Matthew Karpany-Carter is a Ngarrindjeri man, born in Murray Bridge. He has lived and worked on Kaurna Yerta since 2016, maintaining strong connections to culture, community and Country.

A committed advocate for First Nations voices, Matthew is passionate about strengthening self-determination and ensuring Aboriginal perspectives are reflected in decision-making. He has a strong focus on culturally safe workplaces and supporting both current and future generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders.

Matthew brings close to a decade of experience across the South Australian public sector, with a focus on governance, policy and program delivery. He has worked across multiple agencies, including SafeWork SA, the Country Fire Service and the Department for Education.

Deb is a proud Ngarrindjeri woman and a member of the First People of the Millewa Mallee. She adores her children and grandchildren and is a highly respected Aunt to many. She proudly follows her mother's legacy of community development, responsibility and respect.

Her professional career spans more than 40 years of service to South Australia's Aboriginal community. She worked for 24 years in the Department for Education where she was the first Aboriginal Principal Policy Advisor for early childhood education in SA. She was responsible for Aboriginal early childhood systems reform, policy and curriculum development, and led the establishment of 3 COAG Aboriginal Early Childhood Centres.

Deb currently leads the community-led Justice Reinvestment in South Australia, working with the Australian Red Cross and the Tiraapendi Wodli team. She was proactive in opening the first metropolitan Justice Reinvestment Hub in South Australia in 2021.

Deb is a bold speaker and advocate for truth-telling, and she is often sought as a public speaker at many national conferences and local community learning circles. She describes herself as a strong community advocate for self-determination and community-led initiatives, is highly regarded by her community and is proud to be a Respect Person for South Australia's Nunga Court in Port Adelaide.

Jonathon was born and raised in the Amata community within the APY Lands.

A leader and senior man in the Amata community, he has a strong knowledge of country, culture and law in this area and works closely with the community and school services to improve outcomes.

His first language is Pitjantjatjara and he takes pride in talking to all leaders as well as outsiders in Amata to keep the community growing and moving in the right direction.

As a First Nations Voice representative, he aims to improve living and education outcomes for those in the Far North region.

Melissa Thompson, a Pitjantjatjara woman, grew up in the Black Hill homeland near Umuwa in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands.

She is the Deputy Chair for Iwiri, an organisation based in Port Adelaide that supports people visiting Adelaide from the APY lands, and a Minister at the Adelaide Congress Ministry in Salisbury North.

Melissa is a member of the Department for Human Services (DHS) Taskforce that looks after people staying temporarily in the Adelaide Parklands.

Her extensive community background also includes working as a police aide in the APY lands and a young executive role with the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council. Melissa is dedicated to the support and wellbeing of people from the APY lands.

Charmaine is a senior Aboriginal health leader and Registered Nurse with more than 40 years of experience across clinical, community, and executive roles. An Adnyamathanha woman with strong regional ties to Port Augusta and the Far North region, she has held senior positions across government, Aboriginal health services and research organisations, and strategic leadership appointments driving strategic and operational outcomes.

Charmaine is recognised for her cultural authority, community connection, operational capability, for her integrity, strategic insight, and commitment to building culturally safe, high‑performing health systems. Her career reflects a lifelong dedication to improving health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, strengthening services, and delivering meaningful, measurable outcomes across diverse communities.

Rob is a proud Aboriginal man with Yawarrawarrka, Dirie, Yankunytjatjara and Nunkunu family connections. He has spent the last 30-plus years working in human services as a state Public Servant, and sits on a number of Boards including a SA National Parks ministerial-appointed advisory committee.

For the past 15 years he has led and managed Aboriginal community-controlled organisations that focus on improving the social determinants of Aboriginal people.

Rob is a passionate advocate and promoter for the advancement of all Aboriginal issues and concerns locally, regionally and throughout the entire state of South Australia, and believes in transparency, inclusivity, and fair opportunity for all.

Danni is an Eastern Arrernte, Guringdji, Kaurna, Narungga Nukunu and Ngarrindjeri woman.

A proud mother and grandmother, she is passionate about working for her community.

She is keen to actively contribute to systemic change and particularly seek out positive outcomes and opportunities for mob, by Truth telling.

I am a Ngarrindjeri, Wirangu, Ngintait man living and working on Erawirung Country in Berri, with my wife and two children. I have been a Presiding Member for Region 4 for the last two years and have learned a lot in this time amount Government operations.

I am passionate about positive solutions for our people rather than the constant negative narrative about the problems - we know the issues!

Our communities need the resources and support to design and co-design these solutions for generations to come.

Leeroy is a proud Marlinyu Ghoorlie, Wirangu, Kokatha, Mirning, Noongar and Barngala person.

Born in Port Lincoln, Leeroy has lived most of his life in Ceduna in the Aboriginal community ‘Tia Tuckia’.

He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from working with State and National Governments, non-government organisations and private sectors. He has also held roles within several other Aboriginal health organisations including as Director of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia (AHCSA).

A dedicated community innovator and advocate for Indigenous rights, Leeroy is committed to amplifying First Nations voices and ensuring they have a seat at the table in decision-making processes.

He is keen to represent the diverse voices within his community and has a strong focus on youth empowerment.

Lorraine understands the importance of connection and communication with people from the grassroots level of community.

She is keen to hear what people have to say, listening with empathy and advocating on behalf of her community.

Bio to come

Doug is a Narungga man from Guuranda (the Yorke Peninsula) and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation.

He is a Director and Vocational Education Training representative for the South Australian Aboriginal Education and Training Consultative Council and is the inaugural Chairperson of Dhilba Gurranda – Innes National Park Co-Management Board.

Doug is also one of the longest serving CEO’s at Taundi Aboriginal College.

His aspiration for improving outcomes for Aboriginal people goes beyond metropolitan Adelaide, reaching across all Aboriginal communities in South Australia and making a difference to Closing the Gap on Aboriginal disadvantage.