Board and Staff

Boyd Elston

Chairperson (North East Ward Representative)

Boyd Elston is an Anmatyere man from the Central desert. Boyd is Chairperson of the Indigenous Desert Alliance and a Regional Land Management Coordinator at the Central Land Council. He has previously coordinated the Anangu Luritjiku Rangers who are based out of his home community of Papunya and look after a large area of Country where the Gibson Desert meets the range Country of Central Australia.

Boyd has been on the IDA board since 2020. He is an experienced advocate with in-depth knowledge of culture and the importance of preserving and using culture to manage country.

Helen Wilson

Board Member (North East Ward Representative)

Helen is the Lead Ranger for the North Tanami Rangers and was appointed to the IDA Board in June 2023.

Helen sits on the Steering Committee of the “Reading the Country Project” and is a member of the “Message Stick for the Strong Women for Healthy Country forum”. She also has a number of cultural roles in her community and provides support to Elders to work on country.

Helen was the Winner of the 2018 NT NRM Ranger of the Year Award.

Vivianne Landy

Board Member (North West Ward Representative)

Vivianne Landy is a Martu woman committed to supporting her community. She is a skilled community engagement and planning practitioner with experience in public speaking and communication. Vivianne has accreditation in governance and organisational leadership, bringing a strong foundation in strategic decision-making and community representation to the IDA.

Wanda Miller

Board Member (South East Ward Representative)

Wanda has a long history of advocacy and involvement in community affairs, with the aim of improving the health and wellbeing of her people. She was appointed to the IDA Board and Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Board in 2023.

Wanda served on the Aboriginal Heritage Board in the 1980s, was the only woman elected to the newly established Far West Heritage and Park Management Consultative Committee in 1990, and is a former member of the ATSIC Regional Council, Western Eyre Peninsula NRM Board, and the working group for the Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation’s (FWCAC) Healthy Country Plans in 2015 and again in 2021.

Wanda has been a member of the working group for Iluka mine negotiations since 2005 and was Chair of the Yumbarra Conservation Park Co-management Board from 2015-2022. She also ran her own cultural awareness training business for five years – it was mandatory that all mining personnel completed the training due to the sensitive areas at the mine site.

Wanda lives at Scotdesco and was born on country and her interests and concerns have always been Aboriginal issues and wellbeing, in particular, members of the FWCAC footprint of the northern and western areas of South Australia.

Hayden Stuart

Board Member (South East Ward Representative)

Hayden is an Arabana man. He is a long-time Indigenous land management leader with many years at the Central Land Council before returning to his work as a senior Arabana ranger. 

Leah Royle

Independent Director

With nearly 20 years of experience in social impact investing, capital raising and non-profit leadership, Leah brings a wealth of knowledge to Indigenous Desert Alliance. Throughout her career, she has championed social good, fostering impactful partnerships and driving positive change.

Leah's expertise spans across various sectors. She honed her skills in agency work before dedicating over a decade to private conservation with Australian Wildlife Conservancy. Leading marketing, communications and fundraising efforts across Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania, she played a pivotal role in securing critical resources for conservation initiatives.

Following her move to Perth, Leah transitioned to the arts sector, spearheading Black Swan State Theatre Company's philanthropy programs. She remains connected to the sector as a member of their Philanthropy Advisory Board.

More recently, she relocated to WA property group Hawaiian and manages the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts and the Wen family’s private foundation in Australia.

Her proven track record in securing funding, building relationships and leading high-performing teams helps drive impact and aligns with Indigenous Desert Alliance’s mission to empower Indigenous people to safeguard the desert for future generations.

Ross Hamilton

Independent Director

Bio coming soon.

Samantha Murray

Chief Executive Officer

Samantha is a proud Yilka/Wongutha/Nyoongar woman who grew up in Cosmo Newberry (where she has Traditional Owner links) and Laverton. She has connections to the broader central desert area.

Her Indigenous name is Imelia and skin name Panaga. She has previously been a director of Yilka Aboriginal Corporation for over 3 years and is a currently a director of Yilka Heritage and Land Care.

Prior to starting with the IDA, Sam worked with Central Desert Native Title Services and Desert Support Services in the role of human resources officer. She has also worked in a range of other government-based roles in education, public housing and TAFE.

For five years, Sam has played a vital role at the IDA, supporting people and managing programs. As the IDA's first Indigenous CEO from the desert, Sam approaches the role with passion and focus, dedicated to ensuring that Indigenous rangers are enabled to collaboratively manage the Australian desert and are empowered to realise their aspirations for community, culture, and Country.

Christina Araujo

Legal and Governance Officer

Christina is a lawyer who has worked extensively with Traditional Owner communities & organisations across the Central and Western Desert, Pilbara, Murchison-Gascoyne and Kimberley regions around governance, corporate structures, native title, Aboriginal heritage and community development projects. Christina also has extensive board experience, having been a Director for the Aboriginal Art Centre Hub (WA) for 10 years, and for the Bayswater Women's Hub Inc.

Louise Holding

Chief of Engagement

Louise has more than 20 years’ experience in the social impact and political arenas. Louise has worked across corporate, philanthropy, not-for-profit and government sectors providing strategic counsel, reform and collaboration pathways and issues prevention.

Louise has worked across a range of sectors including as strategy and operations for the $9B Minderoo Foundation, Chief of Staff for the Minister for Environment, Harvest Road Group, WA Health and the Disability Services Commission and throughout the not-for-profit sector.

She is recognised for her exceptional strategic insights, advocacy, stakeholder engagement and issues management. She is an experienced non-executive Director.

Dan Johanson

Desert Projects Manager

Dan Johanson is the Desert Projects Manager for the IDA.

Dan has worked extensively as a land manager in Central Australia and the Western Desert, developing a keen interest in fire management in an Indigenous Australian context.

It has been Dan’s privilege to work closely with traditional owners, assisting them in managing their country, being involved in remote community life, and gaining an insight into their unique culture.

Jon Hodgetts

IDA Partnerships Manager

Jon has been working in the Natural Resource Management (NRM) sector for over a decade and has been working with the IDA since 2021.

He is passionate about seeing the emergence of Indigenous leaders drive positive land management outcomes and helping facilitate those opportunities.

Jon was the coordinator for the southern half of the Northern Territory's NRM body (TNRM), until a move to the Central Land Council at the beginning of 2019. Jon worked first as the Angas Downs Indigenous Protected Area coordinator before taking a role helping three ranger groups establish in Kintore, the Utopia Homelands and Finke.

Jon is based in the IDA's Alice Springs office.

Zack Wundke

Sector Development Manager

Zack has 15 years of experience living and working with remote communities across northern Australia working across a number of roles including rangers and land management, youth development and art centres.

He enjoys working with groups to develop relationships with government, private and philanthropic sectors, and supporting Traditional Owners to strengthen the enjoyment and benefits of Native Title.

Briony Jarmyn

Senior Projects Officer

Briony has worked in Australia and overseas in social and community development, healthcare and land management sectors. More recently, Briony has been working with desert communities in Western Australia and South Australia.

Briony is passionate about developing ranger teams, the involvement of women and young people in ranger programs and is dedicated to the support and growth of individuals, ranger teams and their communities.

Tracy Carboon

Regional Support Officer

Tracy is a Regional Support Officer supporting Traditional Owners and Indigenous rangers to implement important and engaging social, cultural and land management projects.

She first worked with Traditional Owners on land management projects in the Northern Territory and has had the privilege of working alongside Indigenous people from across Australia.

Tracy has previously worked for ten years with Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa (KJ) building strong connections with Martu families and Womens ranger teams in multiple communities in the Western Desert.

Katrina Shaw

Senior Administration Officer

Katrina has been involved in the 10 Deserts Project since its inception in 2018 and worked with the Central Desert Group since 2008 . She has experience in working across implementing native title agreements, providing board and executive support, policy development, website and IT administration and logistics support. 

Katrina has a Bachelor of Social Science.

Ashleigh Brown

HR & Admin Manager

Ashleigh is a Kija/Jaru/Gooniyandi woman from the Kimberley, committed to creating strong and culturally grounded workplaces for Indigenous people. With almost 20 years' experience working in government, not-for-profit and Aboriginal organisations and five years in senior management she brings deep experience in operations, HR, and corporate services. Ashleigh is passionate about empowering Aboriginal organisations and supporting mob to grow, lead and succeed in the workforce.

Karine Flematti

Executive Admin Officer

Karine has always worked in the not-for-profit sector, including nearly 16 years in Native Title in the Central Desert region. She has high level experience in human resources, IT, workplace health and safety and leadership, and has a passion for working with people to create positive workspaces.

Jade Bromilow

Engagement Officer

Jade is a Yilka/Ngaanyatjarra/Narrunga woman who grew up in the Goldfields and has connections to the broader Central Desert Area. Prior to starting with the IDA, Jade worked with Native Title Services Goldfields and Goldfields Land and Sea council for over 8 years in various Administration roles and Human Resources.

Anne Wayne

Desert Projects Coordinator

Anne Wayne began work at the IDA in 2022.

Anne has worked extensively in the non-profit sector in roles spanning crisis relief, support work, national and international advocacy, social research and tertiary and community education.

Anne is committed to work for justice and is privileged to support IDA’s work focused on Indigenous desert rangers.

Hannah Cliff

Ecologist

Hannah has a background in ecology and wildlife conservation.

While working with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy she spent four years working in the field, alongside land managers and traditional owners across remote parts of Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland.

She holds a Bachelor (Hons) and Master of Science from the University of Tasmania.

Hannah is responsible for the IDA's collaborative threatened species program delivery.

Rachel Paltridge

Senior Ecologist

Rachel is a senior threatened species ecologist with the IDA. She has been working with Indigenous Rangers across the desert for 25 years on projects involving feral cat control, fire management and threatened species. She is passionate about 2-way Science - integrating Traditional Indigenous knowledge and skills with the latest technologies and scientific methods to come up with innovative methods to manage and monitor biodiversity.

Ed Muir

Fire Coordinator

Ed Muir (née Slade) grew up in Fremantle and has worked in the Indigenous land management sector in Western Australia and the Northern Territory since 2017.

He gained experience in Borroloola from 2018 to 2021, first as ranger coordinator working with Garawa and Waanyi Garawa Traditional Owners in the Gulf of Carpentaria and Barkley region, then as coordinator of the Ganalanga-Mindibirrina Indigenous Protected Area.

Ed has a masters in heritage studies and experience working as a heritage officer on Wadjemup (Rottnest Island).

Temika Von Senden

Communications Assistant

Temika is a proud Yilka, Ngaanyatjarra and Narrunga woman who grew up in the Goldfields and Adelaide, and has connections to the broader central desert area. Prior to starting with IDA, Temika studied at the North Metropolitan Tafe in Perth, collecting her qualifications in graphic design. She has also been a part of numerous Indigenous youth camps taking on leadership roles wherever she can.

Temika is passionate about using her creative skills to help tell the stories of desert rangers looking after country.

Ollanta Lipcer

Regional Support Officer

Ollanta (Olly) is the Regional Support Officer for Indigenous ranger teams in the far west of SA.

Olly has worked in land management with the Oak Valley, Yalata, and Far West Coast communities for over 12 years. Her time spent working with these rangers and communities has given her experience in land management from the coast to the desert – including monitoring of threatened and important plants and animals, two-way science camps, practicing right way fire and Buffel grass control, as well as filling in as a Ranger Coordinator on patrols when needed.

In her role as Regional Support Officer, Olly is establishing the Ranger Support Unit - a community-led initiative to provide strategic and on-ground support to Oak Valley, Yalata and Far West Coast ranger teams so that they can keep realising their plans for healthy country and people.

Emma Lucas

Design and Content Officer

Emma grew up among the Karris and Jarrahs of Wadandi Boodja. She is a passionate storyteller with a background in social media, journalism, and social justice.

Inherently creative, with skills in writing, editing, design and a keen interest in photography, she is privileged to tell the story of desert country with Traditional Owners and Indigenous rangers leading the way.

Kevin Tromp

Program Lead, Sector Development

Kevin has had the privilege to live and work with desert communities in the Pilbara and Kimberley for over 15 years in the Community Development and Ranger sectors.

Prior to working with IDA, Kevin enjoyed managing the Ngurrara Ranger Program at Yanunijarra Aboriginal Corporation for six years. Kevin is passionate about supporting desert Ranger groups to continue their critical work in looking after country, culture and supporting the next generation of Rangers and leaders.

Lara Paijmans

Ecologist

Lara is an ecologist based in Alice Springs, with over four years of experience working in the desert to protect threatened species like the Central Rock-rat and manage feral cats. With a Masters in desert fire ecology and a background in threatened species conservation, she is passionate about collaborating with Indigenous rangers and their communities to care for desert Country. Lara has also spent time at Australian Wildlife Conservancy's Newhaven Sanctuary, partnering with rangers and scientists on various conservation projects.

Laura Mitchell

Regional Support Officer

Laura is the Regional Support Officer for Indigenous ranger teams in South Australia supporting Traditional Owners and rangers to implement land management projects. Laura has worked in land management in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands and the Northern Land Council region for over 14 years. More recently, she been working for Conservation Management supporting communities in undertaking Healthy Country Planning and the development of IPA plans.

Shontelle Lennon

Community Liaison Officer

Shontelle is an Antakirinja Yankunytjatjara woman who grew up in Coober Pedy and Mt Willoughby Station. She is currently a director on the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara Aboriginal Corporation (AMYAC) Board and serves on the Marla-Oodnadatta Landscape Board.

Shontelle began her career as an environmental technician working with major mining companies including BHP Billiton in Roxby Downs and Arrium. For over eight years, Shontelle served as a Natural Resource Officer the Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park.

Sean Moran

Regional Support Officer

Sean is a Regional Support Officer working from the IDA’s Alice Springs office. He is passionate about supporting Indigenous rangers and their communities to look after country.

Sean has a long history working across the Northern Territory and Kimberley, including as a Land Management Officer at the Central Land Council, Joint Management Officer at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, an Indigenous Protected Area Coordinator at the Kimberley Land Council, and a Ranger at Kakadu National Park. From 2012 to 2024 he worked for the Australian Government on the Indigenous Protected Areas and Indigenous Ranger programs.

Lauren Schaller

Fire Officer

Lauren is a Fire Officer, helping to support women rangers of the desert with fire management. She has had the privilege of working with Traditional Owners within the Northern Territory and South Australia in a variety of settings over the past 10 years. With a background in firefighting and as a park ranger, she is passionate about supporting women in these areas.

Lauren has a Bachelor of Science (Biodiversity and Conservation) from Flinders University.

John Liddle

Community Liaison Officer

John Liddle is a Central Arrernte man on his father's side who are Mbarnte from Alice Springs. He grew up among Pitjantjatjara, Luritja, Pertame and Martujarra families in the southwest Northern Territory, with English as his second language. After early work on cattle stations and fencing camps, he moved into Aboriginal health at the time community-controlled organisations were first being established, eventually leading the creation of a Men’s Health Unit. He also worked as a ranger and park guide with NT Parks and Wildlife, and represented his language group for ten years on the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park joint management board from the time of the handback. John now lives on his family’s outstation on his mother’s traditional country.

George Atkins

Fire Officer

George is a Fire Officer with the IDA and based in the Alice Springs office. Originally from the south-west of Western Australia, he has worked in environmental management since 2021 and has been involved in Indigenous land management in the Western Desert since 2023. 

From 2023 to 2025, George gained valuable experience working as a Ranger and Community Field Coordinator with the Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa (KJ) Rangers, in Parnngurr and across the Martu determination. During this time, he had the privilege of working closely with Traditional Owners, Elders, and Rangers to care for Country—a responsibility he is passionate about continuing with Desert Mob.

George holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and Urban Horticulture from the University of Melbourne.

Taegan (Tee) Calnan

Nature Markets Coordinator

Tee is based in the Perth office and works as Nature Markets Coordinator for IDA. She has worked on ecology, land management, and biocultural knowledge projects across Australia for more than 20 years. Most recently Tee has worked with savanna fire management projects in northern Australia. She is interested in how to value and promote the care we need to keep people and Country healthy, and how nature markets can help us do that.

Jarrad Holmes

Adviser - Nature Markets

Jarrad is based in far north Queensland and works as an Adviser to the IDA on Nature Markets. For nearly 20 years, Jarrad has worked supporting Indigenous land managers to engage meaningfully and effectively in carbon and environmental markets. In his role with the IDA, Jarrad is responsible for leading the development of a Rangelands Habitat Method for the Australian Governments Nature Repair Scheme, and he is also leading the work to have the Savanna Fire Management carbon method extend south into the frequently burnt region of the northern desert region.

Lynda Lechleitner

Community Liaison Officer