OUR BOARD
Professor Larissa Behrendt AO | Chair
Larissa Behrendt AO is an Eualayai/Gamillaroi woman.
Larissa is currently the Director of Research and Academic Programs at the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at the University of Technology, Sydney. She is a graduate of the UNSW Law School and has a Masters and SJD from Harvard Law School.
​
Larissa is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and a founding member of the Australian Academy of Law. She has published numerous textbooks on Indigenous legal issues and is an award-winning filmmaker, including the 2018 Australian Directors Guild Award for best Direction of a Documentary Film for 'After the Apology'.
​
Larissa won the 2002 David Uniapon Award and a 2005 Commonwealth Writer’s Prize for her novel 'Home'. Her second novel, 'Legacy', won a Victorian Premiers Literary Award. Her most recent books are 'Finding Eliza: Power and Colonial Storytelling' (2016, UQP) and 'After Story' (2021, UQP). She is the Chair of the National Library of Australia, a Trustee of the Australian Museum, and on the board of the Sydney Dance Company.
​
Larissa was awarded the 2009 NAIDOC Person of the Year award, 2011 NSW Australian of the Year and an AO in 2019. She is the host of 'Speaking Out' on ABC Radio.​
Richard Thomas | Treasurer
Richard is the Managing Partner of Melbourne-based Jeffrey Thomas & Partners, Chartered Accountants and is actively involved with Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand.
Richard has been Treasurer of the foundation since its inception in 2007.
​
Over his time as Treasurer, Richard has been part of a vast expansion in the reach of the foundation, now entrenched in four remote communities, as outlined in this Annual Report. He is constantly inspired by the people he works with, those who offer their time and financial support, and the lives changed by hard work and dedication. In Richard’s view, the rapport and trust developed with the partner communities over 15 years has also been a major part of the success. Richard believes the Community Spirit Foundation is in a strong position to continue to deliver programs in the long-term and he is proud of his association.
Dr Odette Best
Odette is a Goreng Goreng, Boonthamurra and Yugambeh women from Queensland. She is currently Pro-Vice Chancellor: First Nations Strategy at the University of Southern Queensland. Odette commenced her career as a registered nurse and holds a PhD in Aboriginal women’s labour force histories as nurses and midwives. Odette has foundational ties to Woorabinda community and is the granddaughter of Ivy and Clancy Booth.
Campbell Lobb
Campbell commenced his investment banking career at a New Zealand investment bank later acquired by Credit Suisse. Campbell worked within the Australian investment banking sector for over 30 years at Credit Suisse. He was a Managing Director of Credit Suisse and also held the role of Head of Equity Capital Markets Australia/New Zealand before moving into Wealth Management within Credit Suisse’s Private Bank. Campbell has significant experience in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and capital markets in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
Campbell is also a Board member of the Wenona School Foundation. Campbell qualified as a chartered accountant and has a BCA Degree (with First Class Honours in Accounting and Finance) from Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.
Campbell was a member of the New Zealand Society of Accountants and a member of the New Zealand Stock Exchange for in excess of 40 years.
Don Carroll
Don is a company director in the mining industry and holds a Degree in Mining Engineering from Sydney University. He is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
​
He initially worked with Rio Tinto in the Pilbara region of Western Australia and was associated with the then Pundulmurra independent Indigenous College before it became a regional TAFE. The college was focused on providing skill training which could lead to opportunities for employment for young Indigenous people in the region.
He joined BHP and spent the majority of this time in overseas postings including senior positions in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Hong Kong and India. While in India he was active in securing BHP funding support for the establishment of the LV Prasad Eye Institute in Bhubaneswar, Orissa state. The institute provided high quality eye care to the poorest of people.
​
During his career Don sought to combine business objectives with sustainable programs for local Indigenous people. He joined the board of the then Cathy Freeman Foundation in 2017. During this time he has seen the work of the foundation grow from its focus on a single community to the present day four communities.
Professor Juanita Sherwood is a proud First Nations Australian whose rich career spans more than 40 years. Juanita started her working life in nursing before transitioning to primary teacher. These experiences provided her with a strong notion for equity and safety in health care and education.
Juanita is a founding member of CATSINaM (Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives) , and has been a member of its Elders Circle. Her work in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child health created a strong shift in knowledge within the health and education sector regarding Otitis Media and its impact on the life development of all children, and later in her work with Aboriginal women in prison. She continues to be strongly involved in community health through Board Governance at WAMINDA (South Coast Women’s Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation) and Nelly’s Healing Centre (Aboriginal-controlled Indigenous Corporation and registered charity).
Juanita continues to work in First Nations health research, and social justice operations and is one of the top five most productive researchers globally on the topic of decolonisation. Her work has popularised the use of decolonising frameworks and praxes in teaching, research, and health care across Australia.
Professor Juanita Sherwood
Professor Tracey Bunda
Professor Tracey Bunda is a Ngugi/Wakka Wakka woman and The University of Queensland Professor of Indigenous Education.
​
She has an extensive three-decade career in the university sector as a leader of Indigenous Higher Education.
​
Her research and scholarly interests address the value of storying as methodology, power inequities in white institutions and Indigenous women’s leadership.
​
Her most recent co-authored book with Louise Phillips is Storying Social Movement/s
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-09667-9
Luke is a proud Awabakal man currently living on Wadawurrung Country. He is employed within the criminal justice system, specialising in the investigation of sensitive offences involving vulnerable persons.
His career spans frontline policing, community corrections, and Aboriginal justice advocacy. He brings a strong work ethic, sound judgment under pressure, and an ability to build trust and drive outcomes both independently and as part of a team.
In addition to his professional responsibilities, he maintains a healthy work-life balance through active and ongoinginvolvement in community sport. His strengths in leadership and communication have been acknowledged through his appointment to senior coaching roles at sporting clubs, which is always undertakes with great pride and dedication.
Luke Searle
Naomi is a proud Wathaurong and Gunditjmara woman. She is a proud Mumma and is the current Manager of Family Services and Early Years at Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative.
In her career she has had the privilege of providing support to and fiercely advocating for families within the child protection system and also provides support to families to prevent child protection involvement.
Naomi comes from a long line of master Gunditjmara weavers and can proudly say that basket weaving is now one of her passions too. She also enjoys playing basketball, netball and going camping.
She loves the work that she does and is grateful to be able to give back to the community that helped raise her and now also the deadly communities that are supported by Murrup.
Naomi Edwards
