Our Board

The Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) Board is made up of eminent Indigenous and non-Indigenous members with expertise in business. The majority of the Board including the Chair are Indigenous.

Dr Dawn Casey
Mr Ian Trust
Mr Anthony Ashby
Mr Jason Eades
Ms Judy Hardy
Ms Gail Reynolds-Adamson
Mr Peter Thomas
Ms Claire Woodley

Dr Dawn Casey, Chair of the Board

First appointed 29 June 2009 to 28 June 2014.

Dr Dawn Casey is Director of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, which manages the Powerhouse Museum and the Sydney Observatory. She is Chair (part-time) of the Indigenous Land Corporation.

Dawn has held a number of senior executive roles and has contributed greatly to Indigenous policies and programs, and to Australia’s cultural heritage. She also represented Australia internationally on the Development Board for Commonwealth Countries, the Global Environment Facility and various United Nations delegations.

Dawn served on a number of university boards and committees and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland and Griffith University.

Dawn has received many awards for her achievements.

Mr Ian Trust, Deputy Chair of the Board

First appointed 31 November 2003.
Reappointed 1 December 2007 to 30 November 2013.

Ian Trust, a Gidja man from the East Kimberley region of Western Australia, is the Executive Chair of Wunan Foundation; a director of Kimberley Group Training Incorporated; the Deputy Chair of Kimberley College of TAFE; a committee member of the Western Australian Aboriginal Education and Training Council; and Deputy Chair (part-time) of the Indigenous Land Corporation.

Ian was Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) Wunan (Kununurra Region) Regional Council for nine years, and Zone Commissioner for the Kimberley for two years.

He was also instrumental in establishing the Wunan Foundation and Kimberley Group Training Company (now Kimberly Group Training Incorporated) in the East Kimberley.

Ian was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001 for his services to the Indigenous Australians of the East Kimberley, in the areas of social and economic development.

 

Mr Anthony Ashby, Board Director

First appointed 22 October 2012 to 21 October 2015.

Anthony Ashby is a Gamilaraay-Yuwaalaraay man from North-Western NSW. Anthony holds a Bachelor of Commerce (UNSW), and has gone on to complete post-graduate qualifications as a Chartered Accountant and Registered Company Auditor. He holds a Public Practicing Certificate from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and provides professional services to his client base.

Anthony’s professional career started as a graduate accountant with Ernst & Young, where he attained Manager level before seeking new experiences. His international accounting experience consisted of time spent with the Moore Stephens Group in their New York/New Jersey offices. Subsequent to these public accounting experiences Anthony moved into the commercial arena as the Financial Manager for the Darrell Lea Group of companies. In 2004, Anthony and his wife Vanessa established their own boutique accounting business.

Anthony is currently Treasurer of KARI Aboriginal Resources Incorporated and a Member of the Audit & Risk Committee for Supply Nation (formerly AIMSC).

Anthony Ashby is also a member of the Finance and Investment Committee.

Mr Jason Eades, Board Director

First appointed 19 July 2011 to 19 July 2014.

Jason Eades is a proud Gunai man from south-east Victoria, and brings more than 15 years of experience in senior management across the arts, tourism, Native Title and strategic policy sectors, within not-for-profit and government industries. Jason’s previous roles have included Chief Executive Officer of the Koorie Heritage Trust Inc., and Manager, Budget and Operations (Planning and Development Branch) of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria. He was also a former co-Chair of Victoria Aboriginal Economic Development Group and former Chairman of Aboriginal Tourism Victoria.

He established the Jason Eades Consultancy in 2009, which later became Eades Consulting Group. His consultancy focuses on governance and developing economic opportunities (including family business and community-based enterprises), and cultural competency and culturally responsive services for Indigenous peoples.

Jason is also a board member of Kinaway Victorian Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce, and Banmirra Arts Inc.

Jason Eades is a member of the Finance and Investment Committee.

Ms Judy Hardy, Board Director

First appointed 9 August 2004. Reappointed 1 September 2011 to 31 August 2014.

Judy Hardy brings to the Board her knowledge of policy development, strategic planning, marketing, community consultation and small business development. She is committed to a partnership approach to Indigenous economic development.

Judy previously held the position of Director of Mental Health in South Australia and now operates an independent national consulting business from Adelaide, South Australia. She is a member of a number of national committees advising the Australian Government on substance abuse, mental health and homelessness.

Judy is also an owner and director of businesses operating in Australia, China and Morocco, in the areas of property development, retirement villages and importation. Her work overseas is focused on the economic development of disadvantaged women.

Judy Hardy is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Ms Gail Reynolds-Adamson, Board Director

First appointed 10 May 2006.
Reappointed 1 September 2011 to 31 August 2014.

Gail Reynolds-Adamson is an owner and director of Kepa Kurl Enterprises Pty Ltd, a locally owned Aboriginal tourism company based in Esperance, Western Australia.

Kepa Kurl operates two tour companies and an Indigenous art gallery and gift shop. Gail also manages and operates a successful consultancy business, providing services to mining companies and numerous government departments.

Gail is a board member for Indigenous Community Volunteers and the Iconic Task Force, and Chair of South East Aboriginal Health Service.

Gail is an Audit and Risk Committee member.

Mr Peter Thomas, Board Director

First appointed 24 September 2007.
Reappointed 5 October 2010 to 4 October 2013.

Peter Thomas brings years of commercial experience to the Board, together with a commitment to advancing Indigenous business and economic self-sufficiency.

Based in Sydney, Peter is a director of TFG International, a consulting and advisory firm offering high-level strategic advice to the public and private sectors. Peter has a Bachelor of Commerce degree and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. He was a partner at one of Australia’s four largest accounting firms for almost 25 years.

Peter is a board member of Innovation Australia and a director of The Australian Solar Institute (both Australian Government entities). He is also a director of the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation; a number of private sector companies; and, on a pro-bono basis, three not-for-profit organisations.

Peter Thomas is also the Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee.

Ms Claire Woodley, Board Director

First appointed 22 October 2012 to 21 October 2015.

Claire Woodley has a diverse background incorporating the banking sector, as well as clinical and managerial experience in the delivery of public mental health services. She has a passion for driving equal access to opportunity across the community with specific interest in providing opportunities for enablement for indigenous people.

Claire brings to the Board her corporate experience in governance, risk management, strategic planning, policy development, business reengineering and project/program management. She also has experience in project portfolio governance including risk and quality oversight of the delivery of global programs of change.

Claire has formal qualifications in Occupational Therapy, Psychology, and Project Management.

Claire Woodley is also a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.