Directors
Deen Sanders, OAM
As one of Australia’s noted Indigenous leaders, Deen is a Worimi Giparr with cultural responsibilities and connections across Australia and acts as a critical adviser to clients (governments and commercial) on sensitive and significant matters. He is a noted systems thinker, governance, economics and leadership expert. With more than 30 years’ experience in the corporate environment of regulation and government, he has held senior positions in business and government. Deen has undertaken two PhDs (one in Complexity Theory, Trust and Regulation and another in Lore and Law), and was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2017 for his academic and regulatory work.
Chels Marshall
A Gumbaynggirr woman and Knowledge Keeper, Dr Marshall is a leading Indigenous systems ecologist and with extensive experience in marine ecology, cultural landscape management and regenerative design. She has over 27 years of professional experience in cultural ecology, environmental planning, design and land management within, government agencies, research institutes, Indigenous communities, and consulting firms.
John Davis
Murri Ambae man (Cobble Cobble, Barunggam, Wakka Wakka), Traditional Owner of Boobagarrn Ngumminge, Westerns Bunyas. Founding fellow of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Lab, and former CEO of the Stronger Smarter Institute. He is a published author and regular media commentator. Dr Davis is a respected community leader in Logan City, managing a raft of projects and organisations, including Gunya Meta and Riteways.
Joshua Waters
Joshua Waters is an Indigenous (Gamilaraay) man from inland Eastern Australia. He is a PhD Candidate and Senior Research Fellow with the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Deakin University. Joshua's work focuses on the role of Indigenous Knowledges in transforming higher education and institutional systems globally. With over a decade of experience in strategic advisory, educational leadership, and organisational change, he supports Indigenous-led innovation across learning, governance, and policy. As a core member of Deakin University’s Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Lab, he contributes to regional, national, and international partnerships advancing complexity-based and systems-based approaches to contemporary issues, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems in practice and application.
Jodi Edwards
Dr Jodi Edwards is a Yuin woman with Dharawal kinship connection who is widely respected for decades of work and research in Indigenous community, culture, ecology, education and language. With over 30 years of experience in business and government, Jodi is an expert consultant and advisor on policy, legislation, Indigenous knowledge systems, environmental and marine science research.
Tyson Yunkaporta
Dr Yunkaporta is the founder of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Lab at Deakin University, a Senior Research Fellow investigating Indigenous complexity modelling for global crises, Australian spirituality, disinformation/radicalization, and Indigenous memory/cognition and pedagogy. He is the author of Sand Talk, Right Story Wrong Story and Snake Talk. He is a wood carver, exhibited artist and published poet. As an Apalech man with a diverse background, he is well suited to his community role of connecting Peoples, places and Lore through trade, translation and kin-making.