The Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee provides advice to the Marine Park Authority Board through the Reef Authority on the management of the Great Barrier Reef.

Appointments to the Indigenous Reef Advisory Committees is competency-based, and members are appointed taking into consideration their experience, knowledge, skills, relationships and networks with Reef Traditional Owners or relevant groups or sectors.  

All Committee members are expected to adopt a broad perspective on Committee business that is raised.

Purpose

• The Committee's purpose is to provide objective advice, insights and recommendations on:
• matters relating to Marine Park management and the implementation of actions by the Authority to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples keep their heritage strong, safe and healthy, and contribute towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aspirations for sea country and heritage management into the future.
• ways to facilitate partnerships, enhance engagement with a range of sectors (for example, tourism, natural resource organisations, fisheries) and build capacity and engage with Traditional Owners in the management of marine resources in the Great Barrier Reef.
• ways to strengthen communications between local communities, managers and reef stakeholders and build a better understanding of Traditional Owner issues regarding the management of the Great Barrier Reef.
• the application of the world's best practice principles for sea country planning and implementation and
• the delivery and expansion of the Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement (TUMRA) program across the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
• The Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee is not a decision-making body. Advice and recommendations provided to the Board are non-binding.

Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee Charter of Operation

Members

• Mr Troy Johnson - (Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee Chairperson) - Wulgurukaba Countryman - Townsville region and Gugubadhun Countryman. Marine Parks Ranger, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Great Barrier Reef Region, North Tropical Coast based on Yunbenun Country (Magnetic Island).

• Dr Kerry Blackman - Gurang and Gooreng Gooreng Traditional Owner. Managing Director Gidarjil Development Corporation – Gladstone and Bundaberg region.

• Mr Brent McLellan Gurang and Gooreng Gooreng Traditional Owner. Managing Director Gidarjil Development Corporation – Gladstone and Bundaberg region.

• Mr Keron Murray Wuthathi Traditional Owner – Cape Grenville region. Chairperson, Wuthathi Aboriginal Corporation and Member Raine Island Recovery Project Working Group.

• Mr Frank Loban - Western Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owner – Badu, Moa, Besi and Boigu region. PhD Student College of Science and Engineering James Cook University and Member Raine Island Recovery Project Scientific Advisory Group.

• Ms Christabel Warren - Wuthathi Traditional Owner. Bama Connect Consultant – Owner Operator.

• Ms Karrell Ross - Olkola Traditional Owner – Central Cape York Peninsula. Queensland Government Cape York Peninsula Tenure Resolution Program.

• Ms Leah Saltner - Bindal Traditional Owner - Townsville region and Birriah Traditional Owner - Collinsville region, and South Sea Islander. Indigenous Stakeholder Relationship Management Relationships and project delivery. Supports Indigenous Community Organisations, Government & not-for-profit organisations to co-design and engage with First Nations community.

• Mr Gavin Singleton - Yirrganydji Traditional Owner. Traditional Use of Marine Resources and Land and Sea Ranger program management – Cairns/Cooktown Management Area.

• Ms Sonya Takau - A proud Jirrbal Rainforest Aboriginal woman from the Tully region of Tropical North Queensland. Girringun Aboriginal Corporation and previous owner/operator of Indigenous Tourism business.

• Dr Sonny Van Issum - Woppaburra Traditional Custodian, Deputy Chairperson Woppaburra TUMRA and Principal Research Fellow - Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research (GCSCR).