Our Board

Dr Dawn Casey – Chair
Gail Reynolds-Adamson – Director
Ian Trust – Director
Jenny Boddington – Director
Judy Hardy – Director
Leah Armstrong – Director
Peter Thomas – Director
Valerie Cooms – Director

Dr Dawn Casey – Chair

First appointed 29 June 2009

Dr Dawn Casey is currently the Director of the Powerhouse Museum. Dr Casey was the Chief Executive Officer of the Western Australian Museum from 2005-2007. She is widely known nationally and internationally for her work as the Director of the National Museum of Australia. She was responsible for the construction and development of the museum which opened as a Centenary of Federation project in 2001.

Dr Casey managed the transition of the museum from an organisation of some 40 staff with an annual budget of $4 million to a fully operational museum with 210 paid staff, 200 volunteers, an annual budget of $43 million and approximately two million visitors within the first two and half years of opening.

Dr Casey has made a major contribution to Indigenous policies and programs and to Australia’s cultural heritage nationally.  As a senior executive in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet she had responsibility for establishing the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and for initiating the joint Commonwealth-State response to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

As Assistant Director General, AusAID, Dr Casey’s responsibilities included Multilateral Development Banks, the United Nations, the World Health Organisation and other international programs.

Dr Casey has represented Australia internationally on the Development Board for Commonwealth Countries and the Global Environment Facility and on various United Nation delegations.

Dr Casey is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland, Griffith University and Murdoch University and serves on a number of boards and committees of universities such as the University of Western Australia and the Australian National University. She is also Chair of the Advisory Board for the Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation at the University of Melbourne.

Dr Casey’s awards for achievement include:

• Honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities
• Honorary Doctorate of Arts, Charles Sturt University
• Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy, University of Queensland
• Australia Day Public Service Medal
• Centenary of Federation Medal
• Centenary of the Australian Public Service Medal
• Commonwealth Public Service Australia Day Medals (1985, 1988 and 1996)
• The Clem Cummings Award from the Royal Australian Institute of Architects

Ms Gail Reynolds-Adamson

First appointed 10 May 2006 for three years
Reappointed 19 November 2009 until 31 May 2011

Ms Reynolds-Adamson is an owner/director of Kepa Kurl Enterprises Pty Ltd, a private, locally owned Aboriginal tourism company based in Esperance, Western Australia. Kepa-Kurl operates two tour companies and an Aboriginal art gallery and gift shop.

She also manages and operates a successful consultancy business to many mining companies and numerous government departments.

Previously, Ms Reynolds-Adamson was the National Indigenous Relations Manager for Normandy Mining (subsequently Newmont Mining) and the National Manager of Telstra’s Aboriginal and Islander Unit.

She is currently a Tourism Western Australia (TWA) Commissioner and chairs a TWA subcommittee promoting Aboriginal business development in tourism. She is also a board member of Indigenous Community Volunteers.

Ian Trust – Director

First appointed 31 November 2003
Reappointed 1 December 2007 for three years

Mr Trust, a Gidja man from the East Kimberley region of Western Australia, is currently the Executive Chairperson of Wunan Foundation, a Director of Kimberley Group Training Company, the Deputy Chairperson of Kimberley College of TAFE, a committee member of the WA Aboriginal Education and Training Council and a director of the Indigenous Land Corporation.

For nine years, Mr Trust was Chairperson on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) Wunan (Kununurra Region) Regional Council. For two years he was Zone Commissioner for the Kimberley. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Wunan Foundation and Kimberley Group Training Company in the East Kimberley.

Mr Trust was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001 for his services to the Aboriginal people of the East Kimberley in the areas of social and economic development.

Jenny Boddington – Director

First appointed 19 March 2001
Reappointed 19 May 2007 for three years

Ms 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), Ms Boddington 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.  Ms Boddington also holds various private board directorships.

Before joining QBE LMI, Ms Boddington 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, she made and managed investments on its behalf in a variety of Australian industrial and infrastructure operations.

Judy Hardy – Director

First appointed 9 August 2004
Reappointed 19 November until 31 August 2011

Mrs Hardy operates an independent national consulting business from Adelaide, South Australia, and is owner-director of three other businesses operating in Australia, China and Morocco.

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

Mrs Hardy is also a member of a number of national committees advising the Australian Government on substance abuse and homelessness.

Leah Armstrong – Director

First appointed 19 March 2001
Reappointed 19 May 2007 for three years

Ms Leah Armstrong is a foundation member, who for many years was the Executive Director of Yarnteen Ltd, a not-for-profit Indigenous organisation based in New South Wales.

For 17 years, Ms Armstrong ensured that Yarnteen was an effective commercial organisation with strong governance, strategic direction and financial accountability.

Ms Armstrong brings to the Board valuable knowledge of the issues that communities face when taking the path of economic development.

Other directorships and committee appointments include: non-member director NTSCORP in New South Wales, Director of the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council, member of the National Policy Commission on Indigenous Housing, and board member of the Hunter Region Sports Venue Authority.

Peter Thomas – Director

First appointed 24 September 2007 for three years

Mr Thomas is based in Sydney, where he is a director of TFG International, a boutique consulting and advisory firm offering high-level strategic advice to both the public and private sectors.

Mr Thomas has a Commerce degree from Melbourne University and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, having been a partner with a Big Four firm for almost 25 years. He is also a board member of Innovation Australia, an Australian Government entity, and a director of a number of private sector companies.

On a pro bono basis, Mr Thomas sits on the boards of a number of not-for-profit organisations. Mr Thomas brings years of commercial experience to the Board together with a commitment to advancing Indigenous business and economic self-sufficiency.

Valerie Cooms – Director

First appointed 16 June 2010 for three years

Ms Valerie Cooms belongs to the Nunukul people of Minjeeriba or North Stradbroke Island and has six grandchildren. She is currently a Visiting Research Fellow with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. She has extensive experience in Government at both the Federal and State level. Ms Cooms’ previous positions include: CEO of Queensland South Native Title Services; Teacher, Access Division Inverell and Tamworth TAFE Colleges; Lecturer and Director of Oorala Aboriginal Centre University of New England; Chief Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer of ATSIC; Assistant Manager, Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Monitoring Unit; Senior Vocational Officer and Manager of Aboriginal Programs in the Department of Employment Education and Training; and Field Officer with the Aboriginal Heath Program, Cunnamulla (National Tachoma and Eye Health Program).

Ms Cooms holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Australian national University, a Bachelor of Arts Degree Honours 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.