Our People
David Major
David is a Yuin Maneroo man from south east NSW. He has worked in land and cultural heritage management for more than 25 years. David has worked within Government and as a consultant, and is a co-founder of Thirriwirri.
Jason Ardler
Jason is a Yuin man with cultural and familial ties extending from the NSW South Coast to Laperouse. He held senior executive roles in NSW public and university sectors for 20+ years, including eight as Head of Aboriginal Affairs NSW.
Michael Comninos
Michael has extensive experience developing and implementing strategy, policy and regulatory reform in planning and infrastructure, creating tangible benefits for communities. He is a co-founder of Astrolabe Group.
Belinda Comninos
Belinda has 20 years’ experience working in public policy. She is a practitioner in design thinking methodologies, and encourages early and ongoing engagement opportunities. Belinda is a co-founder of Astrolabe Group.
Melissa Ellis
Melissa has worked over 20 years’ with Aboriginal people and communities in the fields of land rights, social housing, finance, public policy and Aboriginal affairs. She focuses on community engagement and facilitation.
Claude McDermott
Claude is a Minjungbal, man from the Tweed Valley, that calls Gambaynggir Country Home. He is passionate about working with Aboriginal Communities and being part of a diverse environment that contributes to making significant changes.
Jess Herder
Jess is a Dunghutti woman, who grew up on Dharawal Country in southern Sydney and now lives and works on Dharug Country in northwest Sydney.
Atiqah Alias
Atiqah is an urban planner and strategist with extensive consulting experience working across local place-based projects through to large multi-disciplinary strategic planning delivery.
John Beattie
John has 30 years working in senior management and consulting across the Aboriginal cultural heritage, indigenous affairs, infrastructure, Aboriginal owned and controlled businesses and NFPs.