FISH - Key Persons
Blake Innes is a dedicated leader in the creative arts. His primary focus is on creating accessible and engaging platforms for individuals to share their stories. As a publisher, Blake uses his expertise to support and amplify the voices of others. This is particularly evident in his work with FISH, where he is deeply committed to FISH's mission.
Blake is a dedicated leader in the creative arts who is focused on creating accessible and exciting…
Brendan began his work with FISH through an internship in his final year of study at Curtin University, with a focus on Finance and Accounting.
After graduating, he moved into a permanent position as a Finance Officer, providing the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects and help maintain the financial environment of the organisation.
His time with FISH has provided an insight into the challenges faced by indigenous communities, which has been an invaluable experience both personally and professionally.
Brendan is an avid traveller, as he believes experiencing other cultures and communities allows us to better ourselves and the world around us.
Claude Carter is an Aboriginal leader from the Gooniyandi clan group in the Fitzroy Valley. He is the Founder of the Bawoorrooga Community in the remote East Kimberley region of Western Australia. Claude is the Chairman of Gooniyandi Aboriginal Corporation and has worked for year within the pastoral industry and as a machine operator. his is committed to communities bringing and driving the change for themselves. He has a passion for hands on involvement in projects and inspiring others to be motivated and get involved. Claude is a recognised artist, traditional dancer and a leader in his culture.
Job Titles:
- Programs Manager
- Social Worker
Danica Scott is a qualified Social Worker with extensive community services experience with a practice focus on young people with complex social needs. Danica holds a Bachelor of Social Work, Diploma of Counselling, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and is completing a Masters in Community Development. Danica has held a variety of roles across the community services sector, responsible for service development, training provision, implementation and evaluation within a direct engagement, management and consultancy capacity.
Job Titles:
- Ambassador & Official Photographer
- Official Photographer & Ambassador
David Rennie is an internationally recognised Wildlife Photographer, Environmentalist, Aboriginal Advocate, Ambassador for Peel-Harvey Catchment Council and Ramsar 482.
He has won many awards for his photography including The 2013 Australian Geographic Anzang Nature Photographer of the Year.
David lives in Pinjarra Western Australia. In 2014 he was featured on Australia Story "An Unnatural History" and after this he has spent his time fighting to save our dwindling wetlands.
David Rennie was a late bloomer to the Photography world but made such an impact in a very short time. Picking up his first camera in 2007 he taught himself how to use it to its fullest potential. David has Bipolar and cannot sit still, photography gave him a way to get the creative side of his Bipolar out from his mind and has been the catalyst for him to be able to control it to a point !
In Oct 2015 David suffered a major cardiac arrest at home which has damaged his heart and this along with his other health issues means he has to set limits to what he can now do. He limits his photography to a few organisations to which he is passionate about which is done on a pro bono arrangement.
For the past 3 years he has been an unofficial Photographer for Jawun documenting the work being done by key people in different communities.
He has now taken up an offer to be the Official Photographer and Ambassador for FISH.
David Selwyn Burralung Merringwuy Galarrwuy Wyal Wirrpanda is a Yort-Yorta man and a former Australian rules footballer, best known for his career with the West Coast Eagles. David brings his influence as one of Australia's most inspirational champions of AFL, and his wealth of experience in community work, to improve the social and emotional well-being of First Nations people.
Over the last two decades David has promoted strong role models to encourage First Nations people across Australia to further their education and maintain healthy life choices. His focus on increasing school retention and connection with education has given young Aboriginal people a strong basis for further study and entry into the workforce. As a footballer, David showed a hunger for playing the ball that left others on the field spellbound. He now brings the same passion to FISH as he aims to inspire First Nations people across Australia to drive sustainable change to their lives.
Within FISH, David joins his fellow Board Member Liza Fraser-Gooda, a Bidjara, Ghangulu and Iman woman, as co-chair of FISH's Justice Committee and the Myalup Karla Waangkiny Justice & Healing Implementation Working Group.
David Selwyn Burralung Merringwuy Galarrwuy Wyal Wirrpanda is a Yort-Yorta man and a former AFL…
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Co - FOUNDER & Co - Chair
Scott has an interest in medicine, innovation, and technology transfer, bringing a vision to foster research and development of sustainable technologies as a means for improving health, well-being, and quality of living.
Job Titles:
- ARCHITECT
- PROJECT COORDINATOR
Jara Romero is a Spanish architect with a passion for sustainability, natural construction and working with communities. She has worked across Europe, South America and Australia, learning from traditional architecture about the use of local materials and the adaptation to local climate and landscape. She believes in teamwork and hands-on involvement as a therapy. Jara is committed to developing the design of structures with the people and then involving them in the construction process. As an architect Jara is involved intimately in the projects on the ground as she shares her knowledge with communities so they develop an understanding of the planning and structural components of a building.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager - FISH Aboriginal Home Ownership & Housing
Jason Dinning has extensive social housing experience from working with the Department of Communities…
Judy came to Australia from England 34 years ago. Her book-keeping journey started 26 years ago when she met her husband and together they started a small plumbing business. After her kids grew up she started working at a small accounting practice, where she first encountered the good work of FISH. Judy stepped forward to become the volunteer book-keeper because she believes in the ethos that FISH stands for.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Chair
- Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors
Karen is a bloodline descendant and a Traditional Owner of Whadjuk Country.
Her primary focus is on developing and encouraging Aboriginal people's involvement in enterprise and business opportunities.
Karen is Managing Director / Chairperson of Indigenous Economic Solutions and Chairperson of The Whadjuck Foundation. She holds Directorships on a range of economic and community boards and trusts. Karen has an extensive background in Aboriginal cultural heritage, environmental management, cultural tourism, education and is a lecturer at the UWA, School of Social Science in the Foundations to Heritage Management.
Her career has led into Indigenous Specialist Services, the analysis of probity and procurement, financial management, marketing and promotion of Aboriginal people's engagement and participation in plans and strategies across all industries and business sectors.
Job Titles:
- BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Since joining FISH in Nov 2017 Katrina has had many opportunities to utilise her experience, skills and knowledge towards causes she feels passionate and connected to. Helping others understand the challenges faced and how we can empower Aboriginal communities to facilitate a better future for themselves and their families.
Katrina has worked in Aboriginal based projects since the late 1990s, starting with her involvement in Jawun Secondment Program introducing Family Income Management in Coen, Cape York, Far North Queensland. Working with families teaching financial literacy and facilitating the path for financial independence for generations to come.
Working on a variety of projects for FISH including FISH's Social Enterprises, Books For All Program and Micro Finance Funding Katrina is passionate about business development and tourism opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses throughout Australia.
Katrina believes that everyone should have an equal opportunity to create the best life outcomes for themselves and feels honoured to be part of the FISH team and supporting the individuals, families, and communities she works with.
Kristian Rodd is a former corporate lawyer, working in Melbourne and China. He changed paths to focus on sustainable building and has worked throughout Europe, South America and Australia in building earth houses, which has developed within him a passion for natural building as a way to empower, heal and inspire people. He is committed to projects being by communities for communities to enable them to take their own power back to bring positive change. Kristian wants people to feel connected with the natural world around them - to shape the earth with their hands and to feel part of the living environment as our ancestors have done for millennia.
Lady Claire (Suzi) Browne, the Marchioness of Sligo, focuses her support on the FISH First Nations…
Job Titles:
- Co - Chair
- Co - Chair of the Board of Directors
- Member of the Board
Liza Fraser-Gooda is a Bidjara, Ghangulu and Iman woman originally from Rockhampton in Central Queensland. She has extensive senior management experience and holds a number of directorships across a broad range of sectors. Liza started Jinnali Productions, her first business, in 1999 which resulted in her co-producing the first Aboriginal women's calendar taking it to international audiences in addition to providing young Aboriginal women with access to opportunity in the fashion industry.
Liza has numerous business interests and is the co-founder of Redspear Safety and Safespear. Both of these businesses provide high-end business critical products and services to the mining, construction, medical and oil and gas sectors. Most recently, Safespear has been directly involved in the fight against COVID-19 by providing negative pressure isolation room capability as part of its innovative atmospheric control solutions. Her contribution to the small business sector in Australia resulted in her appointment as a judge in the TELSTRA BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD in 2017.
Liza is passionate about economic and community development in Aboriginal communities and to this end, serves as a director on the boards of the Spear Foundation, the Foundation for Indigenous Sustainable Health (FISH) and BINAR Sports. These organisations work together to make targeted interventions in a range of areas which include children and youth, Elders and the justice system.
Lord Sebastian Browne, the 12th Marquess of Sligo, is proud to support the FISH First Nations…
Job Titles:
- CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member of the FISH Team
Mark Anderson is a Wadjela (white fella) and has worked across Western Australia for 10 years in the Kimberley and Pilbara Regions and 20 years in the south of the state. Mark has and continues to sit on regional, state and national boards contributing to the economic, structural, environmental and social sectors. Mark has worked in the corporate and community sectors for over 35 years with the last 25 years in senior management. He has run professional, team and organisational development with the health, justice, corporate (local, state, national and international), government (both state and national), education and community sectors. This has involved working directly with Aboriginal Trainees in the Kimberley through to senior executives of national corporations, including guest lecturing at Universities. Mark has and continues to sit on a range of government and non-government advisory and funding boards including in the past the Judging Panel for the Prime Minister's Community Business Partnership Award. Mark has a Bachelor of Social Science, is in the final year of his Masters at UWA and is an Internationally Accredited Partnership Broker.
Our Director who as Head of Indigenous Business and Community at National Australia Bank has worked closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and Elders to develop new cultural engagement models. These focus on supporting Indigenous businesses by improving financial literacy and business sustainability. He now shares his experience with FISH to foster positive economic opportunities for Indigenous people across Australia.
Our Director who as Head of Indigenous Business and Community at NAB has worked closely with…
Job Titles:
- Artist
- Social Enterprise Manager, Perth
- SOCIAL Enterprise MANAGER, Perth Region
Polly Wilson is a proud Gamilaroi, Ngemba Weilwan woman who grew up in Wee Waa NSW. Polly is an Artist, a mother of four beautiful children and moved her family to Perth in June 2021 to join the FISH team. After successfully completing her Certificate IV in Business, Polly works as FISH's Social Enterprise Manager for the Perth Region. Polly's goal is to continue her journey with FISH and achieve her dreams of becoming a qualified Art Therapist working with families from a trauma background. Polly truly believes, and has experienced herself, the difference FISH can make in the lives of Indigenous peoples, families and communities. FISH is supporting Polly to reach her goals by walking beside her on her new journey.
Polly is a proud Gamilaroi, Ngemba Weilwan woman who grew up in Wee Waa NSW. Polly is an Artist…
Reanna is a proud Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi woman from Pilliga, NSW. Reanna moved to Perth on May 2021 and is excited to be part of the important work that FISH does for her people. Reanna is dedicated to helping empower her mob and break generational cycles, and supporting young people through education and culture.
Reanna Doolan is a proud Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi woman, from Pilliga NSW. She moved to Perth in 2021…
Job Titles:
- CULTURAL & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CO - ORDINATOR MYALUP KARLA WAANGKINY
- CULTURAL & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
Renna Gayde is a proud Walbunja woman from the Yuin nation on south coast of NSW. Living on Noongar Boodja for the past 26 years she is mother to four beautiful daughters. Renna studies social work full time at Curtin University and works as a lived experience advisor/advocate across various organisations and institutions. Renna sits on the Mayalup Karla Waankginy Co-Design Group and has recently joined FISH as the Cultural and Community Engagement Coordinator. Renna is passionate and committed to driving positive, self-determined change for her people and the community in which she lives.
Renna is a proud Walbunja woman from the Yuin nation on
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Rita Lusted is a proud Noongar woman with traditional ties to Wilmen, Koreng boodja. She is a Senior Consultant Two-way Science engaged in the development and delivery of the WA Education Department's Two-way Science Initiative. She also works as Manager Aboriginal Education at Baldivis Secondary College. Rita is a qualified Aboriginal Language teacher passionate about creating education resources and art that bring a two-way approach to the curriculum.
Ronni joins FISH in the role of Executive Support having previously worked in Operations Management roles, and in executive coaching and personal development. With her business management experience and strong communication skills, Ronni supports the organisation at all levels, helping CEO Mark Anderson, the Board, and our team of dedicated staff to bring our vision to life. With a background in Art and Design, Ronni also supports FISH's social media and marketing efforts. Ronni is most fascinated by people, place, and the systems and stories that connect us all. She is inspired by the FISH vision and values and is excited to be part of this passionate and purpose driven team.
Job Titles:
- Creative Education Designer
Scott is a Gooniyandi and Gajerrong man from WA's Kimberley region. Scott graduated from UWA in 2015…