Carmel Leahy
Chairperson
Born in central western NSW, Carmel is a teacher, linguist and literacy specialist who has worked at various schools and institutions, including Yakanarra Community School in the 1990s, Broome Senior High School, Mabu Yawuru Ngan-ga language centre, Nyikina Mangala and Yiyili Aboriginal Community Schools. Carmel has had experience in community development and is an active member of the Society for Kimberley Indigenous Plants and Animals (SKIPA). She has a Bachelor of Education in Multicultural Education from Edith Cowan University, a Master of Applied Linguistics from Charles Darwin University and Cert III in Conservation and Land Management. Carmel is currently pursuing studies in Governance.
Kat Taylor
Vice-Chairperson
Kat arrived in the Kimberley in 2010. She is a researcher at the Water Justice Hub, based at the Australian National University (ANU), and is an adjunct with the Nulungu Research Institute at Notre Dame University. Kat completed a PhD in water policy at ANU in 2020 and holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Environmental Science (Hons) and a BSc in Conservation Biology from Murdoch University.
Laurel Sutcliffe
Treasurer
From Victoria, Laurel gained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Diploma in Education from the University of Melbourne and taught at schools in Victoria and Papua New Guinea before moving to the Kimberley in 1986 to work in Aboriginal education. She lived at Yakanarra community near Fitzroy Crossing for 20 years as the school administrator and principal, while raising a young family. In 2006, she moved to Broome and teaches at Broome Senior High School.
Bethany Moore
Secretary
Bethany grew up in Naarm Melbourne and moved to Rubibi Broome in 2022. She works as a social justice/human rights lawyer, and teaches yoga. She was previously an Associate to a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia. She is passionate about using the law as a tool to support social and environmental movements. She has a BA (Hons) in Linguistics and Australian Indigenous Studies, and a Diploma of Languages in French from the University of Melbourne. She also has a Master of Laws – Juris Doctor (Hons) from the University of New South Wales.
Alexis Harper
Board Member
Lexi is passionate about health in a holistic sense and values local environments, food systems and communities and the roles they each play in individual wellbeing. Her academic background includes a BA in Naturopathy and a Master’s in Public Health. She has been a resident of northern Australia for over 10 years, having lived in Darwin for several years before moving to Fitzroy Crossing in 2016. Now based in Broome, Lexi is interested in creating local, sustainable food systems as well as ensuring the wild spaces of the Kimberley are preserved for future generations.
Finn Pedersen
Board Member
Finn is a Director of Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects, a Perth and Melbourne-based studio with a diverse body of work throughout Australia. Finn has an interest in culture, social justice, landscape, and how architecture can affect and enhance the relationship between people and place. He has worked with many Aboriginal communities throughout Western Australia and is particularly interested in the way that architecture and design can provide innovative solutions that are deeply respectful of Aboriginal Cultural practices. Finn is a board member of the Wyemando and Jimmy Pike Trusts and a member of the Australian Institute of Architecture’s First Nation Advisory Committee; he was a Founder of Environs Kimberley with Pat Lowe and Natasha Palich.
Craig Philips
Board Member
Craig moved his young family from Perth to the Kimberley in 1994 and started his own computer sales and service business, now also offering IT consultancy. His previous roles include Victorian sales manager of Columbus Mufflers, and West Australian sales manager of Lukey Mufflers. He is currently the Treasurer for the Community Resource Centre and has served on the boards of the Broome Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Centre West Kimberley. Craig has been an EK member since 1996 and joined the EK committee in 1999, serving as Chair in 2005–06.
Karl Williamson
Board Member
Karl is a Wiradjuri Koori from Western NSW, who relocated with his young family to Broome in 2021. Karl shares his time between his role as Senior Policy Officer with Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service and his other role as a stay-at-home dad. Karl has extensive experience in Social Services, predominantly in child and family, and social and emotional wellbeing, having completed a Bachelor of Community and Social Development and a Master of Social Work. Karl is extremely passionate about Aboriginal land management and a keen gardener.