Conrad Maralngurra is a senior Traditional Owner of the Ngalngbali clan estate and resides in the homeland community of Mamadawerre. Conrad has worked as an educator, previously holding assisting teacher positions at Gunbalanya School and Mamadawerre Homeland Learning Centre. Conrad is multilingual, speaking Kunwinjku, Maung, Yolngu Matha and English. He is a talented musician who plays the didgeridoo and guitar. He has been a Director of WLML since 2013 and has previously been a regional representative on the Northern Land Council, a Director of Demed Aboriginal Corporation and a member of Norforce.

Michelle is connected to the Warddeken IPA through her father’s Marrirn custodial estate and her mother’s Bordoh Country. With a lifelong passion for education, Michelle has worked as an educator for over two decades across many critical roles, including as coordinator of the Families as First Teachers program in Gunbalanya, and currently as a senior educator with Nawarddeken Academy. Also passionate about creating futures on Country for young people, Michelle brings a wealth of experience in Bininj and Balanda education to our board.

Mavis is a Traditional Owner of the Djorrorlom clan and a leader of the Barunga and Manyallaluk communities where she resides. Mavis is experienced in governance, also sitting on the boards of WLML and Mimal Land Management Limited, having customary responsibilities for Country in both management areas. Mavis has worked for many years as a youth worker, facilitating back-to-Country trips and diversionary programs for at-risk youth. She is passionate about the education of the next generation of leaders.

Neil has spent the past 35 years in Business Management at independent schools in Darwin, Alice Springs, Perth, and Adelaide. After qualifying with a Bachelor of Business from Curtin University, Neil looked for more meaningful employment than taking up pure accounting, commencing his new career in independent schooling in Darwin in 1986. Over the years Neil has built up significant experience in the many aspects of school operations including financial management, strategic planning, master planning and the development of new schools. Neil has been actively involved in the Associations of Independent Schools in the Northern Territory and Western Australia, Block Grant Authority NT Board, and Treasurer and board member of Baptist Care NT Limited and Foodbank NT.

Kenneth Mangiru is a Traditional Owner of the Danek clan’s Kudjumarndi estate and lives in Gunbalanya. Kenneth speaks Kunwinjku and English and is well respected for his cultural knowledge. He is an experienced board member, currently working at Njanjma rangers as part of a team responsible for environmental and cultural heritage protection. Kenneth has extensive governance experience, having been a founding Director of Warddeken Land Management Limited and sitting on the company’s board since 2007. He is also a current Director of Adjumarllarl Aboriginal Corporation and Njanjma Aboriginal Corporation.

Margie has worked as a finance industry professional for almost 30 years, at first with global banking organisations including Prudential- Bache Securities, Baring Securities and Hambros Bank. Subsequently, she specialised in corporate advisory work in the agribusiness sector, consulting to organisations including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), AMP private investments, the Australian Primary Trust, plus a large range of government and semi-government bodies, and Statutory Marketing Authorities. Margie has been on the boards of Wool International, a range of Pooled Development Funds and investment vehicles, and was the inaugural Chair of the CSIRO Textile, Clothing and Footwear Sector Advisory Committee.

Lorina grew up in Mamadawerre and is a Traditional Owner of the Ngalngbali clan estate, which is in the northern ward of the Warddeken IPA. Lorina completed her secondary education in Gunbalanya and was part of the 2016 graduating class. Since then, she has worked as a ranger with Warddeken and played a critical role in linking ranger work with the school, working closely with Board members and teachers to create a safe and strong place for students to learn and grow. She regularly takes students out on weekly Bush Trips, where she passes on cultural knowledge and important ranger skills. Lorina’s dream is to see kids go to school every day out on-Country and to grow up strong so they can have a better future.

Milly is a Bordoh Traditional Owner of Manmoyi and has been working with Nawarddeken Manmoyi since it opened in 2021. She loves working with wurdurd, supporting them with their learning in English and teaching them cultural knowledge out on-Country. Milly started working as a Warddeken ranger at 17 years of age and continues to engage in rock art and biodiversity conservation projects. Milly also loves fishing and camping with family and friends.

Timikar Johnson is the first former student of Nawarddeken Academy to join our Board of Directors. Timikar attended the Kabulwarnamyo school in its earliest days, before moving to Melbourne to continue her secondary education with the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS), where she completed Year 12 at Siena College in 2023.

A Djungkay of the Mok Clan, with managerial responsibilities for Kabulwarnamyo and Native Honey Dreaming Country, Timikar brings her lived experience of the Academy to her directorship. She works as an educator with her younger family members and is committed to strengthening educational opportunities for young people growing up on Country.

Her appointment reflects the generational progression of the Academy, and we welcome the perspective she brings to Board discussions.

Terrah is a Bordoh clan member and Traditional Owner of the Ngorlkwarre estate within the Warddeken IPA. Terrah has worked with Warddeken since 2007, and is a senior ranger at the Manmoyi ranger base. He is deeply passionate about building Warddeken and Nawarddeken into strong companies that can assist Bininj to continue living and learning on their homelands. Terrah has been a director of Warddeken since its inception, and is also a director of Arnhem Land Fire Abatement (NT) and Indigenous Carbon Industry Network. Terrah is also a professional musician, with an impressive career performing solo and with the rock band Nabarlek.