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Meet the Board

The Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation is governed by a Board of Directors comprising eight members. Directors are elected by the Gunggari membership in accordance with the terms of our Rule Book.  All Directors roles are voluntary and we do not receive sitting fees. 

Daen Munn
Co-chairperson (Male)

Finance Support
Reappointed October 2022

Daen Munn is the Chairperson of the Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation and is of Gunggari and Mandandanji descent. He is the son of Robert Munn, a Gunggari elder who initiated the current claim for the native title over Gunggari country.

Robert (Bob) was the son of Aunty Ethel Munn, whose mother was Minnie Jackson, daughter of Ada Clarke and William Henry Jackson. Daen grew up in Roma and Quilpie and has worked throughout the region. He is married with two children and lives in Toowoomba.

Daen is employed as a Cultural Heritage Officer for an Oil and Gas Company and leads a team undergoing Cultural Heritage surveys, assessments and reporting.

He has a security background working for the Queensland Government as a Custodial Correctional Officer and previously for a private company leading a security team.

Daen is on his third term of appointment on the GNTAC Board.

Margaret Finlay
Co-chairperson (Female)

Reappointed October 2022

Janelle Lawton
Secretary

Appointed October 2024

 

Carol Finlay
Treasurer

Reappointed November 2020

Carol Finlay is a proud Gunggari woman connected through her mother, Joyce Finlay (nee Foster). Carol was raised and lived in Mitchell most of her life and is now a mother of 4 children and 1 granddaughter with partner, Barry.

Carol is currently working for the Department of Human Services/Centrelink, for now over 20 years and in the field of Indigenous Servicing. Carol had worked in Charleville before locating to Brisbane to continue working in the Department delivering services to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities. Carol has an immense passion to assist and work with her people and create change in the community.

Carol has previously worked in local government in Mitchell, working for the Booringa Shire Council (now Maranoa Regional Council) for 10 years and has experience in working with community organisations, Mitchell Aboriginal Housing Company and held positions on both Nalingu Aboriginal Corporation and Mitchell Aboriginal Housing Company Board.

Kathleen Kearns
Cultural Heritage (Female)

Finance Support
Appointed October 2022
 

Michelle Saunders
Communications and Media Director

Human Resources Support
Reappointed October 2024

Michelle Saunders is a Gunggari woman who is a Director and was appointed as Website, Newsletter and Media Support for the Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation. 

Ray Stanley
Human Resources

Cultural Heritage (Male), Finance Support
Appointed October 2022

Ray Stanley was born in Mitchell in 1952. His parents were Edward Stanley and Helen Saunders, daughter of Frank and Ivy Saunders,and great grandson of Mosey and Lily Saunders. Helen, along with Henry ( Finnigan) Saunders and Kenny Jackson were removed to the Bush Children’s Home in Scarborough as young children and returned prior to World War II.

Ray completed Year 10 at Mitchell SHS before attending Roma SHS for Year 11. Two years later saw the successful completion of a Certificate in Agriculture in WA. 

He returned to Mitchell and worked on several properties, Richter Drilling, driving earthmovers and road trains for Victor Saunders and surveying power lines throughout the Maranoa district.

Ray and Suzanne Busiko left Mitchell to begin teaching studies in 1975. After completing his Diploma in Teaching, they moved to New Zealand for a 3-year working holiday before returning to further University studies as a Secondary Teacher. He spent a total of more than 40 years as a teacher specialising in Design and Technology and Graphics.

Ray has had extensive experience as a Sport Director, having been awarded Life Membership of BMX Australia and Townsville BMX Club. He was instrumental in setting up the Australian BMX High Performance Program and in his capacity as Head Commissaire trainer for the Union of Cycliste (UCI) and officiated at numerous world championships, 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
He was appointed the inaugural interim Chair of the Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation in 2012 and then moved on to President of Gunggari Aboriginal Property Association for several years. Ray has completed the Cert IV in Indigenous Leadership in 2012.
He was elected as a director of the Corporation in 2022. His portfolio is Human Relations.

Deena Dodd
Director

Secretary Support
Appointed November 2020