Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Committee

The amended Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (Act) came into effect on 15 November 2023. Section 18(3A) requires the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs to publish notice of decisions made under section 18 of the Act. 

Section 18B(4) requires the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs to publish notice of decisions made under section 18B(3) of the Act. 

Ms Irene Stainton AO (Co-Chairperson) 
Term of appointment – November 2024 – June 2027
Irene is a highly respected Nyoongar Elder with over 30 years of experience in the public sector, having previously served as Registrar of Aboriginal Sites and Chairperson of the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee, in addition to other advisory positions at State and national levels. Irene is a past member of the National Museum of Australia’s Indigenous Reference Group, a former Trustee of the Western Australia Museum and the former Chairperson of the Western Australia Museum’s Aboriginal Advisory Committee. Irene is a past finalist in the Telstra Business Woman of the Year Awards, was awarded the Zonta 2018 Woman of Achievement Award was inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame in 2019, was a finalist in the 2019 Western Australian of the Year Awards and is a Fellow of the Western Australia Museum. Irene has extensive knowledge and experience in heritage and culture and is Chairperson of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee of the National Trust of Western Australia.

Hon Ken Wyatt AM JP
Term of appointment – November 2023 – June 2025
Former Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken is a highly respected Nyoongar, Yamatji and Wongi man. He was the first Aboriginal Member of the House of Representatives in 2010 and during his 12 years in Parliament, served as Australia’s Assistant Minister for Health, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care and Minister for Indigenous Health. Before entering politics, Ken worked in the fields of health and education in Western Australia and New South Wales. He was awarded the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 1996 for his contribution to the wider community in training and mentoring young people and was awarded a Centenary of Federation Medal in 2000 for his efforts and contribution to improving the quality of life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and mainstream Australian society in education and health. Ken is a director for Beyond Blue, The Fathering Project and Swan Districts Football Club and a former Executive Director of the Aboriginal Lands Trust.

Mr Aaron Matthews
Term of appointment – November 2024 – June 2027
Aaron's extensive professional career began in academia at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies at Curtin University, where he focused on improving the Aboriginal tertiary education experience. He is now the Manager of Traditional Owner Relationships and Reconciliation at Horizon Power. With family connections to the Ngarinyin and Gurindji people, his work is centred on creating sustainable partnerships with Aboriginal communities, ensuring their voices and perspectives are integral to the clean energy transition.

Ms Deanne Fitzgerald
Term of appointment – November 2024 – June 2029
Deanne is descended from both Nyoongar and Yamatji peoples and has experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across all areas of Western Australia. Through her career in both the public and private sectors she has pursued her interest and built an extensive knowledge in the preservation of Aboriginal heritage.  Deanne holds a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Heritage Studies and has served on state and international boards.

Mr Denzyl Moncrieff
Term of appointment – November 2023 – June 2025
Denzyl is a Yamatji-Nyoongar man with a natural curiosity in nature that led him to become the first Indigenous male to complete a Bachelor of Science in Applied Geology at Curtin University. Denzyl is a Senior Advisor - Land Access and Heritage for an exploration and mining company and a member of the Advisory Committee for Curtin’s School of Earth and Planet Sciences.

Mr Graham Castledine
Term of appointment – November 2024 – September 2027 
Graham was admitted as a practitioner of the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 1987. Since then, he has practiced in a variety of areas including administrative law, local government and town planning, environmental law, native title, and Aboriginal heritage issues. Graham was recently ranked native title lawyer of the year (Perth) by Best Lawyers independent rating agency. Graham became an accredited mediator in 2005. He is a member of the Resolution Institute and the Alternative Dispute Resolution committee of the Law Society. Graham is also accredited under the National Mediator Accreditation System and is listed in Doyles Guide as a leading mediator in WA. In 2007, Graham was the inaugural winner of the Attorney General’s Community Service Law Award in recognition of his outstanding pro bono service to the Western Australian community.

Mr Jonathon Griffin
Term of appointment – November 2023 – June 2025
A proud descendant of the Wiilman and Goreng people from Noongar Boodjar, Jonathon is an experienced development manager, professional footballer and a strong advocate of creating opportunities for Aboriginal people across the construction industry.

Ms Karen Oborn
Term of appointment – November 2023 – June 2025
Karen is a Social Scientist with post graduate qualifications in Adult Education and Environmental Management, and experience working in local government, project management and the research sector. Karen is the Director of Infrastructure and Development Services at the Shire of Waroona, is a member of the Western Australian Local Government Association Reconciliation Network Group and holds a voluntary Board position as Treasurer and Member for the North Midlands Project.

Mr Phillip (Phil) Czerwinski
Term of appointment – November 2024 – June 2027
Phil is a consulting anthropologist and archaeologist who has spent 23 years working across Western Australia with many Aboriginal groups. He is currently the Director of a Perth-based heritage firm and holds membership with Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists, Australian Anthropological Society and Oceanic Arts Society. His experience extends from initial consultation, field surveying, reporting, approvals and research.

The Committee is scheduled to meet on the following dates in 2025

Contact

If you require further information about the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Committee, please email achcommittee@dplh.wa.gov.au.