Who we are

ABOUT IBN

Established in 2001, IBN Corporation is Trustee of the IBN Charitable Foundation. We deliver programs and services to improve the lives of our members, the Yinhawangka, Banyjima and Nyiyaparli people.

The traditional lands of the IBN people are in and around the Hamersley Ranges in northern Western Australia. 

We have offices in South Hedland, Tom Price and Karratha and offer our members the most services of any Aboriginal Trust in the Pilbara.

Our community reach extends beyond our members and families, with IBN’s Community Programs reaching thousands of people across the region. Our offices also provide assistance every day to many other Pilbara Aboriginal people who are not IBN members.

Our strong financial record is because our single Board is focused on delivering life-changing social programs and development of a Future Fund to provide for the IBN Community long after the end of mining. IBN is recognised as one of the strongest Aboriginal organisations in Western Australia, and it’s a status we work hard to maintain.

OUR PURPOSE

Supporting the Yinhawangka, Banyjima and Nyiyaparli people.

OUR GOAL

Building resilience and capacity for the present and strong foundations for the future.

ABOUT IBN

IBN is governed by an experienced Board of Directors, that oversee our strategic direction and a team of skilled Executive Managers that manage the daily operations.

Christina Stone

Co-Chair

Geoff Parnell

Co-Chair

Darren Injie

Deputy Chairperson

Nicholas Cook

Yinhawangka Representative

PHIL DHU

(Banyjima Representative)

May ByRne

(Milyuranpa Banyjima Representative)

Stephen Peterson

(Nyiyaparli Representative)

Brendan Renkin

(Independent Director)

LEONARD ASHBURTON

Community and Member
Services Manager

Chirantha Perera

Chief Financial Officer

Dale Brown

Chief Executive Officer

MEGAN HARRISON

Operations Support Manager

Kara Hawke

IMMS Manager
Scroll to Top

Christina Stone,

Chairperson – Nyiyaparli Representative

Christine is a Nyiyaparli woman who was born in Port Hedland. She attended Marble Bar Primary School and South Hedland High School before moving to Queensland with her Mother and sisters. She is 1 of 11 children, a Mother of 6 and a Grandmother of 14.

Christine has sat on numerous boards and committees over the past 20 years and has worked in public and Catholic secondary schools, and for both Government and non-Government organisations.

Christine has owned her own home day care business and had a catering business with my sister for several years. Christine has a Diploma in Business Governance and enjoys being involved in the community, addressing social issues.

Geoffrey Parnell

(Independent Director)

Geoff Parnell has over 30 years’ experience as a Director in the disability services, independent living villages, residential aged care, health, professional services, and facility management sectors. His other non-executive director board roles include disability services provider Mosaic Community Care, Ocean Gardens Retirement Village and the Australasian Gastrointestinal Trials Group. His Board subcommittee experience includes finance audit and risk management, succession planning, governance, succession planning and remuneration and culture, engagement, and wellbeing. Geoff is the co-founder and Managing Director of Aqumen Pty Ltd that focuses on facilities management consulting in the Strata Sector. In addition, He lectures in facility management and construction management the School of Design and the Built Environment at Curtin University and Open Universities Australia, is a Community Advisory Panel member of the Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group, a Patient Advocate with clinical trials group Ferronova and a member of the Department of Communities Adoptions Applications Committee. Geoff holds a Bachelor of Business Degree, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.

Darren Injie

Vice Chairperson (Yinhawangka Representative)

Darren comes from Yinhawangka peoples who traditional lands are in the Hamersley ranges in the central Pilbara.

Darren is well educated in both the Aboriginal world and the mainstream. He is a good communicator and is self motivated.

He has been involved with Aboriginal organisations for thirty years in various capacities including management positions as well as leadership roles.

He is passionate about promoting, protecting and preserving Aboriginal culture.

PHIL DHU

(Banyjima Representative)

Phillip was born in Marble Bar and has strong connections to the community and region.

Phillip has been a strong advocate for the inclusion and importance of the Elders Council and Representative Corporations.

Phillip is an experienced company Director with over 10 years of Board experience.

Phillip has high level experience in mining and civil construction, with years of experience in Frontline management, Safety and leadership roles.

Phillip was the Project Manager that managed the start-up and founding of IMMS.

Phillip has over 40 years of hand-on work experience that is complemented by several tertiary achievements in Leadership and Business, Civil Construction (Plant Operations), Metalliferous Mining (Open Cut), Surface Extraction Operations, Front Line Management, Training and Assessment Systems, Business Administration, Occupational Safety and Health for Supervisors.

Phillip also hold several strategy and governance achievements with the AICD and other reputable institutes, including being a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors since 2010, and staying up to date with industry and trends, having undertaken regular training, beginning from 2010 through to present day.

  • The Role of the Director and the Board AICD (2012)
  • Assessing Company Performance for Directors AICD (2013)
  • Introduction to Financial Statements for Directors AICD (2013)
    Indigenous Companies Directors Course AICD (2015)
  • Indigenous Governance: Introduction to Board Meetings and
    Governance
  • Indigenous Governance: The Role of the Director & the Board (2019)
  • The Foundations of Directorship (2019)

May Bryne

(Milyuranpa Banyjima Representative)

IBN Board Director since 2009

May is a very long term serving member of the IBN Board having previously held the office of Chairperson.

May brings an extensive view of cultural matters and a closely managed knowledge of the community and its needs.

Stephen Peterson

(Nyiyaparli Representative)

IBN Board director since 2021

Brendan Renkin

(Independent Director)

Brendan Renkin joined the IBN Board of Directors on 4th January 2022. Brendan lives on Yawuru-buru in Broome, and has 15 years experience as a lawyer working in native title, Aboriginal heritage and commercial practice. For the last 7 years he has worked as a consultant providing mediation, facilitation, strategic planning, evaluation and workplace investigation services across the Kimberley region.

Brendan has experience both advising and sitting on a range of boards and committees, and is currently a director of Nyamba Buru Yawuru Ltd – the commercial organisation for the Yawuru native title holders.

Brendan is passionate about clear and accessible communication and working with his fellow Board members to demystify the role of being a director. He is committed to learning from other directors and staff and working to develop processes for making decisions based on strong cultural foundations, for the long term benefit of future generations.

Chirantha Perera

Chief Financial Officer

As CFO, Chirantha oversees the accounting and finance, financial reporting, investment relations, internal audit and tax functions and youth development project at IBN.

Chirantha joined IBN in March 2020 and has worked closely with various stakeholders of IBN since his arrival. He is credited with combining broad experience, industry expertise, financial management and concise
reporting capabilities to deliver optimised financial and strategic success to companies of various sizes. He is a high performing and analytical leader

who has a passion for driving business growth through financial discipline, harnessing power of team effort and effective strategic planning. A broad range of industries he has worked such as banking, local and state government, private and not for profit industries has given him the upper hand in forward-thinking and developing processes and procedures designed to improve efficiency and productivity. He is an effective communicator across all levels and a trusted partner to executives and management teams focused on results.

Chirantha holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Deakin University Melbourne, majoring in Accounting, Finance and Financial Planning. He is also a qualified member of Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) Australia.

Dale Brown

Chief Executive Officer

Dale is a proud Western Australian having resided here his entire life. He is married to Mandy, has two married sons and two beautiful granddaughters and is very focused on family and community.

Dale’s professional career has seen him hold senior management positions in large and medium organisations for over 30 years. He brings a well- developed inclusive, strong values-based leadership style. He is described as a problem solver and team builder by his previous teams. Dale has considerable experience in organisational culture, process, and business improvement practices.

15 years ago, Dale moved from Commercial profit-making organisations to very service-based organisations within Disability, Aged Care, and Indigenous sectors. These experiences ignited a passion to make a difference for others. His true passion is about connecting commercial business with social outcomes, opening pathways of “choice and opportunity” for our young and others who may need a little assistance.

Dale has developed considerable business opportunities that increase the value of an organisation at the same time, using those businesses to generate work opportunity for its stakeholders.

Dale sought this role because he believes he can bring a very strategic approach to ensuring we maximise the future financial returns for the community by ensuring we invest wisely, create new opportunity for work or education, and develop more effective ways to meet the needs of our members.

Kara Hawke

IMMS Manager

Born in South Australia, Kara has been living in Port Hedland for the last 25 years.

Kara has 3 young children, all born in Port Hedland, with her partner of 16 years.

Kara has been with IMMS for over 10 years and has been working in the labour hire industry for the past 15 years, and prior to this, Kara managed a job network business for 5 years.

Kara is extremely passionate about companies providing local employment opportunities as it is critical to growing and sustaining regional communities.

Kara also has an extensive background in recruitment and training and development.