Indigenous Working Group Members
Chair: Tolita Davis Angeles
Tolita Davis Angeles is a proud Cobble Cobble–Barunggam woman, First Nations educator, cultural practitioner, and advisor. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Gandan Yarnings, a First Nations-led enterprise delivering culturally grounded services that support truth-telling, respectful engagement, and culturally responsive practice across education, government, and industry.
Tolita brings extensive experience across education, child protection, community development, and the forestry and environmental sectors. She has worked as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Officer and School Child Protection Officer, providing culturally appropriate support to children and families and working collaboratively with communities, carers, and service providers to promote safety, wellbeing, and belonging.
An experienced program developer and facilitator, Tolita delivers cultural learning, professional development, and curriculum support that embeds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, and knowledges. She has held senior First Nations advisory and leadership roles, including Chair of the First Nations Committee for the Forest Stewardship Council ANZ, and has contributed to national and international Indigenous governance forums.
Tolita holds a Bachelor of Education (Primary) with Distinction. Her work is guided by cultural integrity, free, prior and informed consent, and a strong commitment to Indigenous leadership and sustainable futures.
Te Ngaehe Wanikau
Te Ngaehe Wanikau is a highly respected Indigenous leader, negotiator, and policy strategist with more than four decades of experience advancing Indigenous rights, environmental stewardship, and self-determination. A descendant of Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro – Ngāti Tūwharetoa, he has played a pivotal role in tribal governance, treaty negotiations, and global Indigenous advocacy, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to Indigenous self-determination, sustainable governance and cross-cultural collaboration.
As Chief Advisor to Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Ngaehe has guided high-level negotiations, dispute resolution, and co-governance initiatives involving hapū, iwi, government, and corporate partners. He has been central to achieving historic milestones, including successful tribal settlements and cultural redress. His leadership was instrumental in securing significant settlements and co-governance agreements, including the return of Tongariro National Park under UNESCO-recognised cultural values.
On the international stage, he represents Oceania on the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) Permanent Indigenous Peoples’ Committee (PIPC), contributes to policy development, and advances Indigenous-led frameworks through the SIRGE Coalition. Known for his inclusive leadership and relationship-building, Te Ngaehe uplifts Indigenous voices in decision-making worldwide. As a Chief Advisor, iwi negotiator and indigenous governance specialist, Te Ngaehe brings a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by Indigenous communities in Oceania.
He holds a Master’ in Business Management, a Postgraduate Diploma in Māori and Management, and a Bachelor of Māori Studies.
Jacqueline Te Mataara Iorangi
Jacqueline is Mama to four grown tamariki (children) and seven mokopuna (grandchildren), and is Māori from the people of Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro, Aotearoa (New Zealand). With a commitment rooted in whānau (family) and iwi (tribe), she is driven to leave a legacy that will empower future generations. Since 2006, Jacqueline has worked passionately across hapū (sub-tribe) and iwi to empower indigenous aspirations, strengthen her communities and ensure a sustainable and culturally aligned future. Her skills are in Māori and mainstream governance and leadership, cultural and strategic vision, project leadership and administrative and operational excellence.
Shawn Wondunna-Foley
Shawn Wondunna-Foley is a Senior Butchulla man and Chairperson of Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (BNTAC), the Prescribed Body Corporate representing the Butchulla People (K’gari and the Fraser Coast region). Grounded in Butchulla lore — What is good for the land must come first; Do not take or touch anything that does not belong to you; If you have plenty, you must share — Shawn provides cultural, economic and governance leadership focused on Caring for Country, sustainable development and intergenerational prosperity and living abundance for current and future generations. He advocates for strong Indigenous/First Nations economic participation that is led by cultural authority and Traditional Owner governance, ensuring development on Butchulla Country (land, sea and sky) occurs using ‘right way relationships’, partnerships and respect.
Thomas Holden
Thomas Holden is a respected Warrgamay Traditional Owner and community leader based in Townsville, Queensland. He is CEO and Co-Founder of Nirrwara Global, a First Nations-owned company advancing Indigenous-led sustainability and cultural governance initiatives across Northern Australia.
Thomas also serves as Chairperson of both the Warrgamay Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC and Girringun Aboriginal Corporation, representing nine tribal groups in North Queensland. His work bridges Traditional Owner knowledge with modern environmental and ESG frameworks, focusing on cultural heritage protection, Indigenous economic empowerment, and sustainable land and sea management.
Adrian Bauwens
Adrian Bauwens has been working on Country since 2019 and brings a strong connection to land management grounded in both lived experience and professional practice. His career spans a diverse range of roles within the environmental and land management sector, including Cultural Heritage Officer, Park Ranger, Fauna Spotter Catcher, and Bush Regenerator.
In recent years, Adrian has expanded his professional focus by engaging with scientific research and laboratory-based work. Through attending conferences and professional forums, he has developed a deeper understanding of plant pathogens and contemporary biosecurity challenges, strengthening his ability to connect on-ground land management knowledge with scientific approaches.
Adrian is currently transitioning from a park ranger role into a specialist position within biosecurity and related fields. His skill set includes interpreting landscapes, identifying indicators of ecosystem decline or “sick Country,” and contributing to knowledge exchange through public speaking and active participation in conferences.
Jacob Cassidy
Senior Nywaigi/Manbarra Man, Environmental Steward, and Cultural Educator, Jacob is a Nywaigi Traditional Owner and the Managing Director of Mungalla Station, an 880-hectare property near Ingham, Queensland. Under his leadership, Mungalla has transformed from a degraded cattle station into a thriving hub for ecological restoration, cultural education, and Indigenous empowerment.
Born and raised in the Herbert River district, Cassady is the eldest of nine children. His deep connection to the land is both ancestral and personal—he is a descendant of Tambo, a Manbarra man who was taken to the United States in the 1880s to perform in Barnum and Bailey’s circus. Tambo's remains were repatriated and buried on Palm Island in 1994, a story that Cassady shares through exhibitions at Mungalla Station.