Jamie Lowe | Chief Executive Officer
Jamie Lowe is a proud Gundjitmara Djabwurrung man and CEO of the National Native Title Council (NNTC). He first joined the NNTC as Chair in 2017 and two year later was appointed CEO. In this role he is charged with supporting First Nation’s people’s right to true self-determination speaking for and managing their own Country; governing their own communities; participating fully in decision making; and strengthening their own social and economic development.
In 2021 Jamie was appointed as the Indigenous Specialist Representative for the Australian Heritage Council – the principal adviser to the Australian Government on heritage matters.
In 2018 he joined the Victorian Heritage Council as an Indigenous Specialist Representative and is a joint council member of the Coalition of the Peaks. Jamie was instrumental in negotiating the Closing The Gap Agreement with the all Australia Governments, that came into effect July 2020.
Prior to joining NNTC Jamie was CEO of the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation in South Western Victoria, awarded Native Title in 2011and 2023 over the Great Ocean Road. He was also an inaugural member of the historic First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, the representative elected body tasked with negotiating a Treaty with the Victoria Government.
Internationally, Jamie is the NNTC representative on the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) – a high-level advisory body to the New York based UN Economic and Social Council.
As a key influencer, Jamie firmly believes that creating economic independence and maintaining and growing cultural identity are vital in creating a self-determining nation of First Nations peoples and will continue to tirelessly advocate for a national Treaty whilst remaining a strong advocate for Traditional Owners and communities across Australia.
Dr Belinda Burbidge | Chief Operating Officer
Belinda joined the NNTC in 2020 as the Director of Policy. Previously, Belinda was a Research Fellow and Acting Director in the Native Title Research Unit of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS). Belinda holds a PhD from The University of Sydney and a Master and Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University. Belinda has over 15 years’ experience in the academic and applied research sectors, including native title work in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia. Additionally, Belinda has worked as a lecturer in anthropology at The University of Sydney and a research consultant for Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) in central Australia. Belinda’s policy and research interests include supporting First Nations self-determination and nation (re)building through native title post-determination governance, economic development in the transitional and renewables economies, agreement-making and rights to land and waters.
Rachel Perkins | Executive Director of Cultural Heritage
Rachel Perkins, an Arrernte and Kalkanoon woman from Alice Springs, is widely known and celebrated for being at the forefront of the Australian filmmaking industry. Her body of work as a screenwriter, producer, director, board member and festival director embodies her passion and skill in bringing Indigenous stories to the screen worldwide.
Daughter of activist Charlie Perkins and his wife Eileen, Rachel’s Aboriginal Heritage has informed her entire career, from filming making where as an awarded Director she is lauded for her extensive contribution to the development of Indigenous filmmakers in Australia and more broadly to the Australian film and television industry, to her position today as Director of Culture Heritage for the National Native Title Council and First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance.
In 2023 Rachel is co-chair of the Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition Ltd (AICR), a key fundraising and organising vehicle in the campaign for constitutional recognition through a Voice to Parliament.
Clinton Benjamin | Director of Native Title
Clinton belongs to the Yawuru, Bardi and Kija people from the Kimberley region of Western Australia and is based in Rubibi (Broome).
Having completed a Juris Doctor from Melbourne Law School, he is passionate about ensuring Indigenous demands for self-determination are met through practical and meaningful ways for the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.
Much of Clinton’s legal scholarly work explores how the Australian legal system has responded to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander assertions of sovereignty. Prior to joining the NNTC as a Senior Advisor in December 2021, Clinton was a consultant who worked closely with Indigenous communities throughout Australia and helped deliver projects with clients and stakeholders across all levels of Government, corporate and the not-for-profit sectors.
Anirudha Nagar | Director of Clean Energy and Investment
Anirudha joined the NNTC in 2021 as a Senior Legal Policy Adviser and brings international legal experience from diverse jurisdictions. Previously, he was the Communities Director at Accountability Counsel, where he supported Indigenous communities across South Asia negotiate better social and environmental outcomes with the proponents and investors of development projects.
Anirudha has also worked at the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative in New Delhi, advocating for victims of police brutality, and at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, advising the Chief Prosecutor on international law and procedure. He holds degrees in Law and Commerce from the University of Melbourne.
Carolyn Betts | Senior Executive Officer
Carolyn is the Senior Executive Officer and has been with the NNTC since 2007, just after the organisation was formally incorporated. Carolyn provides executive support to the Board of Directors and assists in the development of submissions to the government’s legislative and policy reform agenda. Carolyn has a Post-Graduate degree in international relations and is based in an office hosted by the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council in Cannington, Western Australia.
Debby Lovett | Training Manager
Debby is a proud Gunditjmara and Boandik woman from South West Victoria, currently living on Wada wurrung Country. Before joining the NNTC in April 2023, Debby worked in the AFL for 7 years in Community Engagement and training. Debby has worked for State, Local and Commonwealth government throughout her career, including a number of stints in local Aboriginal Community organisations.
Jasmine Yarran | Senior Governance Officer
Jasmine is a proud Ballardong Whadjuk woman from the Noongar mob in Western Australia. Based in Perth on Whadjuk Boodja, her role at the National Native Title Council is Senior Governance Officer. Jasmine has previous experience in Governance roles within the State of Victoria, where she worked closely with PBC organisations, Native Title Groups and providing support to elected Assembly members at the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.
Currently working as part of the First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance (The Alliance) within the NNTC, Jasmine has strong working relationships with Alliance Members and Stakeholders. Jasmine has a particular interest in governance, leadership, self-determination in First Nations Communities and strengthening and empowering our communities for the future.
In April 2024, Jasmine was part of the delegation that attended the twenty-third session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on the lands of the Lenape people (New York) at the UN Headquarters to advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights at an international level.
Sarah Easson | Head of Media Relations
Sarah commenced work at the National Native Title Council (NNTC )as a Media Consultant in July 202, before being offered a full-time role in September 2022 as Head of Media Relations across NNTC and First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance. Her current role includes orchestrating all aspects of media management, website development, online content management, corporate event management and educational resource development.
Prior to this, within the Indigenous space Sarah contracted to the likes of Ebony Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Institute, Grace Lillian Lee and Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, in a PR, event management, social media and marketing capacity. Bringing a wealth of experience as a communications specialist, throughout her career Sarah has also worked for the world’s most recognisable brands in fashion, art, performance art, fine jewellery, beauty and prestige magazines.
Tom Widdup | Engagement Strategy Advisor
Tom Widdup was born and raised on beautiful Bundjalung country in NSW. Tom joined the NNTC as Executive Officer – Cultural Heritage; Secretariat, First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance in August 2021. In his prior role, for over a decade Tom worked as a campaigner with Oxfam in Australia and the Netherlands focusing on Indigenous rights, tackling poverty, tax justice, gender rights and climate justice.
Tom was a founding member of the Close the Gap campaign in 2007 and played an active role in campaigning for Indigenous health equality. Tom was part of the delegation to UNESCO that successfully lobbied for the creation of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage area.
Emily Robinson | Executive Officer/Graphic Designer
Emily is a proud Gunai-Gunditjmara woman who works as Executive Officer and Graphic Designer at the National Native Title Council. Prior to joining the NNTC, Emily worked closely in engagement roles with Victorian Traditional Owner Groups and Prescribed Body Corporates on their journey to self-determination.
Emily is passionate in advocating for Mob and ensuring all Traditional Owner Groups have equal opportunity to true self determination, enabling them the right to make decisions and protect their own County. Emily also has a strong interest in Indigenous youth leadership, creating pathways and opportunities for our young people, empowering them to become our future leaders.
Rashin Eftekhari | Executive Assistant to the CEO
Rashin Eftekhari hails from Tehran, Iran where she studied management at Tehran Economic Sciences Faculty. Upon graduating Rashin spent 5 years working as an EA for the multinational German Engineering and Technology company Bosch.
Moving to Perth in 2023, Rashin immediately saw parallels to life in Tehran and that of Aboriginal people since colonialism. This has motivated her to learn as much as possible about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture to become a strong advocate for First Nations Peoples rights in Australia.
Aurora Milroy | Director of Policy
Aurora Milroy is a Palyku woman from Western Australia, living and working on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja. Aurora joined the NNTC as Director of Policy in 2024 and has a passion for Indigenous governance and systems transformation. Aurora was previously a Lecturer at the University of Western Australia Law School, where she was also co-lead of the Indigenisation of the Juris Doctor Curriculum project. Prior to that Aurora was Senior Policy Advisor at the Coalition of Peaks, working to implement the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Aurora has a Masters of Public Policy from the University of Oxford and has served as a Board Director for her PBC, Palyku-Jartayi Aboriginal Corporation, as well as for Oxfam Australia.
Ailan Tran | Senior Policy Officer
Ailan is a trusted advisor to C-Suite and Boards formulating strategic solutions to environmental, social and governance problems. Her credentials come from decades of experience across local, state, federal government and global frameworks that form investment decision criteria for institutional and private equity investors.
Ailan’s career successfully demonstrates collaboration with stakeholders to embed practical sustainability and social license to operate solutions into strategic approvals and agreement negotiations. She has held senior leadership positions and delivers business outcomes in complex and challenging environments in mining, native title and hospitality industries.
Her expertise includes Aboriginal and Indigenous engagement in project development and operations; compliance reporting to meet legal approvals and agreement obligations; corporate financial management achieving clean audits to preparing plans and content for strategic communications.
Scott Mackay | Senior Policy Officer
Dr Scott Mackay is a non-Indigenous man born in Aotearoa New Zealand and living in Melbourne on Wurundjeri Country. Scott’s 15-year professional career to date has centered on supporting and advocating for the rights of First Nations peoples in Australia and the broader Pacific. He is a strategy and policy advisor, researcher, writer, and educator who has extensive experience working across sectors – including academia, professional services, and not-for-profit.
Scott’s work at National Native Title Council (NNTC) focuses on policy and education reform in relation to the Native Title Sector. Scott holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne, where he also held various academic positions within its Australian Indigenous Studies program.
Chelsie Collard | Policy Officer
Chelsie Collard is a young Ballardong and Whadjuk Noongar woman based on Cammeraygal Country (Sydney). Prior to embarking on her career in the native title sector, Chelsie completed a Bachelor of Social Science with a Major in Indigenous Studies at Macquarie University. Currently, Chelsie is working closely with Traditional Owners across Australia to advocate for the protection and advancement of their rights on Country.
Chelsie holds a particular interest in how native title holders may leverage their rights for social and economic development opportunities. Supported by equitable partnerships and sustainable funding to build capacity and infrastructure within their communities, Chelsie believes that centring Traditional Owners in decision-making processes on their Country will significantly contribute to addressing structural barriers.
Furthermore, Chelsie has experience advocating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights at an international level through her participation in the 2024 UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, as well as First Nations economic conferences across Turtle Island (Canada).
Xena Jammas | Policy Officer
A proud Palawa woman, Xena Jammas has joined the NNTC as a Policy Officer, based in Tasmania. With a deep passion for the Indigenous policy space, she is excited to bring a strong voice to the platform and new ideas and ways of thinking to inform future practice.
In April 2022, Xena graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts and admitted to practice in September of that year.
In 2023, she secured a role with a private firm as a family law solicitor, where she spent time working with the likes of Legal Aid, the Child Protection Litigation Office (Victoria) and Oxfam building her legal policy experience. During this time, Xena also dedicated her time to tutoring Indigenous students through the Indigenous Academic Enhancement Program at Monash University, also assisting Professors on Indigenous research papers.