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
Ms Leah Armstrong
Ms Valerie Cooms
Ms Jenny Boddington
Ms Judy Hardy
Ms Gail Reynolds-Adamson
Mr Peter Thomas
Mr Jason Eades

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.

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 a director 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.

Ian Trust is also a member of the Finance and Investment Committee.

Ms Leah Armstrong, Board Director

First appointed 19 March 2001.
Reappointed 16 June 2010 to 16 June 2012.

Leah Armstrong was the Executive Director of Yarnteen Ltd, a not-for-profit Indigenous organisation based in New South Wales. For 17 years, Leah worked to ensure Yarnteen was an effective commercial organisation with strong governance, strategic direction and financial accountability. She brings to the Board valuable knowledge of the issues that Indigenous communities face when undergoing economic development.

Leah’s other directorships and committee appointments include CEO of Reconciliation Australia; director of the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council; and member of the National Policy Commission on Indigenous Housing. She is also a board member of the Jobs Australia Foundation and the Hunter Region Sports Venue Authority.

Ms Valerie Cooms, Board Director

First appointed 16 June 2010 to 16 June 2013.

Valerie Cooms belongs to the Nunukul people of Minjerriba (also known as North Stradbroke Island). She is a Visiting Research Fellow with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, and has extensive experience in government at both federal and state levels.

Valerie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Australian National University, a Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) degree from the University of New England, a Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training, and a PhD candidature from the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane.

Valerie Cooms is also a Finance and Investment Committee member.

Ms Jenny Boddington, Board Director

First appointed 19 March 2001.
Reappointed 16 June 2010 to 16 June 2012.

Jenny Boddington holds a Masters degree in Metallurgy, Economics and Industrial Management from Oxford University, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

As the Head of Risk and Operations at QBE Lenders’ Mortgage Insurance Limited (QBE LMI), Jenny is responsible for credit policy, underwriting, claims and technology. QBE LMI is one of the leading providers of mortgage insurance to the lending industry in Australia, New Zealand and Asia and has played a major role in assisting home ownership over the past 40 years. She also holds various private board directorships.

Before joining QBE LMI, Jenny spent 20 years in the investment banking sector, where she advised companies on acquisitions, divestments, listings and capital raisings.

While a director of the private equity arm of Deutsche Bank, Jenny made and managed investments in a variety of Australian industrial and infrastructure operations.

Jenny Boddington is also 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.

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 is also a director of the Aboriginal Foundation of South Australia, and is committed to a partnership approach to Indigenous economic development.

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. She is a board member for Indigenous Community Volunteers.

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.

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 former Co-Chair of Victoria Aboriginal Economic Development Group and former Chairman of Aboriginal Tourism Victoria.

He established Jason Eades Consultancy in 2009 with a focus on developing economic opportunities (including family business and community based enterprises), governance, and the development of both cultural competency and culturally responsive services for Indigenous people.

He currently also serves on the Boards of Kinaway Victorian Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce as a Board Member, Indigenous Leadership Network Victoria Ltd. as Deputy Chair, and Banmirra Arts Inc. as a Board Member.