At the first meeting of the newly elected directors of the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council (SWALSC) today, Mrs Vanessa Kickett was elected as the Chairperson of SWALSC.
The Board resolved to appoint Mrs Kickett to the role of Chairperson for a twelve-month period.
Mrs Kickett is a proud Whadjuk Noongar woman with over fifteen years professional experience in policy, contract management, Aboriginal heritage and culture, native title and Aboriginal engagement throughout Noongar Boodja.
“I am deeply honoured to have been given the trust of my fellow Board members to be appointed as the Chairperson of SWLASC during this very important and exciting time for our Noongar People,” Mrs Kickett said.
“On the 26 of November 2020, the High Court of Australia will hear oral submissions for the applications for special leave to appeal. We are hoping the High Court rejects the applications so that we can begin the important work of implementing the South West Native Title Agreement.”
“Five years ago, the Noongar people voted to accept the negotiated agreement between the Noongar People and the State of Western Australia. While we have waited for the court processes and appeals to work their way through the legal system, we have lost many of our Elders who worked so hard to see this agreement to come to pass.”
In addition to Mrs Kickett, Barry Winmar and Noelene McCormick were also appointed as directors at this week’s AGM. Expert director David Ashton continues in his role and is joined by a second expert director, Vanida Lennon. There are three vacancies on the Board and by-elections will be held shortly to elect these positions.
“The new directors of SWALSC will work tirelessly to ensure that the vision our Elders fought so hard for will be delivered for the benefit of all our Noongar People. While it is sad that many of those Elders have passed before they were able to see the agreement implemented, we will do everything we can to honour their vision and their memory,” Mrs Kickett said.
“The new directors of SWALSC will focus on developing the capacity of SWALSC and earning the trust and support of the Noongar community as we prepare for SWALSC to transition into the Central Services Corporation and work to establish the six new Noongar Regional Corporations once the Agreement begins implementation.”