Alinytjara Wiluṟara Landscape Board

Brenz Saunders

Presiding Member (Chair)

Brenz was appointed in August 2024. With ancestry linking him to the Wirangu, Kokatha and Mirning people, he grew up surrounded by culture and family in Ceduna. Brenz learned from the example of leaders in his community about his responsibility as an Aboriginal person to not only protect and preserve culture and Country, but to work towards being a strong advocate and leader of change for the future.

Brenz has broad experience in governance roles, including as current chair of Taoundi Aboriginal College and Far West Coast Investments, co-chair of the Reconciliation Action Plan Committee at Nova Systems, advisory panel member of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and board member at the Adelaide Crows Foundation, Infoxchange, Minya Bunhii Childcare Centre and Country Arts SA.

With a deep commitment to environmental management and Aboriginal intelligence integration, Brenz's aim is to ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of the unique and diverse landscape of the region.

Jeremy Lebois

Oak Valley Community

Jeremy was appointed to the board in 2023. He has strong connections to Country through his grandparents and father, who were all born on Country.

As a Traditional Owner of the Maralinga Tjarutja Lands, Jeremy has extensive experience working on feral animal and weed control, managing rockholes and soaks, marine animal and fisheries and revegetation work.

He also has a solid track record of board roles, including as Chair of Maralinga Tjarutja, Maralinga Piling Trust, and the Mamungari Conservation Park Co-management Board.

Wanda Miller

Far West Coast

Wanda was appointed to the board in 2023. She has a long history of advocacy and involvement in community affairs, with the aim of improving the health and wellbeing of her people.

She served on the Aboriginal Heritage Board in the 1980s, was the only woman elected to the newly established Far West Heritage and Park Management Consultative Committee in 1990, and is a former member of the ATSIC Regional Council, Western Eyre Peninsula NRM Board, and the working group for the Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation’s Healthy Country Plans in 2015 and again in 2021 when plans plan to include FWCAC land and sea ranger program were added to the Healthy Country Plan.

Wanda has been a member of the working group for Iluka mine negotiations since 2005 and was Chair of the Yumbarra Conservation Park Co-management Board from 2015-2022. She also ran her own cultural awareness training business for five years – it was mandatory that all mining personnel completed the training due to the sensitive areas at the mine site.

Wanda lives at Scotdesco, where water has always been a big issue. The whole community always knew that water resource management was crucial to live here, including desalination plant trials, storage tanks, dams and water quality testing.

Wanda was born on country and her interests and concerns have always been Aboriginal issues and wellbeing, in particular, members of the FWCAC footprint of the northern and western areas of SA.

Peter Burgoyne

Far West Coast

Peter was appointed to the board in 2023. Born at the Koonibba Mission, Peter has always had an interest in respecting and caring for traditional lands in the Far West Coast region.

A former Chief Executive Office of the Port Lincoln Aboriginal Community Council, Peter is a former member of the State Alternative Care and Family Preservation Committee, the South Australian Aboriginal Aquaculture Fishing Forum, Sydney Olympic Games Organising Committee and Tauondi Aboriginal Community College, and former Chairperson of the Port Lincoln Aboriginal Community Health Service.

With a Diploma in Management Practices, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Aboriginal Affairs & Administration and a Masters degree in Aboriginal Affairs, Peter also has experience in revegetation and land management.

Peter’s current roles include being a Director of the Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation’s Investment Board and a committee member of the Iluka Mine Liaison Committee.

Debbie Hansen

Tjuntjuntjara Community

Debbie was appointed to the Alinytjara Wiluṟara Landscape Board in February 2020 having been on the AW NRM Board since 2015.

Debbie lives in Tjuntjuntjara Community in the Great Victoria Desert, Western Australia, and represents the Oak Valley Community and Maralinga Tjarutja lands. Debbie has a strong interest in land management particularly; playing a leading role in connecting natural and cultural heritage management; speaking for community and connection to community and government in order to influence policy directions around natural and cultural heritage management; ensuring there are opportunities provided for young people of the Alinytjara Wiluṟara region in working in and looking after country; learning and leading in governance and leadership, passing this information onto younger community members; ensuring that looking after Country is done by both men and women on both sides of the border that divides the Great Victoria Desert.

Debbie’s experience with Boards and Committees also includes: Director, Pila Nguru Aboriginal Corporation; Chairperson Spinifex Art Project Aboriginal Corporation; Director, Maralinga Tjarutja; Member Co-management Board, Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation.

Duane Edwards

Yalata

Duane was appointed to the Alinytjara Wiluṟara Landscape Board in June 2022.

He has extensive experience as a community leader. He is Chair of the Yalata Aboriginal Corporation and is also a member of numerous boards and organisations, including the Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation, Maralinga Piling Trust and Tullawon Health Service, and is a past member of the Maralinga Tjarutja Council.

Duane has been involved in Healthy Country Planning for the Yalata IPA, and has been involved in cultural water protection and management and establishing primary production in Colona and Pintumbie areas of the Yalata Lands.

He lives in Yalata and works towards caring for Country, making it a better place for his people into the future.

Julie O'Toole

Tallaringa

Julie was appointed to the Alinytjara Wiluṟara Landscape Board in February 2020.

Originally nominated by the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara Aboriginal Corporation she had been a member of the AW NRM Board in 2018. She is also a current member of the Breakaways Conservation Park Co-management Board which includes management of Tallaringa Conservation Park. In this capacity she is an active member of the Tallaringa Healthy Country Planning Group.

Having an in-depth knowledge of Country around the Coober Pedy area and traditional knowledge of culture and fire regimes she is a valued deputy member of the Outback Bushfire Coordination Committee.

Tapaya Edwards

Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands

Tapaya was appointed to the Alinytjara Wiluṟara Landscape Board in September 2022.

An Aṉangu man who lives in Amata, Tapaya has experience in various roles connected to caring for Country and his people. He has worked as an interpreter with various groups, spanning anthropology, health, education and the arts.

Tapaya is a Traditional Owner and member of the APY Land Council and has sat on many other boards, including the Central Land Council and National Museum of Australia. With experience in conservation and biodiversity, land management, planning, administration and Aboriginal heritage, Tapaya is also well known as a performing artist.

Tapaya’s aim is to be a strong leader and an example to young people that they can have a voice in making things better.