OUR BOARD
No one is better placed to lead a community than the people who have lived there. The knowledge of family, culture, and history that the leaders of Yallambee hold is invaluable. It is for this reason that it is stated in our constitution that More than 50% of board members must have family connections to Yallambee. This way we ensure that our organisation always remains community controlled.
Priscilla West
PRESIDENT
Kalkadoon / Djaku-nde woman Karen West (nee Barton), a Kalkadoon Elder, has dedicated her life to Aboriginal Health, tirelessly working as an Aboriginal Health Worker for over 40 years in North-West Queensland and Gulf communities. Her efforts have significantly improved the health, well-being, and safety of her community by promoting physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. This work fostered a deep connection with the Yallambee family, solidifying her role as a formidable force in Aboriginal health advocacy.
Priscilla West, Karen's daughter, is a proud Kalkadoon - Djaku-nde woman with a rich heritage. Raised by strong First Nations Matriarchs, Priscilla learned the importance of advocacy, leadership, and cultural respect. Her family's teachings instilled a sense of responsibility and courage, guiding her to become a strong leader in her community and professional life. Priscilla honors her ancestors' legacy by merging Indigenous knowledge with Western practices to support positive social, economic, and cultural outcomes.
With 30 years of experience in Information Technology and Telecommunications, Priscilla has worked with Telstra and NBN Co, excelling in leadership, stakeholder management, and governance. As a First Nations Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Senior Specialist at Telstra, she influences change by integrating Indigenous and Western knowledge to create a safe and inclusive work environment. Her expertise in ITIL service delivery and continuous improvement has earned her multiple awards, demonstrating her commitment to fostering strong leadership and community support.
Teresa Gilbert
VICE PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER
Teresa is a proud Waanyi Gangalidda woman and long-term resident of Yallambee. Teresa's strengths are being trustworthy, kind, and patient. Teresa is committed to meeting deadlines and being organised. Teresa's diligence in the supervision of Yallambee children has contributed greatly to the safety of our young ones.
Sharon Cavanagh-Luskin nee Bonython-Ericson
SECRETARY
Sharon is a proud Kuuku Ya’u, Irukanji and Wonnarua woman and Founder and Director of Illuminate FNQ. Sharon and her board at Illuminate FNQ are the only all-female Science Company in Australia. Sharon and her team are passionate about the important role that science and education play in improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. She has extensive experience in the public health field, moving onto postgraduate study as Inaugural QLD Fulbright scholar at Harvard University – School of Public Health on Quality Use of Medicines. It was her passion for developing creative, academic, scientific and new science thought which covers the skies, lands, seas and airways that drove her to establish Illuminate-FNQ Ltd, a not-for-profit, startup provider which addresses the critical need for greater partnership with engagement in STEM. Her role is to Bring Science into The Community Agenda to have a serious discussion about serious issues in the community Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in STEM careers and educational opportunities.
Kelly McNamara
TREASURER AND CO-FOUNDER
Kelly’s first exposure to working with children was in childcare centres that used the Reggio Emilia emergent curriculum with some Steiner infusion. Her first experience working with young people was in the Tiwi Islands over 20 years ago in partnership with the Red Cross. Here she was responsible for leading a team of young people from America on their Summer break to create diversionary sport and recreation activities for children with the aim of reducing child suicide which was high during the school holiday period. It is here that Kelly first fell in love with Aboriginal culture and developed a passion for working with First Nations children and families.Kelly went into the field of natural health, completing qualifications in many modalities and became a qualified Counsellor, working in private practice with children and families. Kelly has held many Senior Youth work positions in schools, residential care facilities and other youth services and has been a foster carer of Yallambee children for over 15 years. Kelly first began working in the Yallambee community over 17 years ago before starting the Isa Kids Project Volunteer Program in 2022, which would eventually become YACCA with the collaboration of Yallambee leadership. Kelly is passionate about the wellbeing of all children and is an advocate for social justice outcomes.
Grant Nemo
BOARD MEMBER AND CO-FOUNDER
Kalkadoon Wakaya man Grant Nemo is Yallambee's gentle giant as he is just a kind soul. If you can count on him for anything it is to be there when his family and community need him most. He opens his home and heart to so many in need of a place to stay and always has a feed ready for the young ones in the morning. He works tirelessly to keep our youth out of trouble and on track and knows how to have a good yarn with them when they need it. Yallambee wouldn't be the same without him.
Danielle Morrison
BOARD MEMBER CO-FOUNDER
Kalkadoon Waramunga woman Danielle has a special talent for improving the lives of everyone she is in the presence of. She is a strong mentor and leader who is well respected and appreciated in the Yallambee community. Her consistent positive influence and gentle leadership style has shown us all that as long as Danielle is around, things will always get better.
Ian Barber
BOARD MEMBER CO_FOUNDER
Yawada man Ian Barbers' positive influence extends beyond Yallambee as he is also a Director of Ooratippra Aboriginal Corporation in the NT and assists with running a cattle sttion. With experience as a stationhand, mechanical repairs as well as hunting and cultural activities, He is a handy man to have around with many skills to teach our young ones. Somehow he finds time to advise us in his busy life and we value skills and knowledge he shares.
Laurel Ware
BOARD MEMBER
Laurel is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman from Cairns and her family roots are from the Bundaberg Gubbi Gubbi Minniecon clan. Laurel is a healthworker specialising in First Nations mental health and emotional wellbeing in communities. Laurel grew up in church and loves singing and plying guitar as well as meeting other Aboriginal women in communities sharing yarns and story, keeping culture going.
Smrdhi VV Sarachandran
BOARD MEMBER
A Paediatrician with 17 years of experience in the field of medicine, with experience covering a broad spectrum of clinical duties, personnel management, research and lecturing. With 4 years of experience working in Borneo and exposure to community medicine, obstetric and gynaecological surgical experience and personnel management in a district hospital, and the most recent 10 years spent in an urban tertiary hospital setting exclusively dealing with children and young adults while in training, through research work, clinical practice and lecturing. Smrdhi excels at working foremost with her young patients and their families, with the Executive Management, Government Authorities, Healthcare Vendors and her fellow Colleagues in Healthcare, not merely to treat but to develop and implement healthy lifestyle practices that are in-line with the organisation’s business goals as well as being favorable to the public at large.