Mr Kurt Schulte-Schrepping
Board of Advice Chair
Kurt Schulte-Schrepping is a Palawa man from Lutruwita (Tasmania.)
Kurt is currently the Director of First Nations Strategy and Emergency Management at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). Kurt's role involves engaging with the community to provide access to the performing arts for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, developing the organisation’s cultural capability and leading the delivery of their Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan.
Prior to that, Kurt was the Director of Indigenous Strategy with Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, where he led the pastoral care program at the National Indigenous Training Academy at the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre and at Ayers Rock Resort, near Uluru. During his tenure at Voyages Kurt also oversaw the Indigenous Engagement Team and the remote jobs program, the social and emotional wellbeing team and the community safety team. Kurt also worked in the community safety and night patrol program in Mutitjulu.
Kurt's background is in security, having previously assisted in occupational violence research, running his own security company in South East Queensland for several years and holds a Diploma of Security and Risk Management, a Graduate Diploma of Management, a Graduate Diploma of Strategic Leadership, a BA (Security, Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism) and a Master of Security and Strategic studies.
Kurt Schulte-Schrepping (QATSIF Chair), Aunty Ruth Hegarty (QATSIF Founding Patron) and Professor Cindy Shannon AM (QATSIF Patron)
Mr Kenneth James (Jim) Walker
Board of Advice Member
Jim Walker is an Aboriginal Elder of the Yiman and Goreng Goreng First Nations peoples of Australia.
He is a lecturer within the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Queensland and is the Chair of the Science Advisory Committee of Earthwatch Australia, Chair of the First Nations Advisory for the Co-operative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies, a member of the Science Advisory Committee for Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Network and, a member of the Queensland Chief Scientist’s Native Vegetation Scientific Expert Panel.
He has been involved in advocating for the rights of Indigenous Peoples in excess of 20 years both in Australia and internationally. Jim has been involved in development and implementation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policies and programs in the fields of environment protection, science research, social justice, education, health, housing, economic development, Indigenous rights advocacy, and Indigenous cultural protection.
Mr Brenton Bowen
Board of Advice Member
Brenton was born in Cairns and raised in Hopevale, he is a proud Guugu Yimithirr man. He still has strong ties to his community and regularly visits his family who still live there.
Brenton excelled in both sports and his studies as a boarder at St. Teresa’s College, Abergowrie. At the age of 17, he signed his first contract with the North Queensland Cowboys and made his NRL First grade debut at the age of 19. His career in the NRL spanned 8 years and saw him play for North Queensland Cowboys and the Gold Coast Titans.
After retirement from football, Brenton worked for 10 years in the Department of Human Services. He is currently working for IUIH as a Deadly Choices Ambassador. Brenton is passionate about Indigenous Health and empowering students and community to make a Deadly Choice through healthy eating, being physically active and being mentally strong.
Brenton also encourages students who aspire to become professional athletes to gain a tertiary education or trade, as professional sport does not last for ever. He strongly believes that having tertiary qualifications or a trade is very important to set you up for life after professional sport.
Ms Amanda Martin
Board of Advice Member
Amanda Martin is a proud Gadigal woman and was a Round 7 QATSIF student at the Brisbane School of Distance Education.
Amanda holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) from Griffith University. Amanda was admitted as a lawyer to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2022 and is now an employment lawyer working for MinterEllison. She is experienced in many areas including: workplace law including WHS, industrial relations, investigations, anti-discrimination and unfair dismissals.
Since graduating from school, Amanda has continued to support QATSIF’s work by volunteering as an Ambassador at graduations and community events. She also regularly shares her educational journey to inspire the next generation of young leaders both online and at our QATSIF graduations.
Amanda is the second former QATSIF Scholarship Recipient to be appointed to the QATSIF Board of Advice.
Ms Judith Meiklejohn
Board of Advice Member
Judith Meiklejohn is the Senior Impact Manager: First Nations communities at Orange Sky Australia.
Judith has been a health research assistant at the University of Queensland, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and Menzies School of Health Research.
In her current role with Orange Sky, Judith oversees many areas including: the growth, management and evaluation of Orange Sky service operations in partnership with key stakeholders across remote and Indigenous communities to maximise social impact; the Recruitment, management and training of volunteers, and employees in Indigenous communities; and manages local service response to disaster recovery efforts in collaboration with local and state government disaster recovery frameworks.