A proud Palyku and Whadjak woman (Pilbara region and Perth region), Sharon is an experienced Director with 30 years’ experience across business, employment, training, human capital and human resource management.
A Palyku traditional owner, Sharon’s key leadership achievements include:
- Led the first Aboriginal business to secure a contract with DMIRS for an abandoned mines program
- Led and coordinated the Aboriginal engagement and participation on the Outback Road project with the Laverton, Kalgoorlie and Warburton Aboriginal communities
- Successfully designed and developed a new VTEC prison program through the Minderoo Foundation
- Extensive experience in the development of Aboriginal employment strategies, programs and entry level training
- Designed and established two Aboriginal training centres for Swan TAFE and managed an Aboriginal training program
- Organised the delivery of training into remote communities in consultation with the Aboriginal communities, mining companies and government agencies
- Developed Aboriginal engagement and participation plans for Tier 1 & 2 contractors to effectively plan and procure Aboriginal business services and build Aboriginal business capability and capacity through awarded packages of work
Raylene is a proud Nanda woman from Yamatji country. Raylene has more than thirty 30 years’ experience in the finance industry, with a robust history of delivering outcomes for the Aboriginal communities across WA.
Raylene has extensive experience working with Aboriginal individuals, businesses, and communities, and has establishing strong relationships across extensive networks. She is adept at upskilling, assisting Indigenous entrepreneurs to overcome challenges and build commercial capability and capacity, resulting in successful and sustainable benefits.
Raylene is a Director of the Yamatji Funds Management Ltd Board, Director of the Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation Board, and Deputy Chairperson on First Nations Foundation Board.
Raylene’s Key leadership achievements include:
- Instrumental in designing and developing industry events such as Cultivate 2013. Cultivate successfully delivered over $100m of outcomes for Aboriginal contractors on mining and infrastructure projects in WA
- Grew First Nations Credit Union/CUA portfolio from $17m to over $200m, including $100million of new home buyers
- Developed the Smart Money Management program and delivered this to Rio Tinto employees with successful outcomes, empowering Aboriginal employees to save some of their income to buy homes and cars, and to have a sustainable saving plan
- Instigated and assisted in the negotiations to be the first successful Aboriginal business to secure a contract with DMIRS – Abandoned Mines Program – Rehabilitation
- Worked in collaboration with Central Earthmoving and won the CCF Aboriginal engagement awards, two years in a row. Proven track record in engaging over 5 Aboriginal contractors on their projects
- Worked with 7 Aboriginal startup businesses in alliance with Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), securing $2.4m of sales for these businesses
