Dean is a Traditional Owner of Djinkarr, near Maningrida, Northern Territory. He speaks many Indigenous languages, his first being Gurrgoni. He is Co-Chair of the Indigenous Carbon Industry Network and Warddeken Land Management and has a wealth of experience in complex community-based projects. Dean is a qualified researcher, an Aboriginal ecologist with a wealth of experience in complex and multifaceted community-based projects and has been involved with the Karrkad Kanjdji Trust since its inception. In 2025, Dean was recognised with an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by Charles Darwin University for his lifetime of work bridging the gap between Western science and traditional land management.
Justin is an experienced environmental investor focussed on the climate challenge and the preservation of our natural environment. He is a Co-Founder of Assembly Climate Capital, Chair of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and a director of Tasman Environmental Markets. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law degrees from UNSW and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
Jon is a global leader among scholars exploring alternate futures for Indigenous peoples, linking conservation economies with poverty alleviation; his research is grounded in Arnhem Land collaborations since 1979. He was foundation Director (1990–2010) of the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at the Australian National University where he is an Emeritus Professor at the School of Regulation and Global Governance.
Otto is a Banggarra man and Traditional Owner of Malnyangarnak. He is a well respected Elder, clan and ceremony leader, educator, senior ranger and is a director and former chair of the Arafura Swamp Rangers Aboriginal Corporation (ASRAC). He is a director and cultural advisor on a number of boards and the Founder and Director of Aboriginal Research Practitioner’s Network (ARPNet). In 2021, Otto was recognised with an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by Charles Darwin University for his years spent passionately supporting Indigenous peoples to manage their traditional estates and maintain their cultural knowledge.
John is from the Bininj Buldjdjan clan and a Traditional Owner of Country in the Mimal Land Management Area in Central Arnhem Land. He studied Environmental Health at Charles Darwin University and worked in the field for many years. He's currently a CDEP mentor and works as a liaison for local community members and government departments. He's the Chair of the Mimal Board and for the past decade has served on numerous boards, including Sunrise Health, Bulman Outback Store and Gulin Gulin Buffalo Company.
Teya is the Executive Director of Dusseldorp Forum, an independent foundation with a 30-year history of increasing the life opportunities of children and young people. Prior to this she has worked as a human rights lawyer and documentary filmmaker. Teya has degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Sydney and a Master of Arts in Social Inquiry from the University of Technology Sydney. She is a member of the Lendlease Reconciliation Action Plan Advisory Board and an Honorary Associate of the Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Sydney.
Fred Hunter is a long-term park ranger at Kakadu National Park and a Traditional Owner of the upper regions of the East Alligator River within the Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area. He has served as the Chairman and is now a Director of Warddeken Land Management Limited. In 2020, he was appointed as Chief Ranger of Kakadu National Park, which made him the first Aboriginal ranger to be chosen for this position in the 40-year history of the park. Fred has an extensive knowledge of the flora and fauna of the region and often cooks and presents Bininj (Indigenous) bush tucker, such as barramundi, magpie goose and turtles, at various Kakadu Festivals. In January 2025, Fred was awarded a Public Service Medal (PSM) for his decades of work protecting and enhancing the outstanding natural beauty of Kakadu National Park.
Cindy is a Traditional Owner of Ji-bena and belongs to the Marrgiach and Angaywunbamar clan groups in the Djelk Indigenous Protected Area. Cindy holds a Bachelor in Teaching and Learning and is currently the Learning on Country Coordinator and Pre-school Teacher at Maningrida Community College. She has served on numerous boards and committees and has been involved in various Strong Women Groups. Cindy is dedicated to sharing her knowledge of culture and traditions with the next generation.
Margie has worked as a finance industry professional for almost 30 years, with leading global banking organisations and a range of government and semi-government investment vehicles. She has been on the boards of statutory marketing organisations and Chair of a CSIRO Advisory Committee. She was the inaugural donor and fundraiser for the Nawarddeken Academy, of which she is now also a Director.
Terrah is a Bordoh clan member and a Traditional Owner of the Ngorlkwarre estate within the Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area. Terrah has been a Warddeken ranger since 2007 and is currently a senior ranger at the Manmoyi ranger base. He is deeply passionate about building Warddeken into a strong company that can assist bininj to continue living and learning on their homelands. Terrah has been a Director of Warddeken Land Management Limited since its inception and is currently a member of the Arnhem Land Fire Abatement (NT) Ltd Board of Directors. When not working as a ranger, Terrah is also a talented musician with an impressive career spent performing both solo and with the band Nabarlek.
Conrad is a Traditional Owner of Kunjekbinj Country of the Nyirridja clan within the Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area. He is a senior caretaker for the Mamadawerre outstation. He is also the Chair of the Nawarddeken Academy and a Director of both Warddeken Land Management and Arnhem Land Fire Abatement (NT). In all of his roles he is passionate about passing on his depth of traditional knowledge to the next generation. Conrad represented Warddeken at the 2018 Banksia Indigenous Awards in Melbourne. Conrad holds a depth of Traditional Knowledge and plays a key role in passing traditional practices and language to younger generations of bininj.
Annette is a Traditional Owner of Bigedi and belongs to the Marananggu clan in the Mimal region. Annette has served on the Mimal Land Management Board since 2017. She is a highly respected Elder who has worked tirelessly to conserve language and culture. Annette spent her working life as an educator and was the Deputy Principal of Gulin Gulin (Bulman) School until her retirement.
