The BBY Board of Directors is made up of up to six Aboriginal leaders from across the East Kimberley who are passionate about change and ‘walking the talk’ of the 6 social norms.
The Board oversees the strategic direction of BBY, sustaining the success of Empowered Communities in the East Kimberley, and leads the Joint Decision-Making process with Government.
Desmond Hill
Position: Chairperson, BBY
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.
Natasha Short
Position: Director, BBY
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.
Jean O'Reeri
Position: Director, BBY
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
Merle Carter
Position: Director, BBY
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.
Philomena (Philly) Hunter
Position: Director, BBY
Philomena Hunter is a local Aboriginal woman who grew up in Wyndham and has family ties throughout the Kimberley region. Having knowledge of her family background, culture and connections she sees the importance in continuing to learn more in this space given barriers that have been affected by past history.
Philly attended school in Wyndham and Perth and is a graduate of the Jawun emerging leaders program. Philly has worked in the training sector in the East Kimberley for the past 20 years, with experience in remote communities and the mining industry. Given the importance of education Philomena undertook tertiary studies at both Notre Dame and Curtin University where she completed a two-year associate degree in Community Management and Development.
At the best of her ability Philomena continues to work following the legacy of her late parents who made a huge contribution to the community of Wyndham since arriving and making it home in 1975 after surviving the horrific Cyclone Tracey and being evacuated from Darwin.
Through her passion to support, guide and advocate for her people, Philly served as a Director of Ngnowar Aerwah Aboriginal Corporation, Chairperson of St Joseph’s Wyndham School Board, was in the early consultations of the establishment of the Wyndham Youth Aboriginal Corporation and is the Aboriginal Development Officer for Norther Regional TAFE in Kununurra.
As a young mum, Philly raised her three kids single-handed, securing their futures with early education, a safe and loving household and strong values of respect for elders, care for those who don’t have much and the importance of a good education for better opportunities. Philly is now a proud mother of three grown children, all of whom are fully employed, independent and caring contributors to the East Kimberley community.
Sally Martin
Position: Director, BBY
Introducing Sally Martin, one of our BBY Directors.
Sally grew up in Wyndham , but works in Kununurra for the Education Department as the Early Years Coordinator, engaging parents to prepare their young children for school . After 38 years within the education system, Sally remains a passionate educator , and loves working with children.
Sally is the Mum to one daughter , and has recently become a brand new grandmother to a beautiful baby boy! She has joined the BBY to learn more about what’s happening in community , especially what’s on offer in regards to the early years space and how that important work is being supported, so families can be empowered around their children’s education.
Sally supports her partner Ben, in the business Kimberley Dreaming, taking people on fantastic adventures through our Kimberley landscapes, sharing Country and Culture.
She is a passionate supporter of Aboriginal empowerment, and one of her favourite quotes is ‘Determination today, leads to success tomorrow’.
Empowered Communities National Leadership
Ian Trust
Position: Co-Chair of Empowered Communities’ National Leadership Team
Ian has lived and worked in the region for most of his life and currently serves as the Chairman and Executive Director of Wunan Foundation.
He sees Empowered Communities as the structure that will break the cycle of passive welfare dependency and create fundamental change in his community and other communities across Australia.
Watch Ian's presentation on Empowered Communities, at Garma Festival 2014.
Former Directors of BBY
We wish to acknowledge the leadership and dedication of previous Board Directors of BBY, who have greatly contributed to Empowered Communities East Kimberley and the strategic direction of BBY.
Peter Brown
Director: 19/06/2017 - 8/3/18
Positions held: Chair 20/07/17- 8/3/18
Lawford Benning
Director: 10/6/2016-21/5/18
Positions held: Chair 7/11/16-17/2/2017
Robyn Long
Director: 30/03/2016- 12/11/19
Brenda Garstone
Director: 03/02/2021 - 09/11/2022
Carolyn McAdam
Director: 03/02/2021 - 15/08/2021
Zenneth Cox
Director: 2020