GUEST SPEAKERS

Roanna Edwards – MC

ABC Radio Weekend Breakfast

Roanna’s professional journey began as a cadet journalist at the Geraldton Guardian, before turning her hand to radio as a trainee in the ABC’s sports department. Since 2011, she has worked heavily in communications and community engagement with a focus on Aboriginal Affairs. She was Media/PR representative for the most powerful Aboriginal Land Council in Australia in Northern Territory and for the last seven years has worked in the utility industry for remote and regional GTE Horizon Power.

When she’s not flat out doing her day job (Horizon Power) or presenting the Weekend Breakfast program on ABC Radio Perth Roanna is usually studying for her politics and management degree, fulfilling one of her board roles – including for her beloved Swan Districts Football Club in the WAFL and the Aboriginal Lands Trust – or spending time with friends and family.

Minister Buti

For Hon Dr Tony Buti BPE DipEd MIR LLB DPhil MLA

Minister for Finance; Aboriginal Affairs; Racing and Gaming; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests
The Hon. Dr Tony Buti is Western Australia’s Minister for Finance; Racing and Gaming; Aboriginal Affairs; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests. Tony has been a Minister for the McGowan Labor Government since March 2021, and has been the Member for Armadale in the Legislative Assembly since 2010. He has worked as a high school teacher, lawyer, AFL player agent, and legal academic.
On 2 October 2010, he was elected as the Member for Armadale in the Parliament of Western Australia.
Tony has published a number of books, including an award-winning biography on Sir Ronald Wilson.
Prior to becoming a Minister, Tony was Chairman of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly Public Accounts Committee, and while in opposition, he was Deputy Chair of the Community Development & Justice Standing Committee.

Hon Alannah MacTiernan MLC

Minister for Regional Development; Agriculture and Food; Hydrogen Industry

The Minister served in the State Parliament from 1993 to 2010.

As Minister for Planning and Infrastructure from 2001 to 2008, Ms MacTiernan was responsible for major projects across the State including the Mandurah rail line, the Forrest Highway, the Geraldton port and rail expansion and the Armadale town centre and Champion Lakes developments.

In 2011 she was elected Mayor of the City of Vincent and in 2013 was elected as the Member for Perth to the Federal Parliament, where she became Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Western Australia and Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia.

After Ms MacTiernan decided not to recontest Perth in 2016, she was invited to re-join WA Labor in the Legislative Council.

After being elected in 2017, she was appointed Minister for Regional Development and Agriculture and Food and Minister Assisting the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade.

The Minister is committed to creating economic opportunity in our regional areas as well as bringing WA’s agricultural sector into the 21st century through innovation and a focus on investing in science.

Jodi Cant

Department of Finance’s Director General

Jodi Cant is the Department of Finance’s Director General, leading the areas of Advisory, Buildings and Contracts, Major Projects and RevenueWA for the state.

In February 2022, Jodi returned to Finance from an 8-month secondment at the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage during which time she led Planning Reform and Aboriginal Heritage changes.

Jodi is an authentic leader who leads with clarity, courage and kindness. She is an innovator, collaborator, and connector with excellent communication skills.

Commercially savvy with community at heart, Jodi’s experience crosses the government, start-up, private and not-for profit sectors—and she faces challenges informed by the perspective of each.

Jodi was awarded the 2020 Telstra Western Australian Business Woman of the Year and also won the Western Australian category for Public Sector and Academia.

Jodi has previously sat on the Boards of PSMA Australia, PEXA Ltd, earthmine Australia and the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) Council.

Jodi is most at home in the bush with her horses and dogs. She loves reading, writing, and good wine.

Cr Jerry Clune

Deputy Mayor of the City of Greater Geraldton

Jerry Clune is in his ninth year (2011-15 and 2017-current) as Councillor for the City of Greater Geraldton and in 2021 was elected Deputy Mayor. He is on various Council Committee’s which include the Greenough and Mullewa Bush Fire Committees, the Heritage Advisory Committee and the Audit Committee.
By day (and often by night) he is a farmer in the Bringo district. He and his wife Lynda have four adult children, three of whom are working and living in Geraldton.
He is a long-suffering Fremantle Dockers supporter who believes in always being positive, stating “this could be our year!”

Luka Gray

Acting CEO of Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation (YSRC)

Luka Gray is a Yamatji woman from Geraldton and current acting CEO of Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation (YSRC).

The YSRC was established on 8th January 2020 following a settlement agreement with the Western Australian Government. YSRC was established to act as the Regional Entity to implement a best practice governance structure to manage the benefits of the agreement.

Luka has experience working within Aboriginal organisations and has volunteered her own time to help in the communities.

At aged 15 Luka commenced as an indigenous school- based trainee with Western Australia Police. (WA Police)

During her time with WA Police, Luka received the Aboriginal Police Service Medal.

At aged 18, Luka commenced volunteer secretary work for Yamatji patrol based in Geraldton.

After 15 years with WA Police, Luka commenced work for Yawuru Prescribed Body Corporate, focusing on board governance and administration.

Luka has also worked for Australian National University (ANU), in first nations portfolio tasked with ensuring the university made a leading contribution to national policy in the relationship between Indigenous Australians and the nation.

Rob Houwen

Chair of the Mid West Development Commission

Rob is the Dealer Principal of Geraldton Toyota and the Chair of Midwest Community Enterprises Limited, which operates the Geraldton branch of Bendigo Community Bank. He has previously served as President of the Mid West Chamber of Commerce, President of the Rotary Club of Geraldton Greenough, and President of the Brigades Football Club. Rob is a long-term Geraldton local and his deep connection to the Mid-West community will help to push forward economic development initiatives across the region.

Caris Collard

Wila Winju Consultancy – Executive Consultant and Aboriginal Business Engagement Advisor

Caris is a descendant of the Yamatji and Noongar people‘s of Western Australia, she was raise in Geraldton and relocated to Perth take up studies and further develop her career. Her professional profile includes roles within the private, public and not-for profit sectors, holding senior roles with BHP has a recruitment specialist and Wesfarmers Chemical Energy & Fertsiler as a Recruitment Services Portfolio Manager and Aboriginal Procurement Advisor.

Caris now operates her own business ‘Wila Winju Consultancy’ , providing reconcilation plan development, cultural awareness training, specialist employment and recruitment services advice.

2022 – Midwest Development Commision Board Director

2018 Geraldton Streetwork AC Board Director

2018 Women’s Council of WA – Patty Furstenberg, Women in Leadership Award recipient

Fred Taylor

CEO of Black Stump Resources

Fred Taylor is a Yamatji man from Geraldton. Fred has extensive experience as a public officer in Aboriginal and Government agencies and has worked as the regional manager and Aboriginal liaison officer for the Yamatji Land and Sea Council and the Midwest, Gascoyne & Murchison Areas Native Title Working Group. Fred was a founding member of Yamatji Mining and Civil, a mining and civil construction company based in Geraldton, providing earthmoving, civil and contract mining services to the resources and construction sectors in the Midwest, with a focus on providing Aboriginal labour to projects. Fred is currently CEO of Black Stump Resources, an Indigenous owned mining, building, civil and construction company.

Jarrad Oakley Nicholls

Founder & Managing Director of Oaks Civil Construction

Founder & Managing Director Jarrad Oakley Nicholls has a decade of experience in Aboriginal employment services and business development. Working with construction leaders across Civil, Mining and Government to engage and develop procurement strategies to achieve targets across their workforce and business engagement. Prior to this experience Jarrad spent 6 years in the AFL, with Richmond Tigers and West Coast Eagles. Jarrad is a proud Aboriginal man with family and cultural ties to Malgana & Amangu (Yamatji), Wiradjuri (Koori), Southwest Boojarah & Whadjuk (Noongar) and Kija (East Kimberly’s) traditional owner groups. Jarrad founded Oaks Civil Construction in 2019, to create positive employment pathways into the Civil Construction industry for Aboriginal people and the local community within the Midwest, Gascoyne, Wheatbelt and Perth Metro regions. While also providing industry the opportunity to engage with a 100% owned & operated Aboriginal business to deliver works at its highest quality. Jarrad is passionate about supporting and assisting people from all walks of life to reach their full potential. Building capacity within our communities to close the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people while also assisting and educating the wider community and industry to learn and understand Aboriginal people and our history. Jarrad was awarded the AMMA (Australian Resources and Energy Group) Young Professional Person of the Year Award in 2016 and has previously sat on a number of Committee’s and Advisory boards at the Department of Training and Workforce Development, Chairperson at the Aboriginal Workforce Development Centre. Jarrad is also a 2018 Leadership WA, Signature Leaders Alumni.

Carol Martin

Gooljak Boodja

Carol Martin is a Yamatji and Noongar woman from Geraldton. Carol is a former Australian politician who served as a Labour Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia between 2001 and 2013, representing the seat of Kimberley. She was the first Aboriginal woman to be elected to any Australian parliament. Carol has a degree in Social Work from Curtin University and worked as a social worker and counsellor in the Kimberley, she also has qualifications in Business Management. Carol worked alongside others to help return Aboriginal children who were missing in the system to their families, and help Aboriginal families deal with the consequences of the Stolen Generation.

Anthony Holzwart

Industry Liaison Officer SKA

Australian Industry Liaison Officer – Square Kilometre Array and European Southern Observatory

Anthony has had a long track record in assisting small to medium businesses improve performance and realise their full potential. Along the way he has spent a significant amount of time helping SMEs navigate the complexities found in major project environments. His approach is straightforward and practical – do what matters most and, wherever possible, avoid the mistakes of others.

Wayne McDonald

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation (BACAC)

Wayne McDonald is a Yamaji Southern Nation traditional Owner through his mother’s language group ties, he is also a Yued member to the South through his father’s connections. Wayne was raised by his parents in Geraldton. In March 2020 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation (BACAC). For the previous two years, he had been a Bundiyarra Board Director, volunteering and supporting the corporation. Wayne has over 30 years’ experience working in Aboriginal Affairs with State and Federal Governments and Aboriginal organisations. He has a thorough knowledge of regional communities and the people living in the regions, with a proven record of delivering economic development outcomes and activities. Wayne is a former tourism consultant and has a Certificate IV in Small Business and Certificate IV Workplace Assessor and Trainer, as well as holding a Senior First Aid Certificate. He is a founding member of the Midwest Aboriginal Organisations Alliance (MAOA). As Bundiyarra CEO he works to achieve outcomes in all related services delivery for Aboriginal people, aligned to the corporation’s core business. To date, working with his staff and the Board of Directors he has achieved some solid outcomes.

Courtney Ackland

Operations Manager at Iluka Resources Narngulu & Eneabba Operations.

Having grown up on the family wheat and sheep farm in Badgingarra, Courtney completed his secondary schooling, tertiary and post graduate studies in Perth. For the first part of his career Courtney worked in the allied health and medical fields, initially as an Injury Management Consultant and then as a Cardiac Sonographer with one of Perth’s leading private specialist cardiovascular practices. Being a mid-west country boy at heart, Courtney took a break from the city and his cardiology profession in 2007 and commenced a new career in the mining industry.

From the Pilbara to Geraldton, over the past 15 years he has worked for Rio Tinto Iron Ore and Iluka Resources in a number of senior production (load & haul), processing and health and safety leadership roles. In 2016 he commenced his current role as Narngulu Operations Manager and, from early 2020, has overseen the successful integration of Iluka’s new rare earths operation at Eneabba, which has diversified Iluka’s business. Courtney is passionate about aboriginal engagement and employment and, through championing a number of strong partnerships with aboriginal businesses with successful employment outcomes, lead Iluka Narngulu Operations to winning the ‘Aboriginal Engagement’ category in the Midwest Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business Excellence Awards in both 2019 and 2021.

Craig Patterson

Managing Director of Central Earth Moving Company Proprietary Limited,

Raised on the family wheat and sheep farm at Gutha and attended the Morawa District High School from kindergarten to year 12. Learnt to operate the dozer my parents purchased to help the farm survive during prolonged droughts when I was 14 years old . Shared a house in Perth with an Aboriginal friend while undertaking a Heavy Duty Mechanical apprenticeship and playing football. In 1984 I returned to the family farm and operating dozers for various clients in the Midwest. In 1985 I relocated to Geraldton after the family purchased a small earthmoving business. It required me to quickly develop the skills needed to manage and grow the business, after my father had to retire due to health issues. Centrals has now successfully been operating in Geraldton for over 37 years and operates throughout WA. In 2003 I married Lynda who is also a valuable partner in the business and continues to make me look good. We have 2 children. During the 4 years I served as the president of the MWCCI I gained a greater understanding of the tension and lack of trust that existed between the local Aboriginal Population and many in the local business community. I was able to engage with local Aboriginal People who I had met and built relationships with when playing sport in the region to try to understand the underlying issues and the barriers that existed.

Crispin Collier

Chief Development and Marketing Officer

Crispin Collier, joined Strike as its Chief Development Officer to lead the development of Haber, a 1.4mpta Urea manufacturing facility in the Mid West. Crispin has a more than 20 year career in mining and heavy industry – the last 10 of which has been based in Perth at Wesfarmers and Fortescue leading their business development teams at Wesfarmers Chemicals Energy and Fertilisers and in Iron Ore respectively.

Daniel Holbrook

Director in the Industry Development Division within the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation

Daniel Holbrook has been championing Western Australian Capability and opportunities for the last 10 years. He is currently the Director in the Industry Development Division within the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, tasked with identifying opportunities to build Western Australia’s capabilities and promote the opportunities to grow local businesses and workforce. Daniel is passionate about seeing positive outcomes being delivered in regional WA and maximising community and cultural benefits.

Daren “Capes” Capewell

Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventures

Darren “Capes” Capewell is a proud and passionate descendant of the Nhanda and Malgana People of Gutharraguda (Shark Bay) situated in the Yamaji region of Western Australia. Gutharraguda is the traditional name for Shark Bay, meaning “Two Waters”.

Capes is proud of his homeland and his family, the Traditional Custodians of this land – he loves sharing his knowledge, leading his tour guests across a cultural divide and helping them to connect with one of the most pristine areas on the planet.

Capes, is the owner/operator of Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventures and conducts on country eco cultural experiences around Gutharraguda. As a descendant of the land’s Traditional Custodians, Capes feels it is his duty to be an ambassador for both his people and his country.

Wula Gura Nyinda translates to “Come this way you” and is underpinned by three universal principles – Education, Understanding and Respect (EUR). Respect for Country and Respect for culture.

In 2004, Capes started conducting bushwalking tours around Monkey Mia. In 2011, the business relocated to Denham. This allowed for to the business to diversify and expand to incorporate other eco-cultural experiences and attract a larger share of the business opportunities around Gutharraguda.

Today, Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventures operate kayak & wildlife adventures, 4wd and overnight camping safaris and bushwalking tours. The business has expanded its capacity for Cultural Awareness programs, Team building programs, Youth leadership programs and a consultancy services which have been developed for both corporate and the education market.

Capes, continues to play a significant role in the development of Indigenous Tourism in Western Australia as a board member with the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC). He was previously a member of Shark Bay World Heritage Board for 10 years and is extremely passionate about looking after country. He is a member of Yadgalah Aboriginal Corporation and actively involved in the ongoing preservation and promotion of Shark Bay Aboriginal Culture and Heritage.

Raylene Bellottie

Waalitj Hub Business Coach

Raylene is a proud Yamatji woman from the Midwest region of Western Australia and is acknowledged and trusted nationally as an outstanding Aboriginal business leader. Raylene has an extensive network of contacts throughout Australia and known for her ability to create successful business partnerships and bring like-minded parties together.

Raylene is well-regarded for her work in the finance sector where she held a senior national role with the First Nations/CUA. She was pivotal in providing Aboriginal people knowledge and advice to better control their financial affairs and advocating on their behalf when required. In this role, Raylene was able to achieve a substantial expansion of the CUA’s membership and grew her portfolio from $17 million to in excess of $200 million.

Raylene has worked extensively across the Aboriginal business sector for the past 10 years. She focuses on supporting Aboriginal businesses to build capacity and capability through successful project planning and delivery. This involves working with businesses to identify opportunities, connect with corporate decision-makers, and participate in tendering for contracts.

Her strong understanding of Aboriginal culture and heritage with corporate business knowledge enables her to effectively support Aboriginal supply chain management. As an experienced professional with a strong history of driving dynamic services, Raylene is always seeking new and sustainable business opportunities for her clients.

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