Our People

Michael Woodley is a Yindjibarndi man who was born in Roebourne, WA and raised at the Ngurrawaana homeland on his traditional country from the age of 10. In 2000 he and his partner Lorraine Coppin founded Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation, which is dedicated to cultural preservation and promotion.

Mr Woodley has led the Yindjibarndi community since 2007 as CEO of the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation, a native title body. He now heads a group of entities that is working towards achieving community, cultural and commercial benefits for the Yindjibarndi people. This includes the Yurra contracting business which now employs 400 people and generates $120 million in annual turnover, together with Yindjibarndi businesses and partnerships in the areas of renewable energy, housing, water management, media services and car rental.

Under his leadership, the Yindjibarndi people are engaged in a legal battle that could redefine the rights and entitlements of Indigenous people in Australia in relation to mining and other development. He and Lorraine recently returned to Ngurrawanna on Yindjibarndi Ngurra (country) where they live with community members, children and grandchildren.

Stanley Warrie hails from an esteemed Yindjibarndi family whose traditional country is located near Millstream station in Jindawarana ngurra. Mr Warrie was a founding director of the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) in 2005, and the Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation (YNAC) in 2017, and has played a leading role in guiding the strategy of these native title bodies in upholding rights to ngurra (country). The Solomon hub mine, which operates without the consent of the Yindjibarndi native title bodies, is located on the ngurra of Mr Warrie’s grandfather, Wimiya King. He is therefore the ngurrara (belonging to the country) where the mine is located, and he knows the ancient songs and stories, the Bundut, for that country.

Aaron Hubert is a Yindjibarndi man whose family hails from Nhuhnga Nhunga Millstream on the Yindjibarndi tablelands. Mr Hubert was born in Port Hedland and then taken away by a welfare officer at about the age of 7, along with his younger brother Henry, and raised at Gilliamia Hostel in Oslow.

Mr Hubert attended primary and secondary school in Onslow, and then returned to Port Hedland to complete year 11 and a trade. After leaving school he worked in Aboriginal Education for a decade with the Education Department WA, where he showed a passion for education and the importance of learning about Country and Culture. He also worked as a ranger at the Millstream-Chester National Park and elsewhere in marine and land roles. He has owned and operated his own trucking business for several years.

In recent years he has reconnected with the Yindjibarndi community and serves as chair of the YCCL trust and a board member of Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation, which is developing renewable energy on Yindjibarndi ngurra. He also works in a heritage and cultural management role with Yindjibarndi Nation. with YNL which involves assisting community members to participate in on-country surveys while working with proponents to ensure that a professional working relationship is upheld on the ground. As chairperson of the YCCL trust he is dedicated to ensuring that it represents, assists and supports financially Yindjibarndi beneficiaries and across the Nation.