Our People

Gareth Ogilvie is a Yamatji-Nanda man and is a strong role and positive role model for young Yamatji Traditional Owners. Gareth is a graduate of the University of Melbourne and was previously admitted to practice as an Australian Lawyer at the Supreme Court of Victoria, Western Australia and the High Court of Australia. Gareth worked at the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department before moving on to work as a Native Title Lawyer at the Kimberly Land Council. Gareth is currently the Executive Officer for the Bardi and Jawi Niimidiman Prescribed Body Corporate in the West Kimberley, where he is working to build the cultural, physical, and economic capacity of the Bardi and Jawi Traditional Owners so that they can realise their distinctive relationship with their land and waters.

Raylene Bellottie is a Nanda woman born and raised on Yamatji country. Raylene has extensive networks in the Aboriginal community and has developed an extensive network of business contacts over many years representing Aboriginal people. Raylene has more than 25 years’ experience in the banking and finance industry and is experienced with high level negotiations and project development. As a Business Coach she works to promote and secure opportunities for traditional owner groups throughout Western Australia. She has experience and expertise with charitable trust portfolios and has been an active Director of the First Nations Foundation for the past 9 years. Raylene recently completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) training and is now a member of AICD.

Lorraine Whitby is a Yamatji elder from Carnarvon and has many years’ experience serving in the legal services and indigenous mentoring sectors at a state and national level. Lorraine was the Coordinator of the Carnarvon Regional office of the WA Family Violence Prevention Legal Service and was President of the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA. She has previously worked as Operations Manager of the Kuwinyardu Aboriginal Resource Unit of the Community Development Employment Project in Carnarvon and was manager of CDEP operations for the Perth Employment Enterprise Development Aboriginal Corporation. Lorraine also served as Acting Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Regional Councillor for the ATSIC Perth Regional Council and on her return to Carnarvon, served on the ATSIC Yamatji Regional Council. Lorraine was a foundation Member on the Nanda Native Title Claim in the Federal Court.

Ross is a senior Yamatji man and traditional Yamatji law man who is actively involved in his community. Ross has worked as a Heritage consultant working with resource companies across the claim area. Prior to that he worked for the WA Government Department for Child Protection for 30 years, becoming a Senior Aboriginal Advisor who was instrumental in the Prudence Ford Review that reshaped the department, how it interacted with Aboriginal people and revolutionized child protection in WA. Ross is a founding Director of Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation (YSRC) and was part of the team that negotiated the groundbreaking ILUA over the claim.

Glenis Little is a Yamatji woman and has many years’ experience serving the native title process and working in the health system on Yamatji country. During that time she has worked as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer for the WA Country Health Service and Geraldton Regional Hospital as well as working as the Indigenous Women Cancer Support Officer for the Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service and is also a Director for the Midwest Yamatji Music Aboriginal (MYMAI)First Nations Festival. Glenis is a current director of the Bundiyarra Aboriginal Corporation and committee member of the Yamatji Marlpa Regional Committee, she served for 20 years on the Amangu Native Title Working Group which were involved in the negotiations that led to the formation of the Southern Yamatji Working Group and was nominated to be on the Southern Yamatji Working Group that led to the formation of the TONT.

Jarrad, a proud Yamatji Man, passionately champions community empowerment and support, dedicated to fostering growth and engagement among his people. As the 100% Owner of Oaks Civil Construction, his mission spans traffic management, civil construction, workforce labour hire, and comprehensive training across Western Australia's regions, including the Perth Metropolitan area. Jarrad embodies proactive leadership, demonstrating initiative and visionary direction while ensuring superior service to clients and employees. His expertise encompasses a diverse skill set essential for effective business management. With a focus on interpersonal skills, he excels in business development, relationship management, and influencing others. Jarrad's proficiency in critical thinking and complex problem-solving allows for comprehensive business performance analysis and strategic resource allocation. Coupled with strong organizational and financial management skills, he effectively guides Oaks Civil Construction toward sustainable growth while supporting operational efficiency and expansion. Jarrad's leadership is defined by a steadfast commitment not only to business success but also to uplifting the communities he serves and fostering positive change.

Geoff is an aqueous geochemist, geologist and fluvial geomorphologist with more than 35 years of mining, environmental management and community/government relations experience across the globe. Geoff has worked and lived in numerous and varied socio-political environments and has been involved in a number of community and social development programs. Geoff brings a number of key skills to the board including ESG, project management, operations management, government and stakeholder relations, and capacity building of highly functional, multidisciplinary teams.

Peter is an experienced business leader with local and international appointments as Chair, non-executive director and managing director with listed, private and for-purpose organisations. A Chartered Accountant with formal qualifications in banking and finance and corporate governance, he is passionate about supporting and advancing the interests of indigenous communities across Australia, currently holding positions as Independent Member of the Decision-Making Committee and Independent Trustee of two other substantial indigenous trusts in WA and Queensland. Peter is a Fellow of the CAANZ, Fellow of AICD and Fellow of FinSIA and is a recognised Expert Witness for the Supreme Court of NSW in relation to corporate governance and directors’ duties.