Emmanuela Shinta is a Dayak leader, activist, environmentalist, filmmaker and writer with a reputation for leading and empowering indigenous youth. Her work has been recognized widely in the Asia Pacific through her YOUTH ACT CAMPAIGN, an indigenous youth movement for climate action as a response to forest fire and haze in 2015. In 2016, Emmanuela founded an organisation called Ranu Welum Foundation, through which she has trained hundreds of young indigenous people to use audio-visual media to speak about indigenous people’s rights. She has been speaking about Dayak people across international forums and bringing the stories from Kalimantan Island to a global audience through films and her book ME, MODERNISM AND MY INDIGENOUS ROOTS. Emmanuela is also the founder of the International Indigenous Film Festival series across South East Asia. In 2018, Emmanuela began a world storytelling tour themed around Indigenous Stories That Matter, which travelled through the United States, Australia, Europe and many Asian countries.

Fransiskus Yan Mendrofa is a young Mentawai leader and currently the Chairman of Mentawai cultural education foundation, Yayasan Pendidikan Budaya Mentawai (YPBM). Chairing the YPBM team since 2018, Yan has successfully lead the growth of nine cultural education hubs, expanding the YPBM team to employ a total of 36 First-Nations staff, teachers and hub coordinators. Yan has also lead the publication of numerous Mentawai resources, including the first Rereiket dialect dictionary and a Mentawai plant field guide. Yan has represented YPBM and Mentawai culture in speaking roles at national and international events and is delighted to take on a Directing role on the IEF Board.

Jade Preston has dedicated twenty years of her career to supporting disadvantaged individuals in align with her strong sense of social justice. Within her current role in the Department of Health and Human Services she is tasked with supporting vulnerable individuals with complex needs who are experiencing significant challenges navigating disability and mainstream systems. Jade works with people at risk of homelessness, justice involvement, children in the protection system and those unable to leave mental health facilities due to a lack of support in the community. An integral element of Jade’s work is to empower each mainstream interface by building capacity, and ensuring each intersect is held accountable to their responsibilities. Jade brings a wealth of hands-on experience and knowledge to the IEF Board.

Rob Henry has worked with marginalised groups at a grass-root level for over a decade. Since 2008, Rob has lived and worked with the Mentawai community in western Sumatra, conducting anthropological research focused on Indigenous cultural knowledge, oral literature and the cause and impacts of loss of connection with their culture, land and its resources. In 2014, Rob founded the Indigenous Education Foundation (IEF) to empower the Mentawai community and other Indigenous peoples across the globe to reconnect with and further strengthen their culture as a means to prevent poverty. In 2017, Rob produced and directed award-winning documentary film, As Worlds Divide, which, filmed over the course of 8 years living with the Mentawai, explores the impacts of displacement and provides a compelling insight into the value of Indigenous knowledge in relation to some of today’s greatest global challenges. Rob has held the position of Chairman of the IEF board of Directors from 2014 – 2018. He continues volunteering his time as IEF President and working closely with our Indigenous partners.

Damian Sutherland is Senior Director at a leading Australian Accounting firm, William Buck, and holds numerous Board positions.

Rob Henry has worked with marginalised groups at a grass-root level for over a decade. Since 2008, Rob has lived and worked with the Mentawai community in western Sumatra, conducting anthropological research focused on Indigenous cultural knowledge, oral literature and the cause and impacts of loss of connection with their culture, land and its resources. In 2014, Rob founded the Indigenous Education Foundation (IEF) to empower the Mentawai community and other Indigenous peoples across the globe to reconnect with and further strengthen their culture as a means to prevent poverty. In 2017, Rob produced and directed award-winning documentary film, As Worlds Divide, which, filmed over the course of 8 years living with the Mentawai, explores the impacts of displacement and provides a compelling insight into the value of Indigenous knowledge in relation to some of today’s greatest global challenges. Rob has held the position of Chairman of the IEF board of Directors from 2014 – 2018. He continues volunteering his time as IEF President and working closely with our Indigenous partners.

Samantha Lee is currently studying a Bachelors in Forest Science and Management and is passionate about humans and their relationship to their forests – both economically, socially and spiritually. With a B of Digital Media also under her belt, she brings to IEF many years of experience leading and inspiring teams. When not busying herself with the operational ins and outs of IEF (volunteer), she spends her time enamoured by biodiversity and eucalypts.

With over 7 years professional graphic design experience across Sydney and London, Lizzy Medynskyj has a real passion for learning and strives to live a selfless life helping others through her creativity and compassion. Lizzy has voluntarily offered her services as IEF’s Creative Designer to support positive change for Indigenous cultures and the planet at large.

Isabelle commenced volunteering with the Indigenous Education Foundation in 2021, providing support in the revision of the Mentawai Rereiket-Indonesian dictionary. Isabelle graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2018 after completing the Bachelor of Arts (Linguistics and Indonesian) and Master of Speech Pathology. These degrees developed Isabelle’s interest and passion for indigenous languages, in particular the role of language in preserving culture and knowledge for First Nations communities. Isabelle currently works as a paediatric Speech Pathologist, a role which has highlighted for her the importance of exposing children to ancestral languages, and the benefits of immersing children in language-rich environments. Isabelle strongly believes in the relationship between indigenous language learning and self-identity, and is excited to support the Mentawai community to empower the next generation of Mentawai Sarereiket speakers.

TBA