Although born in Broome, Desmond ‘Des’ Hill is a Miriuwong man whose mother was taken away as part of the stolen generation.

Des has worked for several local organisations in the East Kimberley over many years. He is currently a Chief Executive Officer of Waringarri Aboriginal Corporation and Director at the Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service. He was previously the chairperson of MG Corporation, on the board of the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service Ltd, worked for the Kimberley Land Council in the early years of Mabo and as a teacher.

Des is a strong leader and has worked to address the social and economic challenges for Aboriginal people for many years. He is keen to see the Indigenous-led vision of Empowered Communities come to fruition, particularly the five social norms of the East Kimberley.

Jean is a Wilinggin woman from Karunjie Station on the Gibb River Road. She has lived and worked in Wyndham in the East Kimberley region since the 1960s. Jean worked as an Aboriginal teaching assistant for over 20 years, most recently with pre-primary aged children at St. Joseph’s School in Wyndham.

Jean has held directorships with Ngnowar Aerwah Aboriginal Corporation in Wyndham, which provides alcohol and other drug treatment and rehabilitation programs to community members and is a current member of the Wyndham advisory group.

Watch an interview with Jean from Waringarri Media

Natasha has over twenty-five years’ experience working in Aboriginal Development and Community Work, almost exclusively within the Kimberley Region.

As a descendant of the Jaru people of Halls Creek, East Kimberley, Natasha is passionate about social justice and Aboriginal affairs.

Having held a number of management roles and board positions, and holding Diploma in Leadership and Management, Natasha operates her own business Kimberley Jiyigas (Birds) which is a movement of Kimberley Indigenous women influencing social change.

Her passion is to share Indigenous culture in a positive way, wanting to see more Aboriginal people in leadership roles, and Governments become active partners in Empowered Communities by resourcing the initiatives of local people, whilst taking a lesser role in peoples lives.

She lives in Kununurra, East Kimberley with her husband of 20 years, and their teenage children.

Merle Carter is a Senior Cultural Woman of the Miriuwong Gajerrong tribe and a Senior Woman of the Bunuba tribe.

Among many other accomplished positions, she has previously served as Deputy Chair of the Kimberley Land Council, on the Kimberley Aboriginal Suicide Prevention Trial Working Group, as an Independent Director for Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee (WA Gov), a Director on the Interim Aboriginal Working Group for Closing the Gap Refresh and has represented KALACC on the Suicide Prevention round table (WA Gov).

Merle is currently the Vice Chairwoman Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Cultural Centre, and is a member of the Aboriginal Advisory Council of Western Australia (WA Gov).

Merle joined BBY in 2019 and is passionate about working together to create change. BBY is proud to have Merle leading Empowered Communities in the East Kimberley.