2023 MENS DV WOMENS | Conference Services

Cathy Duncan

Senior Program Advisor Training & Skills

Inland Rail, Australian Rail Track Corporation QLD

Cathy is currently the Senior Program Skills and Training Advisor for Inland Rail and is a proud Gamilaroi woman with ancestral ties to the Wonnarua nation. Her grandmother was born at the turn of the 19th century at Walhallow Aboriginal Mission: however, for the past century, her family has proudly called Moree, New South Wales home. Cathy has dedicated her life to the service of her people and her culture. She worked in all aspects of service delivery for her people through Government, not for profit and Corporate Australia with over 30 years’ experience.

Through both professional and personal capacities, Cathy committed to First Nations autonomy, sovereignty and self-determination by addressing the underlying historical and socio-cultural cause of inequality. She has passion for addressing the need for culturally specific services and redressing inequality within the employment, training and health spheres. Her career has spanned from government, not for profit and corporate Australia.

Jane Roberts

Program Social Investment & Inland Rail Academy Principal

Inland Rail, Australian Rail Track Corporation QLD

Jane is an experienced social performance specialist with over 15 years working in the oil and gas, government and rail sectors on major infrastructure projects, through all stages including development, approvals, construction and operations. By leveraging construction of these major projects through cross-sectoral partnerships, community projects and workforce and business development programs, Jane has created positive social licence and reputational benefit for proponents and tangible and sustainable outcomes for residents and businesses in impacted communities. Jane is currently delivering the social investment program for the ‘nation-building’ Inland Rail project, spanning many rural and regional communities across three states.

Francisco de Paula

Neurobehavioural Support Practitioner

Jeder Institute and The CALMER Approach NSW

Francisco is always looking for new evidence in supporting quality of life, increasing capacity and reducing restrictions. He has a focus on enhanced participation, engagement, choice, control, decision making and skills development beyond replacement skills. Francisco has developed the CALMER Approach (www.calmerapproach.com) in pursuit of translating theory into everyday best practice. Francisco completed a Bachelor of Education in Disability Studies through ACU and further training through the Institute for Applied Behaviour Analysis (IABA), Think Kids, Child Trauma Academy, Trauma Research Foundation's Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies (Online Course). Currently studying Polyvagal Informed Practice. He has a Cert IV in Training and Assessment and is a certified Person-Centred Active Support facilitator.

Dr Amanda Smith

Social Science Coordinator

Parks and Wildlife Service Department of Biodiversity

Conservation and Attractions WA

Amanda Smith is the Social Science Coordinator at Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Perth, Western Australia and adjunct senior lecturer at the School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia. Amanda is a multi-disciplinary scientist with expertise in environmental social science; recreation ecology; social and environmental impacts of tourism and recreation in protected areas; visitor use and satisfaction; natural area tourism; marine tourism; wildlife tourism; minimising visitor impacts through resource and visitor management techniques; evaluating Aboriginal Ranger programs, Indigenous tourism and impacts to culture/spirituality.

Dr Kate Rodger

Social Research Scientist

Parks and Wildlife Service Department of Biodiversity

Conservation and Attractions WA

Kate Rodger is a Social Research Scientist for Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Western Australia. Social research in the natural environment is her speciality including understanding and evaluating visitor experience, human-wildlife interactions, and integrating ecological and social sciences. Kate’s current research is working with Traditional Owners to evaluate the benefits of Indigenous ranger programs to enhance environmental, cultural and social outcomes.

Dr. Sonya Graci

Associate Professor and Lead Researcher

Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada Vancouver, BC

Sonya Graci is an Associate Professor at the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She is also the Director of Toronto Metropolitan’s Hospitality and Tourism Research Institute. Dr. Graci’s research focuses on capacity development, collaboration and partnerships, corporate social responsibility, leadership, resilience and entrepreneurship. She has led numerous research and industry projects focused on resiliency and sustainability in destinations such as Honduras, Indonesia, Canada, Fiji and China. She also has a strong focus on sustainable tourism development in island states. Dr. Graci has focused much of her research on Indigenous tourism development and has a keen interest in working with Indigenous tourism associations, communities and entrepreneurs in developing sustainable forms of tourism. Dr. Graci is the author of two books, one which is Sustainable Tourism in Island Destinations (Graci and Dodds, 2010) and several journal articles and industry publications. She is also the Director of Accommodating Green, a boutique consultancy that focuses on developing sustainability strategies for businesses and destinations.

Mark Roberston
Founding Director
MPOWER & One Vision Productions NSW

Founding Director, Mark Robertson is a highly acclaimed and talented musician, MC, producer and secondary school teacher. Mark has built a solid reputation with his teaching methods. Mark’s achievements in this field were recognised when he was awarded the 2009 Young Social Pioneer of the Year Award for Innovative projects toward social and educational change, and his work with Indigenous youth earned him national recognition by being one of 20 Australians invited to meet His Royal Highness Prince Harry at Kirrabilli house in 2013. Mark was also a Final nominee for 2011 Australian of Year Award and 2014 finalist for New York global citizens award.

Mr. Michael Dykes
Chief Executive Officer
Community Enterprise Queensland

A former Coles and Woolworths Group Executive, Michael Dykes is the CEO of Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ). Michael joined CEQ from Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA), where he was Retail General Manager for the past five years. ALPA are the largest Indigenous owned business in Australia where he was proud to serve an all-Indigenous Board. Prior to arriving in Australia, Michael worked all over the world. From his home country Scotland to London, then New York, Dubai and Singapore. Benefiting from working in different retail sectors, with different nationalities and cultures, in some of the largest retailers in the world. Michael’s love for learning and culture brought him to Australia where he was drawn from major supermarket retailers to join the ALPA Executive Team in Darwin to lead the retail division. Michael was recruited to the CEO role for Community Enterprise Queensland in July 2022 and now lives in Cairns with his wife Val and son Jack. They love their new home and are grateful for the welcome and continued learning that this amazing country and its people offer.

Genevieve Huneault

Development Manager

Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada

Genevieve is a regenerative tourism specialist with a long-standing commitment to social and environmental justice. She has over 10 years of experience integrating sustainable tourism systems with specialties in Indigenous tourism, gender & outdoor recreation, regional food systems management, and community-driven tourism development. Genevieve has worked closely with non-profit organizations, governments, entrepreneurs, innovators, and social enterprises across Canada and Internationally to integrate regenerative practices across their work. Genevieve holds a Bachelor’s of Tourism Management from Vancouver Island University and a Master of Arts in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies from the University of Northern British Columbia.

Jasmine Uhr

Program Coordinator

Shoreline, Cairns

Jasmine Uhr is a proud Morobe & Kavieng woman who spent significant time growing up in the Tiwi Islands, whose passion for supporting her First Nations community and youth, now sees her working a dual role as a Marine Operations Assistant for Reef Unlimited and Programs Manager for The Shoreline Foundation Ltd. In her current roles, she supports Experience Co’s Marine’s Operations by mentoring and providing support to Shoreline/Reef Unlimited trainees to ensure a culturally safe environment where trainees can gain work experience and skills to complete their traineeships. Other activities include cultural liaison within the community, managing rosters, interviewing various positions, onboarding new employees and ensuring certificates of employment are current. The second half of Jasmine’s role sees her supporting the Shoreline program nationally. Shoreline provides First Nation students with alternative educational programs that focus on long term sustainable employment. This includes strategic planning to support the expansion of the program, advising on cultural safety and appropriateness of activities, relationship management, stakeholder support, and mentoring upcoming and current trainees"