern NSW. She started her career representing parents in child protection matters and has gone on to work extensively in Indigenous policy and human rights.

Kirsten has served numerous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioners at the Australian Human Rights Commission and has contributed to Indigenous human rights advocacy both nationally and internationally also working at the Don Dale Royal Commission and led the First Nations Policy and Engagement at the Disability Royal Commission.

Kirsten is also a research member at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Technology, Sydney.