Meet the Board

Luella Bligh

Chair

Harriet Hulthen

Harriet was born and raised on Palm Island, and attended the local Palm Island State School. Harriet has worked as a Field Officer with the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Legal Service, and was later promoted to Manager of Field Operations. During this time, Harriet was also appointed the Official Visitor to the Stuart Creek Correctional Facility, which she has held for 12 years. Harriet has also sat on selection panels for the Queensland Police Service. She was on the Board of the Townsville and District Aboriginal and Islander Justice Group, and later became the chairperson. Harriet has worked at the Reverend Charles Harris Diversionary Centre for the homeless, and has been on the boards of radio station 4K1G and the Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service. One of her proudest achievements was at the Wiri Yuwiburra Community Trust, where she was a board member and later the chairperson. Most recently Harriet has been on the board of the Palm Island Community Company, a pursuit she finds worthwhile as she can directly help her own people.

 

Allan Palm Island

My name is Allan Palm Island and I am fifty years old. I began to learn about my culture from as young as eight years, and this started with my father.

He would, over the years, teach me first about the stories of the Nanggarra Wanggarra people and my connection to country (Manbarra).

My art depicts the land and animal and sea life and within the art is the spiritual connection to our ancestors which includes my father and my mother’s country and they carrying on of knowledge through these artworks.

I completed formal training through Cairns College of TAFE in Arts and Craft. I continued to learn more through Casuarina University in the Northern Territory and later I completed my master of Fine Arts at RMIY University Melbourne in 1999.

I am a member of the Palm Island Community Company Board holding the inaugural position of Traditional Owner Director for the Manbarra people.

Rhonda Phillips

Rhonda has been a PICC director since the establishment of the Company in 2007. She has over 40 years’ experience across community, public and academic sectors in public administration, social policy, program management, social research and human services delivery. Her areas of particular interest and expertise include indigenous governance, policy implementation and service integration.

Rhonda has contributed to strong governance through her participation on the boards and committees of a diverse range of government and not-for-profit organisations where she has been a key driver of innovation and quality improvement. During her time on the PICC board, Rhonda has chaired the Governance and the Finance and Risk Committees and has led priority projects including the PICC Impact Evaluation.

Cassie Lang

Board-Appointed Director

Proud Bundjalung woman, Cassie Lang is a force within the Native Title and Indigenous Cultural Heritage legal space. In Cassie’s fourteen years of legal expertise, she has helped Registered Native Title Body Corporates (RNTBCs) incorporate their cultural governance framework into negotiations and the way they wish to do business. Cassie is a Founder & Principal Solicitor at Parallax Legal, and brings legal experience and skills to the board.

Matthew Lindsay

Company Secretary and Chair of the Finance Committee

A Certified Practicing Accountant – Fellow (FCPA), and Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors, Matt brings financial and governance skills to the board. Currently employed as the Corporate Service Manager for NQ Dry Tropic, Matt has experience in providing strategic advice and support to Boards. He has previously board experience as a Board Director of the Mater Health Services North Queensland.

Raymond Palmer

Director

Raymond was appointed to a vacancy on the Board in 2023. Raymond is a proud Bwgcolman man, who has lived on Palm Island all his life. Raymond is a father to nine children, and a grandfather to many. He has a long history working on Palm Island, around various sectors, including Aged Care, Road Works, and Education. Raymond is currently employed as a Teachers Aide at Bwgcolman Community School.