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)
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.
Ms Kate Hamilton
Board of Advice Member
Kate Hamilton is a proud Kamilaroi woman living in Meeanjin on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. She enjoys being a mum to a teenage daughter and son who keep her busy.
Kate is currently the Branch Manager of Closing the Gap Branch in the Department of Social Services and was the Branch Manager in Ending Family Violence before that. Kate has also worked in senior positions in the National Indigenous Australians Agencies and Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Kate has worked across a spectrum of Government roles from policy design to implementation and evaluation in a national, state, local and international level (United Kingdom).
Kate has a Masters of Public Health and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Sociology. She has recently completed Certificate 3 in Fundamental Aboriginal Languages for Community Use Gamilaraay/ Yuwaalaraay. Kate encourages others to take time to learn language and culture as she found it to be enriching, connecting and protective.
Councillor Mersane Oui
Board of Advice Member
Councillor Mersane Oui is a proud Bwgcolman woman, a dedicated community leader, and a mother of two sons. She currently serves as the Deputy Mayor of Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council, where she leads with passion and purpose across key portfolios including Health, Housing, Education, Youth, and Women.
In addition to her role in local government, Councillor Oui works at the Bwgcolman Community School as a School and Community Partnerships Facilitator, strengthening ties between education and community to empower future generations.
Her leadership extends beyond the council through her active involvement in several influential bodies:
Steering Committee Member, Mater Hospital Research
Director, Palm Island Aboriginal Community Development Foundation
Board Member, Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation (QATSIF)
Councillor Oui’s work is grounded in her belief that “Education opens all doors.”
Her commitment to community development, youth empowerment, and women's wellbeing continues to inspire change and foster resilience across Palm Island and beyond.
Darlene Dreise
Board of Advice Member
Darlene Dreise is from Cairns and has a matrilineal family connection to Hammond Island (Keriri) in the Torres Strait. She is a mother and grandmother and brings a deep commitment to community wellbeing, intergenerational leadership and service.
Darlene has over 30 years’ experience across education and healthcare ministries. Her current role is National Director, Reconciliation at St Vincent’s Health Australia, where she focuses on strengthening internal relationships and building meaningful partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations. Her work supports improved health outcomes, employment pathways and the development of culturally safe systems of care.
Darlene is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD) and holds postgraduate qualifications in leadership, Catholic culture and education. She has served on a range of boards and advisory groups across health, education and community sectors, and is particularly passionate about mentoring emerging leaders and strengthening community capacity. Two of her children have been recipients of QATSIF scholarships in recent years, further deepening her commitment to educational opportunity and leadership for future generations.
Her leadership is grounded in faith and a belief that strong communities are built through service, partnership and holistic approaches to wellbeing.
Ms Moira Bligh
Board of Advice Member
As the second youngest of 8 children all born in Cherbourg, I am indebted to my parents who made the brave decision to leave Cherbourg in 1967 to give us a better chance at life.
My connection to Cherbourg remains very strong returning home regularly to visit family and sadly attend many funerals. Two of my siblings still live in the area.
Throughout my working life, I have worked extensively in government policy positions and service delivery areas with a particular interest in Indigenous issues and programs.
I worked in many public sectors organisations including both Commonwealth and State Governments managing ABSTUDY Student Assistance and the Community and Personal Histories Section. I also provided high level strategic advice to the Director General on whole-of-government Indigenous policy work in Department of Fair Trading, Tourism and Racing. In my last 10 years of employment, I worked as a Community Education Coordinator at Wavell State High School providing support to Murri students, parents and school community.
I was also co-facilitator for the Brisbane Dialogues for Constitutional Reform leading to the Uluru Statement of the Heart.
After 50 years in the workforce, I retired in 2024 and look forward to enjoying more community and family events.
Personally, I assisted my mother Ruth Hegarty to establish services and programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples on Brisbane northside, including Koobara Kindy, Nalingu Day Respite Centre and Binambi Barambah Aboriginal Corporation. I continue to service the community as President of Noonga Reconciliation Group, and representative on the Elders Reference Group, Dept of Education.