Wunan | Board of Directors | Curren Board Members

About the Board | Current Board Members

		Mr Ian Trust Chairman and Executive Director Chairman since 2008 Executive Director since 2004 Director, Indigenous Business Australia (IBA); Director, Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC). Formerly Founding Chairman, Wunan Foundation (1997-2003); formerly ATSIC Commissioner (Kimberley); formerly Chairman, Wunan ATSIC Regional Council. Ian has a strong and coherent vision of a better future for Aboriginal people in the East Kimberley — a future beyond welfare and government dependency. Ian has worked tirelessly to progress this vision through such initiatives as the ATSIC Regional Council’s “future building” strategy (1996), the East Kimberley Aboriginal Achievement Awards, through reforms in the Aboriginal Housing & Infrastructure sector, and as Executive Director of Wunan Foundation.
		Ms Vicki Butters Deputy Chair and Director Deputy Chair since 2008 Director since 2004 Traditional Owner from Purnululu area. Diploma Business Management; Manager, Kimberley Language Resource Centre. Formerly Director, Kimberley Aboriginal Education Council (KAEC); formerly Director, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council (KAMSC). Vicki sees economic development and training as key areas of importance for the future of the East Kimberley’s Aboriginal people. Vicki has a long involvement in local and regional activities to improve health, education and employment outcomes for Aboriginal people.
		Mr John Nicholas Director, Special Advisor Special Advisor since 1997 Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants; Registered Tax Agent; Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Formerly Senior Partner, Ernst & Young Australia. John has 25 years experience in the Assurance and Business Advisory industry servicing a broad range of clients, including government, government agencies, manufacturing and services sector. John is the Foundation’s Special Adviser, appointed under the Constitution to ensure the discharge of certain governance requirements and assist the Board in carrying out its commercial functions.
		Mr Tom Birch Director Director since 2002 Formerly Wunan Chairman 2002-2007 Traditional Owner from Wyndham area. Chairman, Kimberley Land Council (KLC); Director, Kimberley Language Resource Centre (KLRC); Director, Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre (KALACC). Formerly Director, Wunan ATSIC Regional Council. Tom sees a lack of education outcomes and a shortage of properly trained young people with the ability to set goals for their future, as some of the key issues for the East Kimberley’s Aboriginal people. Tom worked for many years in the Kimberley pastoral industry before taking up various community leadership roles, particularly focussed on restoring Native Title and improving the economic future of Kimberley Aboriginal people.
		Ms Julie Anne Johns Director Director since 2007
		Ms Carol Johnson Director Director since 2007 Chairwomen, Ngali Ngalim Purru Women’s Centre; Deputy Office Manager, Warmun (Turkey Creek) Community Inc. Currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Applied Science (Indigenous Community Management and Development) at Curtin University. Carol believes that education is the key to independence for Aboriginal people in the East Kimberley, and she is passionate about the motivation and involvement of young women in the community. Carol is directly involved in progressing this passion through her role as Chairperson of the Ngali Ngalim Purru Women’s Centre, in Warmun (Turkey Creek).
		Ms Kia Dowell Director Director since 2010 Traditional Owner from Warmun Kia holds a BA in Business Management and Marketing; MBA in International Business; Grad. Cert in Community Relations in the Resources Sector. Currently Kia is employed as a Graduate with Argyle Diamonds; Serves as a Junior Director for Tiltuwum – Gelganyem Trust; and is a Director of To Thrive, Inc. Kia has been involved in the East Kimberley Aboriginal Achievement Awards, is an East Kimberley Garnduwa committee member, and is a mentor with the KDHS Partnerships for Success program. Kia believes that in order to create change we must first establish ourselves as individuals capable of transforming the seemingly impossible into the possible. The challenge of inspiring her (Aboriginal) people to believe in their own ability and capacity is one that she hopes to overcome, particularly in the East Kimberley. Her greatest desire is to witness equity and success through the merging of traditional culture within modern society so that both exist harmoniously.
		Mr Jim Lewis Director 2009 Jim holds a BA in Applied Science - Management and a Graduate Diploma in Community Development. Jim is currently CEO of Karntewarranginy Kurrumuluny Trust. Jim has a strong passion for changing the landscape of indigenous affairs in the East Kimberley. He played a key role in working with government in developing the East Kimberley Development Package which forms part of the Ord Expansion. This package is intrinsically linked to improving the social and economic participation of Aboriginal people. Jim has been as past Shire Councillor for the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley and held the office Vice President for 1 year.