Our Board

Living Languages Board

CHAIRPERSON - Lee Joachim

Lee Joachim is a Yorta Yorta man based in Shepparton, Victoria. Lee works in the area of self-determination through active research by the people, for the people. He has worked with lead research organisations nationally and internationally. He has extensive governance experience, and has held the positions of Chairperson and CEO for his people's body corporate and community Cooperative. Lee has represented the concerns of Indigenous Nations in relation to water, climate change and cultural heritage through federal appointment to various bodies at a Federal level. Lee is the father of nine children, including previous Living Languages trainer Ebony Joachim.

Coleen Sherratt

Coleen is a proud Noongar Wadjak woman from the southwest of Western Australia. She currently works for the WA Department of Education as a Senior Consultant for Aboriginal Languages. She is responsible for the coordination of Aboriginal Languages in Western Australian public schools in the Mid west, Metropolitan, Wheatbelt and South west areas. In this role Coleen also co-presents the Aboriginal Languages Teacher Training Course for speakers of their traditional languages who work in schools. Coleen worked in schools teaching Noongar language for many years and holds a Bachelor of Education from Curtin University and a Masters of Indigenous Languages Education (MILE) from the University of .

Myree Sam

Myree Sam is a proud Sui-Baydham woman from Saibai. In her role as a consultant in Catholic Education Services: First Nations Education, Myree has played a pivotal role in providing equitable education opportunities within the Cairns Diocese. Her responsibilities include fostering cultural responsiveness, supporting First Nations language programs, and collaborating with external stakeholders to achieve synodality, with a focus on community partnership and engagement. She is a member of the Bilingual Education Working Group for the National Catholic Education Commission. Myree holds a Bachelor of Education from Australian Catholic University, majoring in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education.

Jonathan Lilley

Jonathan Lilley is from Worimi Country. He is married to Melissa from Yankunytjatjara Country in South Australia and together they have four children. He is currently working for St Philips Christian College as Director of Aboriginal Education, working towards establishing Gilibaa (the Place of Light), a K-6 school for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. He has a passion for his people, country and culture.

Jakelin Troy

Jaky is Ngarigu from the Snowy Mountains in south eastern Australia. She is the Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research at Sydney University and is focussed on documenting, describing and reviving Indigenous languages. She also has two Australian Research Council Discovery Projects one with Prof John Maynard on the history of Aboriginal missions and reserves in eastern Australia and the history of Aboriginal people who were not institutionalised. The second is about the practise of 'corroboree' by Aboriginal people in the 'assimilation period' of the mid C20 in Australia. Jaky is also interested in the use of Indigenous research methodologies and community engaged research practises.

SECRETARY - Penelope Schmidt

Penelope is not a Board member, but as sanctioned by the RNLD constitution, is pleased to support the Board in the role of Secretary. She is also the Program Support Officer for Living Languages, and sees this as an extension of her role to enable the team to do what they do best.

Living Languages also welcomes Rob Torresan (treasurer) and Louise Manas to the Board.

Click here to download the 2023 AGM minutes. For previous AGM minutes, please contact us.