Our People
Our Board of Directors are responsible for the strategic direction of the cooperation and guiding it from a board business perspective on behalf of all members. The directors are involved in defining the vision and strategic objectives for the corporation. The directors work with the CEO to set the direction of the corporation. Directors do not become involved in the operation of the corporation. The CEO reports directly to the Board.
Board Members
Dawn Wallam
Dawn is a Wadandi woman of the Noongar Nation who has accumulated a work history of more than 40 years. She has been the CEO of Yorganop Association since 1997, and has over 30 years’ experience in the community sector, dedicating herself to improving support for vulnerable children, youth, families and communities.
Dawn has been a proactive advocate for Aboriginal children and families at local, state, national and international forums. She served as a Board member for over 20 years with SNAICC and was a founding member of the Nyoongar Outreach Service and the Noongar Child Protection Council (now the Noongar Family Safety & Wellbeing Council). She has also served as an elected representative for the Karlkarniny Regional Council of ATSIC, and is the current chair of West Coast Language Development Centre. She is highly committed to ensuring excellence in governance and service provision.
Dawn was the 2018 recipient of the Community Services Excellence Award for ‘Excellence in Leadership’. She is an inductee of the WA Women’s Hall of Fame and was a finalist for the Aboriginal Award in the 2019 West Australian of the Year Awards.
Lennett Sandy
Lennett is a Noongar woman who grew up on the Moora Reserve with her grandmother, mother, uncles and brother. She completed her Bachelor of Applied Science (Indigenous Community Management and Development) at Curtin University.
She is proudly committed to the Aboriginal community, as clearly demonstrated by her service as a Board member to several organisations including Yorgum (of which she is a founding member), Maar Mooditj and Moorditch Gurlongga Association (MGA).
One of Lennett’s goals is to take what she has learnt and use it to build a stronger, more independent community service, which provides culturally appropriate services at grass roots and community level.
Farley Garlett
Farley is a Wadjuk Noongar man who was raised on Ballardong country. He has worked extensively in the transport and mining sectors but his passion is working with Aboriginal people. He was Manager of Palmerston’s Men’s Night Shelter, then Aboriginal Liaison Officer at Cyril Jackson SHS and became a strong advocate for Aboriginal people, including youth, families and communities.
Farley has accumulated many years of high-level experience on Aboriginal governance committees at a local, state and national level, including as Chairperson of ATSIC’s Perth Noongar Regional Council, National ATSIC Commissioner, Chairperson of Nyoongar Outreach Services, Board member of Mandjah Boodjah Aboriginal Corporation. He is currently Executive Officer of Noongar Mia Mia.
He has been NAIDOC Elder of the year and was awarded a Silver Star by the Governor General of Australia.
Executive
Laurel Sellers
Laurel is proud to be part of the Noongar nation, born on her Grandmother’s country of Wagyl Kaip at Katanning. She also have extensive family connections in the Pilbara and other regions of Western Australia.
Laurel has been leading Yorgum as CEO since 2014. Prior to that she worked in the government sector for over 20 years at both State and Commonwealth levels.
Laurel has managed many key Aboriginal programs and projects across WA related to housing and community development. She also managed the Aboriginal Visitor’s Scheme for the WA Department of Corrective Services.
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