Who we are

Leslie Schultz is a Ngadju traditional custodian, native title holder, and Founder and Chair of Ngadju Conservation Aboriginal Corporation. He was instrumental in setting up the Dundas Rural Bush Fire Brigade, one of the only Indigenous Rural Bush Fire Brigades in Australia. He leads the Ngadju ranger program and Indigenous Protected Area, and is also developing fire policy for southern Australia. Mr Schultz has co-authored several publications on Ngajdu Kala, including Ngadju Kala: Ngadju fire knowledge and contemporary fire management in the Great Western Woodlands, and a Ngajumaya field guide currently in development with the Goldfields Aboriginal Language Centre.

Robynne Quiggin is a descendant of the Wiradjuri nation of central western New South Wales. She has lived and worked in Sydney, practicing as a solicitor and consultant for 15 years with a focus on legal, compliance and policy areas of relevance to Indigenous Australians including human rights, financial inclusion, financial services, consumer issues, governance, the arts and heritage. Prior to her appointment at UTS, Robynne was Deputy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission. She has a long standing commitment to a rights based framework as a mechanism for individuals and communities to pursue their social, economic, cultural, linguistic and artistic priorities. She has participated in a number of international human rights and biodiversity forums and published on the role of rights in relation to the economic, cultural, artistic and scientific work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Heidi Norman is a descendant of the Gomeroi peoples of north western NSW.She is a leading Australian professor and researcher in the field of Aboriginal political history. Her research sits in the field of history and draws on the cognate disciplines anthropology, political-economy, cultural studies and political theory. She has made significant contributions to understandings Aboriginal social, cultural, economic and political history where she addresses questions of power in relation to Aboriginal citizens, the state and settler society and Aboriginal land justice. At the heart of her research, is her support for Aboriginal peoples’ rightful place in the nation, especially within political institutions, in society and the economy as landholders.

Brian is a descendant of the Meriam people and is passionate about Indigenous self-empowerment and socially responsible economic development for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.  Brian is a Co-founder, Principal and Director of Jaramer Legal, the first national Indigenous law firm established in Australia. He is a senior commercial lawyer who has advised State and Federal Governments and large corporations.

Paul descends from the Gunnai and Monaro people. CEO of the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations, he brings his knowledge, skills and networks to work closely with Traditional Owners across the State to support their aspirations for community and Country whilst taking up the challenge for self-determination and Treaty.

Chris is a descendant of the Luritja people of the Central Desert. A mining engineer and senior business executive, he is the Managing Director of Impact Investment Partners, a specialist investment manager that applies social impact principles to large-scale investments to improve social and economic outcomes for Indigenous communities.

Ruby is a descendant of the Jaru people of the Eastern Kimberley region of WA. An electrical engineer, she runs Alinga Energy Consulting, providing renewable energy and microgrid consulting services including research, feasibility studies, design and implementation, with a focus on remote and off-grid applications.

Ganur is a descendant of the Kamilaroi people from north west NSW and an Associate at the Federal Court of Australia. He was previously a lawyer in the environment and planning department of a top-tier law firm and a Lisa Wright Scholarship intern at the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at ANU.

Thomas is a Zenadth Kes man from the Torres Strait. He is a National Indigenous Officer and Honorary Deputy NT Branch Secretary at the MUA, President of the NT Trades & Labour Council and elected participant in the Uluru Convention.

Tony is a descendant of the Wangan and Jagalingou people in Central Queensland. Australia’s first Indigenous silk, he has a strong native title practice and has been an Acting Commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court. He is experienced in environmental, administrative, human rights and criminal law.

Kado is a Cultural and community leader and a land rights, cultural heritage, and environmental campaigner. He is also a Ngalia language speaker, researcher and educator, having helped develop Australian curriculum content incorporating Aboriginal knowledge with relevance and understanding for First nations students. He currently consults on First Nation perspectives in Environmental Social Governance (ESG) and Investment impact in Corporate Responsibility and Social Licenses. Kado is Chair of the National Native Title Council and co-Chair of the First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance, leading joint campaigns with the responsible investment sector to ensure protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage.

Karrina is a descendant of the Yorta Yorta people, an experienced manager and organiser of complex programs in Aboriginal communities. She has worked as a facilitator, trainer, researcher and strategist alongside First Nations communities for over 25 years. Most recently, Karrina has been building the capacity for self-determination in the context of economic development, climate change and clean energy. She dedicated an Atlantic Fellowship to determining how to best build clean energy projects by and for First Nations people. As a Churchill Fellow, Karrina worked with First Nations women in Canada, the USA and Australia collating lessons to grow women's leadership capacity and engagement in community and civic life.

Kate Finlayson is a communications professional with over 20 years expereience. Kate has negotiated media, engagement and campaign outcomes for government, private industry and not for profits in Australia and globally. She is skilled in consulting with stakeholders, building strategy and reaching key audiences with compelling narratives and calls to action that generate change. Kate is the Communications Director for the First Nations Clean Energy Network.

Georgia Perillo was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand and is descendant from the Ngāpuhi Whakapapa from Panguru in the northern Hokianga harbour. She has over 10 years experience delivering events in London, Toronto, Auckland and Melbourne for a range of different sectors including Not For Profit, Government, Agency and Education. She has executed numerous First Nations' led Conferences in Melbourne, the Elevate Technology Festival in Toronto, philanthropy events for the University of Auckland and community engagement and consultation projects for Auckland Transport. She has a passion for cuisine and opened Auckland's first Māori kai cafe with her mother in 2019.

Ruby is a descendant of the Jaru people of the Eastern Kimberley region of WA. An electrical engineer, she runs Alinga Energy Consulting, providing renewable energy and microgrid consulting services including research, feasibility studies, design and implementation, with a focus on remote and off-grid applications.

Jonathan Kneebone is an experienced lawyer, advocate, strategist and systems entrepreneur with a deep understanding of policy, legal, financial and economic systems. Jonathan has over 20 years’ experience establishing and enabling collaborations, fixing entrenched and extractive systems, and advocating for an inclusive and regenerative economy that privileges and incorporates First Nations people, knowledge, views and experiences. Jonathan has worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-controlled organisations and alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities across Australia. Jonathan has led an array of significant commercial negotiations, major projects, and test cases on behalf of Traditional Owners, and has worked closely on economic development and economic inclusion policies and projects. Jonathan is a Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity, holds an Arts and Honours degree in Law from the University of Melbourne, a Masters of Laws from the University of Dundee (and was awarded the Laszlo Gombos Prize as the top-ranking LLM student), and is a board member of several organisations working respectively in the fields of mental health, the arts and community economic development. Prior to joining the First Nations Clean Energy Network Jonathan worked in the private sector with an organisation pioneering the growth of a circular and regenerative cleantech business.

Wynona Karena is a descendant of the Arrernte People of Central Australia. With a strong background business development, marketing, communications and strategy development, Wynona is passionate about engaging, motivating and guiding stakeholders to achieve equitable outcomes, through developing accessible approaches that promote shared benefits and associated changes and impacts. Wynona contributes her breadth of skills and unique understanding of First Nations issues to assist in the initial development and implementation of the First Nations Clean Energy Network, as well as support the ongoing projects of Original Power.