Our People

Founding Members

Dr. Ray Lovett

FOUNDING MEMBER

An Aboriginal (Wongaibon/ Ngiyampaa) man from western NSW, Ray is a social epidemiologist with extensive experience in health research, public health policy development and evaluation. He is the Mayi Kuwayu Study Director in the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research at the Australian National University.

Dr. Maggie Walter

FOUNDING MEMBER

A member of the Briggs Aboriginal family in Lutruwita/Tasmania, Maggie is a Distinguished Professor of Sociology Emerita at the University of Tasmania. She was was appointed a Commissioner with the Yoorrook Justice Commission in 2021 and is widely published in her fields of research.

Dr. Gawaian Bodkin-Andrews

FOUNDING MEMBER

An inland (Bidigal/Nattaimattagal – Bitter/Sweet waters) D’harawal scholar who currently works within the Division of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership at Western Sydney University (WSU). His career has primarily focused on Indigenous Research Methodologies, Indigenous Data Sovereignty, and Indigenous Storywork, privileging Indigenous and First Nations standpoints across a diversity of research areas.

Dr. Vanessa Lee-Ah Mat

FOUNDING MEMBER

Of the Yupungathi and Meriam people (Cape York and the Torres Strait), Vanessa is a cultural broker with over 20 years experience. She has qualifications in professional coaching, business advisory, script-for-screen writing, early childhood teaching, and higher degrees in public health within the medical sciences. Vanessa is currently a full time consultant.