Our People

William Blackley

Board Chair

William Blackley is originally from Palm Island, North Queensland, William has lived and worked in Mount Isa for the past 21 years.

Over his career William has held a number of positions in the mining industry, including working as Indigenous Employment Coordinator for Glencore Queensland Metals. 

William’s work in Indigenous employment with Glencore resulted in the company receiving the Queensland Resource Council’s award for the Best Indigenous Training Program 2016 and an individual award for William as joint recipient of the Indigenous Advocacy Award in 2017.

Since 2022 William has worked for North West Queensland Indigenous Catholic Social Services where he is responsible for cultural compliance and community engagement. He also holds the position of Arthur Petersen Diversionary Centre Manager.

William has strong cultural and community connections to the Mount Isa region and is actively involved with reconnecting the Aboriginal community to their cultural identity

Valerie Craigie

Board Deputy Chair

Valerie Craigie is a local Kalkadoon women actively involved in the community.  Valerie’s work experience includes 4 years with Yapatjarra Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health Services and with Injilinji Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Children and Youth Services (Yapatjarra’s sponsoring body) in the capacities of CEO, Office Manager & Finance Manager. She has also held positions with ATSIIC as an Aboriginal Women’s Officer; Department of Families as a Child Care Officer; Mount Isa College of TAFE and Tjilpatha Aboriginal Corporation. Valerie is the current Chairperson of the National Indigenous Radio Service (NIRS) and is still active on a number Boards and Committees for several Indigenous organisations. She was also part of the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Women's Task Force on Violence from 1998 to 2000.

James Cripps

Chair, Finance Audit and Risk Management Committee

James is a Palawa man with family connections from Cape Barren Island, Flinders Island and mainland Tasmania. He relocated to Mount Isa in 2012 and is currently employed with Converge International as the Principal Consultant. James works across various environments including discreet, remote, rural, and metropolitan First Nations communities; and currently represents the North West Queensland region as a Director of Queensland Aboriginal Islander Health Council. With over 20 years’ experience in the health sector, James is dedicated to helping the social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations people.

Pattie Lees AM

Director

Pattie Lees AM is CEO and long-term Board member of Injilinji Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Children and Youth Services which provides after school care and youth support, and also aged care support. Pattie was previously the CEO of West Queensland ATSI Legal Services for 20 years. A resident of Mount Isa since 1976, married for 54 years, mother of four children, grandmother to fourteen and great-grandmother to four, Pattie is deeply embedded in the local community. She has vast experience in advocating for, and on behalf of, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at local, state, national and international levels, including as a delegate at several United Nations development forums.

Patricia Richards

Director

Patricia is a Waluwarra woman from the Georgina River. She is deeply involved with the local Mt Isa community and works within the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnership. Patricia’s community involvement is one of her greatest assets. She volunteers with various sporting organisations, working across remote communities within the north west region to build strong relationships and partnerships with government, non-government and the private sector within these communities. Patricia was appointed to the Board in 2019 to fill a casual vacancy.

Prof Gracelyn Smallwood AM

Director

Professor Gracelyn Smallwood AM grew up in Townsville whose passion for health rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples has led to numerous awards and honours throughout her life. These include, the Deadly Award for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement in Indigenous Health (2007), the United Nations Association of Australia Queensland Community Award – in recognition of service to public health (2013) and in 2014, the NAIDOC Person of the Year. 

After becoming the first Indigenous Australian to be awarded both a Master of Science in public health (1993) and a PhD in Medicine, Health, and Molecular sciences (2011), she has continued her great work pushing for health representation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Her previous role as Special Advisor on Indigenous Matters at James Cook University, consultation to the World Health Organisation and previous board membership at Townsville Hospital and Health Board have given Dr Smallwood a wealth of knowledge and experience that she brings to the Gidgee Healing Board.

Leeona West

Director

Leeona West is a proud Kalkadoon woman on her mother's side and a proud Djaku-nde woman on her father’s side. She graduated from a Mount Isa community-based nursing program supported by both Injilinji and Deakin University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Nursing. Throughout her career, Leeona has worked in rural and remote hospitals, aged care facilities and Aboriginal Community Controlled health organisations. Leeona has worked across Cape York and the North-West Qld including the Gulf of Carpentaria where she was the Director of Nursing of Gununa Hospital (Mornington Island). Currently, Leeona is currently working with the First Nations Nursing and Midwifery Consultancy (FNNMC). Balancing her cultural responsibilities with her clinical skills, systems approach, and good governance practice, Leeona has proven her ability as a community leader in the health system.

Jacob Takurit

Director

Jacob Takurit is a proud Torres Strait Islander from the Magaram tribe of Murray Island, and an accomplished radio presenter at MOB FM, where he has worked for more than 16 years.

In his spare time, he works hard in the administration of a diverse range of organisations addressing social justice issues and advocating for better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. While being a director on the board of Gidgee Healing, he is also a director of Injilinji Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Children and Youth Services and North West Indigenous Catholic Social Services.

Jacob is actively and enthusiastically involved in the Mount Isa community and is a significant part of many community events where he brings his personal charisma, emcee skills, singing skills, and his music abilities to many local events.

Margaret Senden

Director

Margaret Senden AKA "Tommy" was born and raised in Cloncurry. She is a valued member of the Gidgee Healing board, as an active member within the community and a passion for improving the health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

While Margaret is an elected Director on the Gidgee Healing Board, she is also a member of the Mitakoodi Aboriginal Corporation, the Cloncurry State School Indigenous Elder's Group, the Cloncurry Community Advisory Committee and is a volunteer for PCYC.

Margaret formally worked as a registered nurse in Health Services for 45 years, a highlight of which was helping to establish the Aboriginal Health Programme in Cloncurry during the 70’s. Additionally, she previously worked for the Flinders Medical Centre, her main role and responsibilities focusing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and well-being, and chronic disease management.

Since retiring, her interest, commitment and passion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’s health and wellbeing has not diminished. Hearing and seeing the impact the ongoing socioeconomic factors have contributed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander welfare and cultural issues has only ignited a stronger flame within her to continue her work.

In 2024, Margaret and her husband received the Sarius Crane award for outstanding contributions to the sustainable future of the Gulf region, in recognition for the voluntary work they do in noxious weed eradication and cleaning up rubbish in and out of town.