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.

BIO to come

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.

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.

BIO to come

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.

Haydon Jangala Staines is a Warlpiri and Luritja educator and leader based in the Northern Territory.

He began his career as a classroom teacher before moving into school leadership roles, including Assistant Principal and Principal across both urban and remote schools. Haydon is currently the Coordinator of First Nations Educational Leadership and a Lecturer in Indigenous Knowledges in the First Nations Training and Teacher Education Hub at Charles Darwin University.

His work focuses on strengthening culturally responsive teaching, supporting Indigenous leadership in education, and embedding First Nations knowledges, languages and perspectives in schools and teacher education.

Ray is a senior leader of the Mok clan estate and a Traditional Owner of Kabulwarnamyo. He is recognised as a dedicated leader in First Nations land management and cultural preservation, and works closely with the Warddeken Land Management team, upholding traditions in the Stone Country.

Ray is a grandson of Bardayal 'Lofty' Nadjamerrek AO, who led the movement of Nawarddeken back to the Stone Country, alongside his wife Mary Kolkkiwarra Nadjamerrek. Following in his grandfather's footsteps, Ray has lived in the bush all his life and came to Kabulwarnamyo as a teenager when the community was established. His two sons now attend Nawarddeken Academy fulltime.

Ray is also a Director of Warddeken Land Management and works in managing the Kabulwarnamyo outstation area, emphasising the importance of rangers, respect for ancestors/culture, and caring for country.