Governance

Click here to download the 2018 and 2019 AGM minutes. For previous AGM minutes, please contact us.

Living Languages Board

CHAIRPERSON - Robert McLellan GAICD

Robert is a proud Gooreng Gooreng man of the Wide Bay region, QLD. He has experience working upon corporate boards to support companies’ and organisations’ strategic direction particularly focusing on not-for-profit governance principles. His professional experience also extends into cultural studies with a focus on Indigenous languages, sociology, arts and communications. Robert is a strong advocate for truth telling and speaking up for Aboriginal people’s rights and justice, economic advancement, arts and culture and ensuring Aboriginal people’s representation and voice are authentically valued and embraced across all levels of society. He is a leader who is passionate about building culturally inclusive, honourable, and cohesive communities.

VICE-CHAIRPERSON - Dr Alice Gaby

Alice Gaby is Associate Professor of Linguistics at Monash University. Her research interests lie in three intersecting domains: semantic and structural typology; the relationship between language, culture and cognition; and the documentation and analysis of endangered languages; and the nature and ethics of collaboration between (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) linguists and language workers.

SECRETARY - Dr Stephen Morey

Stephen Morey is an Associate Professor of Linguistics at the Centre for Research on Language Diversity, La Trobe University. He has researched a number of languages from the Tai-Kadai and Tibeto-Burman language families, spoken on both sides of the India-Myanmar border. This work includes documenting traditional stories, and songs, recording word lists and grammatical information leading the publication of books and articles. He is the co-chair of the North East Indian Linguistics Society working to support linguistic research by local scholars. He also researches the Aboriginal languages of Victoria, Australia, mostly from 19th century manuscript and published sources.

TREASURER - Senan Gibson

Senan Gibson is an Analyst at the Commonwealth Treasury. Senan has a Masters in Development Economics from the University of Queensland, and has worked with international NGOs in West Africa, South East Asia and in the Balkans. His work is focussed on macroeconomic forecasting and public policy.

Faith Baisden

Faith Baisden is the Manager of First Languages Australia which is the peak body supporting the work of community based language programs around Australia, and is also a member of the Queensland Indigenous Languages Advisory Committee. Faith has a long history of engagement in language and cultural projects with her own Kombumerri Mununjali people in the Yugambeh language region and as an author, illustrator and songwriter produces resources to support the teaching and promotion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages around the country.

Michael Jarrett

Michael Jarrett is a Gumbaynggirr man from Nambucca Heads. He is an experienced teacher and holds a Masters of Indigenous Languages Education (MILE) from the University of Sydney. He is currently employed by the NSW Department of Education as the Gumbaynggirr Language and Cultural Teacher, where he works to develop quality Aboriginal language programs for all who are teaching and learning Gumbaynggirr languages and culture in pre-schools, public schools, TAFE and Community. Michael is also Chairperson of the Muurrbay Aboriginal Language Centre.

Lee Joachim

Lee Joachim is a Yorta Yorta man based in Shepparton, Victoria. Lee works in the area of self-determination through active research by the people, for the people. He has worked with lead research organisations nationally and internationally. He has extensive governance experience, and has held the positions of Chairperson and CEO for his people's body corporate and community Cooperative. Lee has represented the concerns of Indigenous Nations in relation to water, climate change and cultural heritage through federal appointment to various bodies at a Federal level. Lee is the father of nine children, including Living Languages trainer Ebony Joachim.

Dr John Mansfield

John Mansfield is a Lecturer in Linguistics at the University in Melbourne. Most of his research has been with Aboriginal people of northern Australia, especially speakers of Murrinhpatha, Marri Tjevin and Anindilyakwa. John has also been involved in developing prison activity programs in language at Darwin Correctional Centre.

Coleen Sherratt

Coleen is a proud Noongar Wadjak woman from the southwest of Western Australia. She currently works for the WA Department of Education as a Senior Consultant for Aboriginal Languages. She is responsible for the coordination of Aboriginal Languages in Western Australian public schools in the Mid west, Metropolitan, Wheatbelt and South west areas. In this role Coleen also co-presents the Aboriginal Languages Teacher Training Course for speakers of their traditional languages who work in schools. Coleen worked in schools teaching Noongar language for many years and holds a Bachelor of Education from Curtin University and a Masters of Indigenous Languages Education (MILE) from the University of Sydney.