Board

Des Morgan

Deputy Executive Officer, Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Limited
Chairperson

Des is a Yorta Yorta man from the Murray area of Victoria/NSW. He has been an active member of the Aboriginal community since 1984, having served on various local and state organisations, Boards of Management Inc, Legal Service, Aborigines Advancement League, VACSAL and VAEAI. He also served a six-year period as an ATSIC Regional Councilor and past Chair of NJERNDA (Echuca) for several years and a member of Yorta Yorta Nations Aboriginal Corporation.

Pam Aplin

Deputy Executive Officer, Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Limited
Secretary

Pam Aplin is the Deputy Executive Officer of Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Limited. They have completed the Diploma of Frontline Management with Swinburne Governance Training.

Larry Kanoa

Indigenous Community Development Broker, Victorian Office of Aboriginal Affairs
Secretary

Larry is a Gunditjmara man born in Mooroopna. He has been actively involved in Aboriginal affairs since 1983 with a strong background in Koori education and as a client service officer with VALS. He has represented the Aboriginal community at local, state and national forums including the Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee, the Aboriginal Justice Forum, VAEAI and ATSIC. Larry’s current role is as an Indigenous Community Development Broker with the Victorian Office of Aboriginal Affairs.

Amanda Dunstall

Principle Practitioner (Director), Victorian Aboriginal Childcare Agency
Secretary

Amanda is a Gunditjmara woman with a variety of work experience in our community. She has previously worked at Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Ltd. and Victoria Police. At present, Amanda is currently at Victorian Aboriginal Childcare Agency. Through her tireless work, Amanda shows her passion regarding social justice for Koorie people.

Cienan Muir

Founder of INDIGINERD
Member

Cienan Muir is a Yorta Yorta and Ngarrindjeri man who grew up in Northcote, going to Thornbury Primary and then Northcote High, before completing a social sciences degree. When Cienan was younger, he lived in Echuca, Moama and Mooroopna. A big advocate for ensuring our young people have the voice and the opportunity to make the changes they want to see in the future, this is seen through his work with the Koorie Youth Council. Cienan has a passion for Indigenous creativity, storytelling and representation within the popular culture arena, hosting Australia’s first ever Indigenous Comic Con, presenting and facilitating many panels and workshops on Indigenous representation, and growing his business, INDIGINERD, into a much-loved icon.

Luke Martin

Solicitor, Peninsula Community Legal Centre
Member

Luke is a lawyer and MD candidate, who is honoured to live in Naarm (Melbourne) on the Wurundjeri lands of the Kulin nations. He has worked in International mergers and acquisitions, equities, intellectual property, tax, government advisory, and Indigenous health research. Luke is a Palawa man who is passionate about empowering First Nations’ voices to work with government and businesses to help bridge the gap in law, health and economics.

Crystal McKinnon

VC Indigenous Research Fellow, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

Member

Dr Crystal McKinnon is Vice Chancellor’s Indigenous Research Fellow, Social and Global Studies Centre, RMIT University. Crystal is an extensively published academic and expert speaker and presenter on subjects related to Indigenous People’s civil rights, sovereignty and experiences of the criminal legal system. Crystal is a member of various academic bodies and is involved in academic administration, university governance and wider participation in the Boards of various not-for-profit organisations.

Herbert Patten

Aboriginal Cultural Officer

Member

Herb is a respected Aboriginal Elder within the community who has connections to Gunai/Kurnai, Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri people. Herb has successfully completed a Diploma in Aboriginal Arts and is a musician and master player of the gum leaf.

Erin Rose

Budj Bim World Heritage Executive Officer
Member

Erin Rose is Gunditjmara from South West Victoria. Erin has worked in the justice sector for several years providing cultural and reintegration support to Aboriginal people in the justice system, before this she worked across a number of Aboriginal Community Organisations providing advocacy and support. Currently, Erin is the Budj Bim World Heritage Executive Officer at Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Cooperation overseeing the management and protection of the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape and its values.