Our Board
Our Board of Directors provide strategic direction and leadership, ensuring that the ILF’s vision and values are upheld as we grow and evolve.
Board of Directors
A proud Mudburra and Maluyligal woman, journalist Natalie Ahmat is passionate about telling stories through an Indigenous lens. Natalie currently presents NITV News, Australia’s only dedicated Indigenous television news bulletin, and is a regular contributor on NITV’s current affairs program, “The Point”. Since joining the inaugural NITV News team in 2008, Natalie has travelled around the country reporting on First Nations issues, and has anchored the channel’s live coverage of some of the most significant Indigenous events in recent history, including Garma from north east Arnhem Land, the Uluru First Nations Constitutional Convention, and the National NAIDOC Awards.
Magistrate Jacqueline Payne is the first Indigenous woman to be admitted as a solicitor in Queensland. She worked in criminal defence for fourteen years for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation Legal Service and later in her own successful private practice.
Jade Ritchie is a Gooreng Gooreng woman and a widely respected leader in Indigenous affairs, sustainability, and economic development. With over two decades of experience across government, community and the private sector, Jade brings a deep commitment to Aboriginal leadership, cultural literacy, and creating meaningful opportunities in remote Australia.
Currently the General Manager of Business Development at Tellus, Jade leads Indigenous engagement and strategic partnerships for one of Australia’s most innovative environmental remediation companies. She also played a visible role in the Voice to Parliament referendum campaign, advocating for First Nations voices and futures.
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Thomas Mayo is a Kaurareg Aboriginal, and Kulkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander man. He is a best selling author and Assistant National Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia. Thomas has long advocated for social justice issues, including Indigenous and asylum seekers rights. Thomas is a signatory of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and has been a leading advocate since its inception in May 2017.
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Nicole Abadee was a barrister and then legal academic for 20 years, with a background in International Law and Human Rights Law. Nicole has worked in the book industry, working as a senior editor at Penguin Random House. She is currently the books writer for Good Weekend Magazine as well as a festival moderator, interviewing writers at writers’ festivals and Australian literary events.Nicole was heavily involved in the Yes Campaign for the 2023 Referendum for a First Nations Voice to Parliament, and co‑founded Writers for the Voice, an advocacy group with over 700 members.
Julie Burland is the Chief Executive Officer of Penguin Random House (PRH) Australia and New Zealand and is also the current President of the Australian Publishers Association (APA).PRH is fundamentally aligned with the ILF ethos of fostering culture, stories, language and literacy.Julie is passionate about literacy and believes it is a fundamental skill that enables individuals to understand, interpret, create and communicate effectively.
Helene Byfield is the Merchandise Manager at Books Kinokuniya where she has worked since starting as a part-time customer service representative while studying at university over 20 years ago.
Helene believes that literacy and the ability to access a diverse range of titles are important not only for learning, but also so that people can see themselves and their culture reflected in the materials they read. She loves sharing stories, and believes that books provide a wonderful way to build empathy and create opportunity. She is keen to help readers find their next favourite book.
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Amara is a proud Wiradyuri yinaa (woman). For the past decade Amara has worked across multiple sectors and industries, including in media, tertiary, community, non-profit and private organisations, towards meaningful and positive outcomes for First Nations peoples.
Amara is an advocate for First Nations self-determination, through Nation re-building, including the preservation and practice of languages and cultures. She is passionate about re-learning Wiradyuri language and passing it on to her gudha-galang (children).
Community Advisors
Our Board of Directors provide strategic direction and leadership, ensuring that the ILF’s vision and values are upheld as we grow and evolve.
Yalmay Yunupingu is an Honorary University Fellow, with the Office of Pro Vice Chancellor ‑ Indigenous Leadership, Charles Darwin University (CDU) since 2015. Yalmay is a Yolŋu Rirratjiŋu woman from Yirrkala in Northern Territory. She holds a Bachelor of Education ‑ in Teaching & Learning with CDU as well as a Diploma in Teaching and Learning through the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education.
Yalmay was appointed Principal of Yirrkala School in 2007 and for nine years practised as a Teacher Linguist and has worked with the Department of Education for a decade. She has a long history as an educationalist, and is a strong advocate of the bilingual program “Two Way Learning” philosophy and is very passionate about it. In 2013, she was selected as one of four finalists for the 2013 Human Rights medal, from the Australian Human Rights Commission, and in 2020 delivered a powerful keynote speech at the inaugural National Indigenous Human Rights Awards. Yalmay graduated with a Bachelor of Education ‑ Teaching & Learning from Darwin in 2016.
Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr‑Stubbs is a proud Yolŋu woman and leader from North East Arnhem Land. She has written 6 books. Her children’s books are written in Yolŋu Matha for use in primary schools as Walking Talking texts. She plays an important role in the bilingual education movement in Arnhem Land working with Yolŋu Elders to develop both‑ways learning. She has developed a series of Yolŋu curriculum materials currently in use in Arnhem Land. She has also been an important voice for Yolŋu rights. Her vision is that every child is appreciated, and that every child knows that dreams are possible.