Our Team

A Noongar/Yamatji man with decades of expertise in indigenous research methodologies, Tuguy’s mother was among the Stolen Generation and his father was Turkish.

Tuguy has extensive experience as a senior advisor managing liaison and protocols with Indigenous communities on behalf of a range of clients, including in his current role, as Dean, Indigenous Engagement, Faculty of Business and Law, at Curtin University, as well as at the Universities of Queensland, Sydney, Melbourne, the University of WA and the University of SA. He has also supported Indigenous engagement in business and industry settings.

A/Prof Esgin has provided liaison support and advice on culturally safe practices, on-country, in more than 80 First Nations communities across regional, rural and remote areas of Qld, NT, SA, WA, NSW and Victoria. His work has taken him to some of the most isolated communities in Australia.

He has almost two decades of experience leading yarning circles adapted to the local preferences of different First Nations groups, including for evaluation of programs. He has also liaised with First Nations communities on the highly sensitive subject of ownership and use of data about their people.

A/Prof Tuguy Esgin,

Managing Director Boorarka Consultancy Service

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, Exercise Science, Edith Cowan University

MBA (Innovation and Leadership) University of Canberra

Master of Health Science (Indigenous Community Health) University of Sydney

Bachelor of Health Science (Aboriginal Health & Community Development) University of Sydney

  • Dr Glenda Kickett, Indigenous Expert Adviser

    Dr Kickett is a Whadjuk and Ballardong woman from the Bibbulman Noongar Nation. Glenda is the CEO of Karla Kuliny, the Perth based community organisation she founded. Glenda has also been the Manager, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Engagement /Therapeutic Services – Aboriginal Children and Families at Australian Childhood Foundation for nine years.

    She was previously Executive Manager at Djooraminda-Centrecare for thirteen years, managing the out-of-home care and family support programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, and families. Glenda was also the Senior Social Worker at Yorganop Aboriginal Child Care, and Senior Lecturer at the Centre of Indigenous Studies at Curtin University.

    Glenda has been the Chairperson of NAIDOC Perth Inc. for fifteen years, is Vice Chairperson of Wungening Aboriginal Corporation, Co-Chair Social Reinvestment WA, Chairperson of Glass Jars, Shooting Stars Australia, Member of the Noongar Family Safety and Wellbeing Council, Co-Chairperson of the Early Years Initiative (EYI) with the Mindaroo Foundation and the Department of Communities. She is the lead researcher for the Aboriginal Voices Project with UWA Social Impact and UWA School of Social Work.

    Glenda recently completed a Doctor of Philosophy through the School of Social Work at the University of Western Australia. She also has a Master of Arts in Indigenous Research and Development from Curtin University and Bachelor of Social Work from the University of WA.

  • Prof Troy Meston, Indigenous Expert Adviser

    Prof Troy Meston is an accomplished Aboriginal researcher and teacher leader from the Gamilaroi people of Southwestern Queensland. He is the First Nations Research Lead in the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Gulbali Institute, which emphasises return on investment to increase productivity for farmers, improve natural environments, and reduce risk in agricultural and environmental management. Troy is also the First Nations lead for the One Basin Cooperative Research Centre - an industry-led, collaborative partnership established to build a more productive, resilient and sustainable Murray–Darling Basin for current and future generations.

    Prof. Meston has amassed a diverse body of work, constructed curriculum, and industry outputs across the diverse areas of climate justice, Indigenous health and wellbeing, Indigenous community media, archaeology and Aboriginal cultural heritage, Indigenous politics and history. He has produced research for Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. He was recently appointed an associate investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child – a collaboration among researchers from QUT, Uni of Queensland, Uni of Wollongong, and Deakin, Edith Cowan and Curtin Universities.

  • Dr Chontel Gibson, Indigenous Expert Adviser

    Dr Gibson is a Kamilaroi Gamilaraay yinaar (woman), living on Wiradjuri Country and working from Whadjak Noongar Country. Her family are from the Mungindi, Collarenebri and Walgett areas of western NSW.

    Chontel is a Postdoctoral researcher at The University of Western Australia's Centre for Indigenous Studies. She uses Aboriginal Action Participatory Research, working with community, health education providers, service providers and policy makers.

    Her research focuses on working with communities, especially older Aboriginal people, to develop culturally responsive practices in service provision, teaching and policy. Chontel is involved with an innovative Aboriginal-led project at UWA, Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing. Her role is to support the embedding of Indigenous knowledges in courses and the practical application of Indigenous

    Chontel was a co-founder and the inaugural deputy chair for Indigenous Allied Health Australia. She was a co-founder and co-chair of the National Aborginal and Torres Strait Islander Occupational Therapy Network.

    Dr Gibson has a PhD from Charles Sturt University and a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Research and Leadership from the University of Melbourne. She holds a Masters in Public Health and a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science (Occupational Therapy).

  • Cathy Sommerville, Project Director

    Tapping into the experience gained through a multi-layered and diverse career spanning more than three decades, Cathy has the ability to rapidly acquire a depth of knowledge of new and complex subject matter and manage the necessary response - whether that is communications and issues management, research and evaluation, stakeholder consultation, project direction or an approach requiring a mix of all of these deep skill sets.

    Cathy has specialist expertise of more than 14 years in issues management, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and social, behaviour change and communication strategies for major public health services. She also has experience in international humanitarian aid, community development and advocacy for women and children.

    Cathy’s evaluation work has helped inform the Australian Government on policy and funding decisions, underpinning briefings to Ministerial advisory councils and advisory committees.

    Projects led by Cathy Sommerville have involved extensive research and evaluation within communities across rural and remote areas of Australia, covering health, community services for Federal Government clients and social license to operate issues for corporates in the resources, infrastructure and housing sectors.

    Cathy has a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) from Charles Sturt University.

  • Prof Bep Uink, Indigenous Expert Adviser

    Prof Uink, a Noongar woman from Perth WA, was appointed Director of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, based at Edith Cowan University, in Sept 2024, becoming the first Aboriginal Director in the specialist health network's 27-year history. It provides evidence-informed, and practical information to health professionals and community organisations working to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

    Prior to taking up her role at HealthInfoNet, Bep was Dean of Indigenous Knowledges, Murdoch University,

    Bep’s research focuses on understanding how socially determined disadvantage impacts the social and emotional wellbeing of young people, and how social systems can support young peoples’ wellbeing.

    She led a program of Aboriginal youth mental health research informed by community needs and strengths, which secured over $6.5 million in funding, including from the NHMRC for the Walkern Katatjdin (Rainbow Knowledge) study. This important research informed the 10-Year National Action Plan for LGBTIQA+ Health and Wellbeing, and its findings have been instrumental in advocating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ inclusion in national health strategies.

    Bep holds a Master of Applied Psychology (Clinical) and a PhD.

  • Veronica Yogiswara, Project Office Support

    Efficient project office support is provided by Veronica Yogiswara. As the partner of A/Prof Esgin, Veronica has acquired substantial experience liaising with Aboriginal communities while accompanying Tuguy on multiple trips around Australia during the past decade. She has worked alongside Tuguy during on-country visits to dozens of Indigenous communities across five states. She has also been involved in supporting many yarning circles led by Tuguy.

    Veronica has a unique ability to engage with people from varied communities and backgrounds.