Phillip Naden

Chairperson of the Board

Phillip Naden is a proud Aboriginal descendant of the Gamilaroi people from North Western NSW near Coonabarabran where his mother grew up on Burrabadee Mission. Phil is also a proud descendant of the Wiradjuri people from Peak Hill/Condobolin NSW (Bogan River People) and he was born and raised a proud Aboriginal man.

Phil is well qualified, a panel beater spray-painter by trade, a former sworn Queensland Police Officer, CEO of the largest ATSILS in Australia, former CEO with Bourke AMS, Bila Muuji Regional Consortia, and now the CEO of Dubbo and Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service. Phil has qualifications in Business and Management, Justice and Policing, is a Justice of the Peace and has recently run in the 2019 State Election as an Independent Candidate for the seat of Barwon. Phil has also recently finished his Masters Degree in Business and is looking forward to the role as Chairperson with AH&MRC.

LaVerne Bellear

Deputy Chair

LaVerne Bellear is from the Bundjalung Nation (North Coast NSW) where she grew up in and around the Minjungbal region before moving to Sydney. Strongly believes that empowering Aboriginal people will create opportunity to make better informed decisions and choices regarding personal management of health care, ultimately resulting in better health outcomes.

LaVerne’s background involves management and strategic planning. Currently, Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Medical Service Cooperative Limited, Redfern. LaVerne was the former Director, Aboriginal Health, and Northern Sydney Local Health District. Where her role was to develop various Aboriginal Health models of care along with development and implementation of regional, strategic health plans that meet the needs of the local Aboriginal community.

LaVerne has extensive experience in health as such has worked in community health for the former Northern Rivers Area Health Service and managed the Aboriginal Health Management Training Program, Australian College of Health Service Executives (NSW Branch).

LaVerne has a Bachelor of Business, is a member of the Alumni at Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus; has a Professional Certificate, in Indigenous Research in Training and Practices, University of Melbourne.

Raylene Gordon

Director

Raylene is a descendent of the Kamilaroi people of Moree.

Raylene has recently returned to the position of CEO of Awabakal Ltd after serving as CEO of AH&MRC for 8 months. Raylene has been the CEO of Awabakal Ltd since April 2015. Raylene’s background is in Health and Education. She has tertiary qualifications in both and has had many years’ experience in driving change in these areas at the community level. Raylene’s career has largely been in Aboriginal affairs and advocating for the right to equitable health and education outcomes for Aboriginal people.

Raylene commenced her career in teaching and then progressed to Government where she tried to be a bureaucrat working in program and policy development, although she experienced many successes in senior management roles with Government is was not where she wanted to be.

Raylene believes her skill set sits best with the community sector where accountability, transparency and innovation are required on a daily basis. The community sector is where you see the smallest of things make the biggest difference.

Raylene’s official skills are in strategic leadership, community development and change management.

Lynette Kilby

Director

Kane Ellis

Director

Kane's dad is from the Jingili people from the upper Barkley region in the NT, ranging from Tennant Creek to Borroloola. His mother's country is the Darwin area, the Larrakia people. Kane is proud of his heritage and has strong connections to his land and people.
Kane has been an Aboriginal health worker and graduated in 1998. He started working at Danila Dilba Health Service as a health worker then moved to a community health clinic (Bagot health clinic) for two years, working the clinic area.
He moved back to Danila Dilba in a health promotion role and then onto the Heart Foundation in Indigenous men's health. Kane ran the men's health program in the NT at the Heart Foundation.
He was lucky enough to be voted on to the Board of Danila Dilba as the Deputy Chairperson for three years. Before moving into the Clinic Manager's role of Danila Dilba Health Service for seven years during this time he acted as the Chief Executive for a period of six months.
Kane moved to NSW, to beautiful Wollongong commuting to Sydney to work at the Aboriginal Legal Service as the Regional Manager of the South Central Region and acted as the CE of the Aboriginal Legal Service during that time.
Kane missed his true passion, which is working in Community Controlled Aboriginal Health Services and so began his role at AH&MRC as the Comprehensive Care Practice Unit Manager. He is now the Chief Executive of the lllawarra Aboriginal Medical Service and is very proud to be on the Board of AH&MRC.

Christine Corby

Director

Christine Corby. OAM, is a Gamilaraay woman from north-western New South Wales (NSW).

She holds the role of Chief Executive Officer of Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service Limited (WAMS) and Brewarrina Aboriginal Medical Service (BAMS).

She is a Justice of the Peace and holds a Diploma in Health Sciences from the University of Sydney, Graduate Diploma in Health Management from the University of New England and a Diploma of Business Management from the Aboriginal Health College in Little Bay.

Her involvement in the Aboriginal Health sector since 1986 has seen Christine heavily involved in many committees involving Aboriginal Affairs, rural communities and social activities.

Reuben Robinson

Director

Reuben Robinson is a proud Gumbayngirr Man from the Nambucca Valley of NSW. He has lived on Gumbaynggirr land in Sawtell/Coffs Harbour most of his life where he now raises his beautiful family and is currently the Chief Executive Officer for Galambila Aboriginal Health Service.
Reuben has over 20 years’ experience in the Government sector, working with the NSW Aboriginal Housing Office for 11 years and then NSW Aboriginal Affairs for approximately 9 years. During this time he has gained extensive experience in program management & delivery, intensive case work & support, government resource allocation & project initiatives, registration/regulation & compliance frameworks, monitoring, quality assurance principles, business development/continuity and financial management practices.
Whilst working professionally, Reuben has always maintained his cultural connection to country and community and has contributed broadly on a personal and professional base. He is an active member of the Coffs Harbour & District Local Aboriginal Land Council, member of the Miidinya La Goori Men’s Group, Chairperson of Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Social Events (CHASE), active member of the local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG), and Traditional Gumbaynggirr Land owner as recognised through Native Title (Gaagal Wangaan – South Beach).
Reuben has always been a strong advocate for Aboriginal people and firmly believes that the premise for a solid lifestyle foundation begins with adequate Health and appropriate Housing. Once these are in situ the social determinants in relation to education, employment, justice and social well-being will be inadvertently enhanced toward better overall health as a direct result.

Robert Berwick

Director