Country, Culture, People, Future

Executive Management Team

Simon Hawkins

Chief Executive Officer

Simon is responsible for the overall management of the organisation on behalf of YMAC’s Board of Directors, and also acts as Company Secretary. Through the CEO role Simon ensures the policies and decisions of YMAC’s Board of Directors, and respective Regional Committees, are implemented. The Company Secretary is also responsible for making sure the organisation observes its governance responsibilities and that it meets its obligations under agreements entered into with other parties.

As well as promoting the interests of YMAC, its clients and members, the CEO negotiates funding for new and existing projects, and advocates for policy change in critical areas affecting the rights and interests of Traditional Owners.

Since commencing as CEO of YMAC in 2003 Simon has overseen many significant native title, and other negotiations, including the landmark Yamatji Nation on-Country Conditional Consent Determination and associated Yamatji Nation IILUA lodged with the NNTT in March 2020.

Simon is an inaugural Board member of the National Native Title Council (NNTC), an alliance of Native Title Representative Bodies and Native Title Service Providers from around Australia, and in May 2023 was appointed as a Member of the First Nations Clean Energy and Emissions Reduction Advisory Committee.

Simon holds a Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science and a Bachelor of Arts (Urban and Regional Studies), and is a current member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a Justice of the Peace.

Chris Dann

Yamatji Regional Manager

Chris Dann is the Yamatji Regional Manager. She is responsible for developing and maintaining strategic alliances across all sectors, managing special projects, advocating and representing the native title rights and interests of represented Traditional Owners (within the Mid West and Gascoyne), overseeing regional operations, including managing the regional office, and overseeing staff for the Yamatji region.

YMAC Pilbara Regional Manager

Donny Wilson

Pilbara Regional Manager

Donny is the Pilbara Regional Manager. He is responsible for developing and maintaining strategic alliances across all sectors, managing special projects, advocating and representing the native title rights and interests of represented Traditional Owners, overseeing regional operations, including managing regional offices, and overseeing staff for the Pilbara region.

Nicholas Kimber

Chief Financial Officer

Nicholas (Nick) is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He is responsible for overseeing the financial reporting requirements of the organisation. Nick provides timely and accurate information to the CEO, the YMAC Board of Directors, and the respective Regional Committees, for strategic decision-making, and to ensure efficient and effective use of resources to meet the dynamic and challenging conditions of the economy.

Glenn Archer

Principal Legal Officer

Glenn is the Principal Legal Officer (PLO). He is responsible for managing the legal operations of the organisation in accordance with the Native Title Act 1993 (NTA). The PLO advises on matters related to the NTA and associated legislation, and other Commonwealth and State laws and statues, which affect the interests of native title holders in the Midwest, Gascoyne, and Pilbara regions.

Glenn coordinates the relationships between the organisation and its represented Traditional Owner clients, intra-indigenous mediation in relation to the native title claim process, preparation and lodgement of native title claims, progress and resolution of native title claims, and future act processes.

Amy Usher

Amy Usher

Research, Country and Culture Services Manager

YMAC’s Research, Country and Culture Services Manager Amy Usher is responsible for YMAC’s Research, Country and Culture Services directorate. Amy oversees the teams providing services that support a number of activities on Country, including land and sea management, native title research, heritage services and protection, and social surrounds.

The area is focused on supporting YMAC’s clients achieve native title recognition and maximising those opportunities both before and following a native title determination. The directorate utilises the wide range of skills and knowledge across the distinct teams to continue the support of Traditional Owners in YMAC’s regions in meeting their on-Country obligations.

Country is our mother, the provider and keeper of cultural belongings. Country and Culture go together. You can’t have one without the other.

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners and custodians throughout Western Australia, and on whose Country we work. We acknowledge and respect their deep connection to their lands and waterways.

We honour and pay respect to Elders, and to their ancestors who survived and cared for Country.

Our offices are located on Whadjuk Country, Southern Yamatji Country, Yinggarda Country, Kariyarra Country, and Yawuru Country. We recognise the continuing culture, traditions, stories and living cultures on these lands and commit to building a brighter future together.

Disclaimer: Caution: Please be advised that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased people.

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