Management

Steve Mav Chief Executive Officer

In January 2008, the Elders and Traditional Owners appointed Steve the youngest CEO to restructure one of Australia’s leading indigenous organisations. Today, Gumala Aboriginal Corporation has become the seventh largest indigenous corporation and together with its subsidiaries directly employs over 100 staff with more than half the workforce from an indigenous background. Gumala has also grown through its joint venture company, ESS-Gumala Pty Ltd, which has become one of the largest mine catering companies in Western Australia.

With a “members’-first” philosophy Steve has been steering Gumala towards an ambitious growth strategy built on expanding members’ services as well as identifying new investment opportunities to improve the quality of life and standard of living for the Traditional Owners. Working closely with Gumala’s key stakeholders, including Rio Tinto Iron Ore, Steve and his team are instigating unprecedented advances in economic well-being, health, education, housing and cultural identity for the benefit of the three language groups who form Gumala. Steve has a professional background in business management, local government and the not-for-profit sector.

Jenny Viviers Executive manager - chairman / CEO

Jenny commenced her employment with GAC in February 2008. As the Executive Manager, Jenny’s key objective is to ensure that all aspects of GAC’s executive office operate efficiently and effectively. Jenny arrived in Tom Price in September 2006 with her family. Originally from South Africa, she has developed a passion for the Pilbara. Jenny's dream is to see all of Gumala's exciting plans moving forward and coming to fruition for the benefit of GAC members.

Francois Langlois General Manager INNOVATION & SERVICES

Originally from Mauritius, Francois moved to Australia in 1997.  With a background in business management, Francois spent 10 years in the public sector before starting employment with Gumala Aboriginal Corporation in January 2008. With a lot of drive and motivation, Francois is committed to making a difference and ensuring that GAC meets its objectives and provides superior service to the Gumala Traditional Owners. His vision is to ensure that Gumala's Traditional Owners obtain the maximum benefits from mining royalties received.

Emma Kerslake General manager - governance

Emma holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Queensland, as well as substantial Management experience including over a decade at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Emma’s role immediately prior to joining Gumala was Acting Director of DFAT’s WA State Office. She has also held other high level Executive positions in DFAT Canberra and at the Australian High Commission in Wellington and spent several years as an international legal officer for DFAT.  Emma is an Indigenous Australian (Palawa heritage) and in her spare time is an Indigenous Community Volunteer. Emma comes to Gumala with a proven commitment to the self-empowerment of Indigenous Australians.

Stephen Scarrott   Chief financial officer

Stephen is a Chartered Accountant, Fellow of Leadership WA and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors with a vast national and international employment background, including the National Director of Finance at St John of God Pathology; and Cost management and Financial Accounting roles with National Power and Glaxo Pharmaceuticals (now GlaxoSmithKline) in the UK. Stephen is also a Director and Treasurer of the Community Arts Network Western Australia and Treasurer of the Rockingham Districts Little Athletics Association. Stephen has held key Finance roles in a variety of sectors, with clients that range from multi-national organisations to the small cottage industry. After working in general practice in New Zealand, Stephen worked internationally before settling in Australia.

Tracey Blokland health & culture manager

Tracey is professionally qualified in Community Services and previously  worked for a Not for Profit organisation for nine years. Her broad employment  portfolio includes key roles at Centrelink and the Western Australian Police  Department. Tracey was appointed as Member Services Team Leader in November 2010 and subsequently became the Member Services Manager in February 2011 and Health & Culture Manager in March 2012. She is passionate about working within Aboriginal communities and working alongside Gumala’s Traditional Owners. Tracey is originally from Newcastle in NSW and spent many years living in NSW, particularly on the north coast. She relocated to WA in 2007.

Dharmesh Kewalram Finance manager

Dharmesh has extensive international experience in audit, financial accounting, internal control, compliance and business management. His industry experience includes food and beverage, education, health, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, real estate management and retail. Dharmesh’s prior roles include Head of Finance of a start-up venture in India, Internal Control Manager at Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia, and Audit Manager at RSM Bird Cameron and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Dharmesh is a Chartered Accountant and has a Bachelor of Commerce and Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting from the University of Cape Town.

Lisa Shields oPERATIONS MANAGER - PILBARA

Cr Lisa Shields was appointed to the position of Operations Manager - Pilbara in early 2012, following her role as Acting HR Manager from mid 2011. Previous to that, Lisa was a Member Services Team Leader. One of Lisa's key goals is to make a strong contribution to the operational capabilities and efficiencies of Gumala Aboriginal Corporation. In addition to her employment at Gumala, Lisa is a Shire of Ashburton councillor. She has lived in Tom Price with her family for several years and is well known and respected throughout the local community.

Simon Biss  community development manager

Simon holds university qualifications (BA Education & BA Social  Sciences) and extensive project management experience that includes: Project Delivery within Building Management and Works, part of the Department of Treasury and Finance, which provides a range of services to deliver the State’s non residential building program; Various capital  works projects for the London Borough of Hackney in London; and Project work with the former Department of Housing and Works in Perth  (researching and developing policy and procedure for the construction and management of government buildings). Simon grew up in the Pilbara (Paraburdoo) and his key aim is to contribute to the development of a  strong project management capability within Gumala to ensure effective delivery of housing and other major projects to the Gumala Members.

Lynne Beckingham education manager

Lynne comes from a family of educators and has always been passionate in promoting the message of education being the key to the future. Lynne’s professional background in education spans over 20 years, including 17 years for the Department of Education in the Goldfields region. Her roles in the Goldfields included teaching at a remote Aboriginal community, Kindergarten to Year 7 in Kalgoorlie and Kambalda, as well as working in Childcare and as a Literacy consultant.  She spent five years at WestOne Services developing curriculum for the Schools of isolated and Distance Education and all Schools of the Air and was part of the Fiji Education Sector Project where she worked in Fiji as a volunteer developing curriculum and educating teachers in remote Fijian locations. Her goal is to develop and grow Gumala’s Education Unit and to promote the many educational opportunities available to our Members (both young and old) and their children.

Paul Avery business development manager

Before joining Gumala in early 2012, Paul was employed in the commercial banking sector. His extensive professional background also includes significant national and international experience (including key managerial roles) in sales, marketing and branding. He also has substantial small business experience as an owner-operator and holds a Bachelor of Business degree in Finance (from Edith Cowan University). Paul’s role at Gumala is to assist our Members in developing / acquiring their own businesses.

Laura Coe Services & facilities manager

Laura’s leadership credentials are significant. She graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Business Management with Dean’s Honours (2008) and gained a Post Graduate Certificate in Project Management in 2011 from the University of Queensland. Laura’s prior senior employment roles include extensive exposure to the minerals and resources sector (working on acquisition projects and all aspects of business operations). Laura also has prior experience working in event management and equipment hire. Laura joined Gumala’s experienced management team in early 2012. She is originally from the UK and relocated to Australia in 2000.

Laureen Floyd Human resources (HR) manager

Laureen brings a broad range of experience to her role at Gumala. She joined the organisation after having acquired several years HR experience, including within WA State Government and the not for profit sector. Laureen’s well-developed people skills emerged through her former career as a Radio Journalist, working in South Africa, Australia and former Yugoslavia.

Paula White trainee manager - member sOLUTIONS

Paula is a Gumala Member (Banyjima language group) and was appointed to the newly created Trainee Manager position in 2011. She is also completing a Certificate IV in Front Line Management. Paula's extensive professional background includes 8 years with the Police Department and 8 years with the Department of Justice. She has also worked in the non for profit sector, and is also a mother of 5. Paula's key aim is to help provide a better, more effective service to Members and cater for their needs.