Our Team
We are an experienced, Aboriginal-led team dedicated to place-based change.
​
We value and advocate for our community and bring our collective years of experience and wisdom to the table to hold space for the community to meet their aspirations.
Jessie Sleep
Chief Executive
Jessie is a Kokatha Woman living in Ceduna, South Australia. Her guiding professional objective is to contribute to the advancement of her community and to be an effective and inspirational leader.
​
She has extensive experience in business and community development, particularly focusing on hybrid service and business integration models. Recent work in this area has included developing a regionally focused and relevant Governance Model that informs a tripartite governance approach integrating traditional, cultural and collaborative governance approaches.
​
Jessie has a passion for business improvement through the development and nurturing of a strong organisational culture, with a focus on agile and restorative management approaches.
​
With her leadership and management skills and experience, Jessie is known for being highly organised in her management approach. She values a family centered approach to business and relationships ensuring that any investment into community outcomes is anchored by her core goal of improving the world for her children and future generations.
Patrick Sharpe
Executive Officer
Patrick has more than 20 years' experience in community development and engagement roles, working both for government and community-based organisations.
He has a passion for genuine solution-oriented community engagement and aspires to use his knowledge and skills to provide for a better future for the younger generations of our community.
Patrick is also working towards his PhD in Public Health at Flinders University.
Emma Burnett
Operations Manager
Emma is a Kamilaroi woman from NSW. She was raised in Roxby Downs before moving to Adelaide to attend boarding school, followed by her Bachelor of Social Work at UniSA. Emma recently relocated to Ceduna with her husband, a born and bred local man, and their daughter. She now considers Ceduna to be home.
Emma comes to FWCP with 12 years experience in Child Protection. Emma worked tirelessly to try and prevent children from entering the system and for better outcomes however, she found there was little room for flexibility and creativity to create positive change.
Emma is a friendly and passionate team member, who doesn’t believe that pineapples belong on pizza and hates donuts!
‘Being a backbone organisation allows for so much more flexibility, freedom, and ability to help support community. I want to be a part of something that is truly community led and genuinely meets the needs of the Far West Community, so we can all be happy, healthy and wealthy.’ - Emma
Stephanie Dudley
Community Engagement Worker
Stephanie is a proud Wirangu/Kokatha/Mirning/Adnyamathanha woman who has grown up most of her life in Ceduna and Port Lincoln, before settling at Koonibba with her partner and daughter.
Stephanie’s skillset is in Administration and is excited to take on her new Community Engagement role and build her skills in all areas of work at FWCP, while also building on her strengths and learning to thrive in a workplace environment.
Stephanie is passionate about spending time with her family, being on country and travelling, she also loves supporting the community through sporting events.
‘I like how FWCP is community orientated and is striving to make the Far West Coast better. I am excited to be able to work in community to get feedback and voice what the community needs.’ - Stephanie
Mica Obst
Administration Coordinator
Mica is an admin guru with a strong background in administration, finance and team management.
Maintaining a seamless and organised workflow is Mica’s strength - she keeps the wheels turning so that we can meet our organisational goals.
Mica has lived and worked in the Far West Region for the past 12 years with her young family. Together, they enjoy getting out in the community to explore our beautiful country and coastline.
​
'It is such a rewarding experience to be able to be a part of the future shaping of the region. I would love to be an all-rounder support to the FWCP crew. I am definitely more of a behind the scenes type of person but you’ll always hear me cheering the loudest because validating and providing support for personal and professional growth is such a huge focus for me.' - Mica
Montana Scott
Trainee
Montana is a proud Wirangu Woman and has lived and grown up in Ceduna her whole life. Before starting at FWCP, Montana spent three years as a boarder and graduated year 12 at Loreto College. She then spent some time travelling around Australia before coming back home to Ceduna.
​
Montana is excited to build her skills in all areas of work at FWCP, from community engagement, data, strategic development, and communications, while also building on her strengths and learning to thrive in a workplace environment.
​
‘I am happy to be a part of the FWCP family and look forward to making the Ceduna community happy, healthy, and wealthy.’ - Montana.
Our Board
Our Board members are made of up the CEO's/General Manager of the five Aboriginal Communities in the Far West Region: Ceduna, Koonibba, Scotdesco, Yalata and Oak Valley (Maralinga).
Wayne Miller
CEO, Ceduna Aboriginal Corporation
Wayne is passionate about youth leadership and ensuring his community is empowered to make decisions through choice not chance.
He is a member of the South Australian Aboriginal Advisory Council and advises the South Australian Government on factors contributing to Aboriginal reoffending to stop the revolving door on our prisons.
Corey McLennan
CEO, Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation
Corey has dedicated his life to service of his community.
He started his career at the Far West Aboriginal Progress Association, later becoming an Aboriginal Education Manager at Ceduna Public School. He is a former player and manager and longstanding supporter of the Koonibba Football Club.
Robert Larking
CEO, Scotdesco Aboriginal Community
Bobby has been living and working with aboriginal communities in the Far West Region for almost 30 years.
He has specialist qualifications in financial management, community services management, governance, training and assessment. He is also chair of several local community organisations and on the Far West Aboriginal Communities Leaders Group
David White
CEO, Yalata Aboriginal Community
...
Kim Gregory
General Manager, Oak Valley (Maralinga) Aboriginal Corporation
...