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 a Trustee of the Australian Museum.
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.
DR ODETTE BEST
Odette is a Wakgun Clan member of the Gurreng Gurreng Nation and also holds a Boonthamurra bloodline with adoption ties to the Koomumberri people. Odette holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences (double major in Aboriginal Health and Community Development), Master of Philosophy and a PhD titled ‘The stories of Aboriginal nurses in Queensland 1950-2005.’ Odette is passionate about Indigenous Australians accessing and succeeding in education. Since obtaining her nurse's registration, Odette has worked within the area of Indigenous health and within the women’s and youth prison systems in Brisbane for 10 years.
In 1998 Odette held lecturer positions at the University of Queensland, University of Southern Queensland and Queensland University of Technology (QUT). In 2012, Odette accepted a Senior Lecturers position at the Oodgeroo Unit which is the Indigenous Support Unit at QUT.
DON CARROLL
Don worked with Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton for 35 years and spent the majority of this time in overseas postings including the United States, Japan, Hong Kong, India and the UK. During his career Don sought to combine business objectives with sustainable programs for local Indigenous people.
CAMPBELL LOBB
Campbell is a Managing Director of Credit Suisse, and Vice Chairman of Investment Banking in Australia, based in Sydney. Campbell commenced his career in investment banking at a New Zealand investment bank acquired by Credit Suisse. Campbell has been working in investment banking for over 30 years and 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 is a chartered accountant and has a BCA Degree (with First Class Honours in Accounting) from Victoria University in Wellington. He is a member of the New Zealand Society of Accountants and was formerly a member of the New Zealand Stock Exchange.
NAZARETH YOUNGBLUTT
Nazareth is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman and teacher who has worked in the education system on Palm Island for over 35 years. Nazi completed her Bachelor of Education with the Australian Catholic University in 2015 and her experience with the Cathy Freeman Foundation started as a volunteer 10 years ago when the Foundation was first established on the island.
Nazi understands the challenges faced by families living in remote communities. She has been involved in all sides of the education system, was one of the Foundation’s first full time employees and over the years has worked in various roles including Community Liaison Officer and Early Learning Program Coordinator. Nazi says, “Working with the families in the community really opened my eyes to see the other side. There are parents and kids struggling and I want those kids to experience the same as what every other child in Australia experiences."
RICHARD THOMAS
Richard is a Partner at Melbourne-based Jeffrey Thomas & Partners, Chartered Accountants and is actively involved with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. Richard has been Treasurer of the Cathy Freeman Foundation since its inception. Richard is inspired by the success of the Foundation to date and is determined, now more than ever, to ensure sustainable funding models for long- term delivery of the Foundation’s programs and organisational growth.
KATE HEALY
Kate is a purpose-driven leader with experience across several industries in Australia and New Zealand. An experienced lawyer, Kate has a background in commercial property law with her most senior role being a Partner in a national law firm. More recently, she gained commercial operational experience while spending 4.5 years as Chief Operating Officer of an Auckland-based Maori-owned entity where she led multiple commercial projects and social development initiatives. Kate is currently a senior member of the team at PwC's Indigenous Consulting, based in Melbourne. She is also an experienced non-executive director, having held these roles in both commercial and philanthropic organisations.