Governance structure

Craig McVee (Chairperson)

Craig McVee, is a proud Kaneang man living traditional country in Kojonup. I’m the son of James and Rose McVee (née Riley), and grandson of Spencer and Doris Riley (née Smith), with deep roots through my great-grandparents William Riley and Granny Ettie, Ted Smith and Sarah Punch (Queen Anne’s daughter).

As a director of WKSNAC, I have been involved in making strategic and often difficult decisions that have driven the organsation’s growth and success. Our careful approach has supported multiple WKSN organisations by providing essential support letters, helping them secure funding and create significant employment opportunities.

Since November 2023, WKSNAC has grown to have over 30 employees, 18 of whom are WKSN people. We also expanded our reach by opening our office in Albany in April 2024.

I will continue to promote transparent communication, strong governance, and inclusive leadership to build a strong future for all.

Deborah Woods

Deborah represent the interests of all people and support the protection, recognition, and advancement of our members. As a proud Goreng and Menang Person I bring strong cultural knowledge, integrity and a strong commitment to community lead discussion making.

•A strong commitment to ethical commitmentto leadership

•Excellent communication and consultationskills

•Strong ability to understand governancedocuments and contribute to strategicdecisions

A strong dedication to preserving Country, language and cultural for future generations

Laurence is from a diverse and mixed ethnic background, with connections to most regions throughout the state; though strongly identifies with his Noongar roots, being born raised and bred in Narrogin, as well as his connection to Nanda in Yamatji country.

He holds a Diploma of Government, Diploma of Business, Diploma of Management and Diploma of Nursing currently registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency as an Enrolled Nurse. Over the past twenty-four years has worked predominantly in Government, as well as non-Government sectors, in the areas of Education, Health, Social and Emotional Well Being, Mental Health, Justice, Housing, Employment Services and Corrective Services.

Throughout his professional career he has held a Ministerial appointment from both the Western Australian Attorney General and Minister of Education. He is also the first ever Aboriginal Assistant Parliamentary Commissioner appointed to an executive position at Ombudsman WA in its fifty-year existence. In previous years he held positions on numerous Aboriginal community-controlled Organisation, locally, state based, and nationally.

Laurence is passionate about social justice, equity, and better access to services through activity-based outcomes. He is a strong advocate for Aboriginal people and endeavours to make changes within the community and the larger systems to ensure and provide wider inclusion, growth, as well as continuous quality improvements to services and programs for all Aboriginal people.

Alex Ogg is the Founder and Managing Director of Blue-X Ventures with a focus on circularity in seafood waste, where he lives and works on Menang Noongar Boodja.

With an extensive professional background in fisheries and aquaculture leadership, Alex was an innovator of open ocean farming systems, quality improvement and vertical integration in the South Sea Pearl industry in the Kimberley region. Alex served as Vice Chair of the Pearl Producers Association for a decade, was a ministerial appointee to the Pearling Industry Advisory Committee and was active in developing leadership pathways.

Navigating both commercial and not for profit sectors Alex led an industry advocacy role as CEO of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, where he consulted on the Kimberley and South Coast Marine Parks and forged strong relationships across commercial, recreational and indigenous interests, including cross-sectoral cultural awareness training for those teams.

Alex holds an MBA from Melbourne University, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a Fellow of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation. He is a Non-executive Director of Australia’s Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and played a key role in developing Australia’s national peak body, Seafood Industry Australia.

Alex is currently also Deputy Chair of Regional Development Australia Great Southern, Director of Albany’s Historic Whaling Station, Ministerial Advisor for DPIRD and Treasurer of Blue Alliance WA. He is honored and pleased to be appointed as an Expert Director to Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation.