Simon Hawkins
Chief Executive Officer
Simon is responsible for the overall management of the organisation on behalf of YMAC’s Board of Directors, and also acts as Company Secretary. Through the CEO role Simon ensures the policies and decisions of YMAC’s Board of Directors, and respective Regional Committees, are implemented. The Company Secretary is also responsible for making sure the organisation observes its governance responsibilities and that it meets its obligations under agreements entered into with other parties.
As well as promoting the interests of YMAC, its clients and members, the CEO negotiates funding for new and existing projects, and advocates for policy change in critical areas affecting the rights and interests of Traditional Owners.
Since commencing as CEO of YMAC in 2003 Simon has overseen many significant native title, and other negotiations, including the landmark Yamatji Nation on-Country Conditional Consent Determination and associated Yamatji Nation IILUA lodged with the NNTT in March 2020.
Simon is an inaugural Board member of the National Native Title Council (NNTC), an alliance of Native Title Representative Bodies and Native Title Service Providers from around Australia, and in May 2023 was appointed as a Member of the First Nations Clean Energy and Emissions Reduction Advisory Committee.
Simon holds a Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science and a Bachelor of Arts (Urban and Regional Studies), and is a current member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a Justice of the Peace.
Chris Dann
Yamatji Regional Manager
Chris Dann is the Yamatji Regional Manager. She is responsible for developing and maintaining strategic alliances across all sectors, managing special projects, advocating and representing the native title rights and interests of represented Traditional Owners (within the Mid West and Gascoyne), overseeing regional operations, including managing the regional office, and overseeing staff for the Yamatji region.
Donny Wilson
Pilbara Regional Manager
Donny is the Pilbara Regional Manager. He is responsible for developing and maintaining strategic alliances across all sectors, managing special projects, advocating and representing the native title rights and interests of represented Traditional Owners, overseeing regional operations, including managing regional offices, and overseeing staff for the Pilbara region.
Nicholas Kimber
Chief Financial Officer
Nicholas (Nick) is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He is responsible for overseeing the financial reporting requirements of the organisation. Nick provides timely and accurate information to the CEO, the YMAC Board of Directors, and the respective Regional Committees, for strategic decision-making, and to ensure efficient and effective use of resources to meet the dynamic and challenging conditions of the economy.
Glenn Archer
Principal Legal Officer
Glenn is the Principal Legal Officer (PLO). He is responsible for managing the legal operations of the organisation in accordance with the Native Title Act 1993 (NTA). The PLO advises on matters related to the NTA and associated legislation, and other Commonwealth and State laws and statues, which affect the interests of native title holders in the Midwest, Gascoyne, and Pilbara regions.
Glenn coordinates the relationships between the organisation and its represented Traditional Owner clients, intra-indigenous mediation in relation to the native title claim process, preparation and lodgement of native title claims, progress and resolution of native title claims, and future act processes.
Amy Usher
Research, Country and Culture Services Manager
YMAC’s Research, Country and Culture Services Manager Amy Usher is responsible for YMAC’s Research, Country and Culture Services directorate. Amy oversees the teams providing services that support a number of activities on Country, including land and sea management, native title research, heritage services and protection, and social surrounds.
The area is focused on supporting YMAC’s clients achieve native title recognition and maximising those opportunities both before and following a native title determination. The directorate utilises the wide range of skills and knowledge across the distinct teams to continue the support of Traditional Owners in YMAC’s regions in meeting their on-Country obligations.