The Andrews Labor Government today announced the appointment of Neil Westbury and Sue Dahn as new directors of the Victorian Traditional Owners Funds Limited.
Mr Westbury has more than 45 years’ experience working in Indigenous affairs and public sector management with an extensive background in native title issues and Aboriginal economic development.
Since 2006, he has been Director of Westbury & Associates – a specialist Indigenous affairs consultancy service – and from 2011–15 he was also a director of the Indigenous Land Corporation.
Mr Westbury received Australia Day Achievement Awards in 1996, 1997 and 1998 for his work in improving the lives of Indigenous Australians, and a Public Service Medal in 2002 for outstanding public service in providing policy advice and service delivery to the Indigenous community.
Ms Dahn is a partner and executive director at Pitcher Partners, an association of accounting, audit and advisory firms, and is also a director and investment committee chair of Motor Trades Association of Australia, an industry super fund for the motor trades.
Ms Dahn has also been a non-executive director of the Victorian Shrine of Remembrance, and in December 2017 was appointed as a community panel member of the Judicial Commission of Victoria.
The Victorian Traditional Owners Funds Limited was established in 2011 as the trustee of funds paid into the Victorian Traditional Owners Trust through agreements reached under Victoria’s Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010.
The announcement follows the appointment of Glen Brennan in September last year to the Victorian Traditional Owners Funds Limited.
Mr Brennan is from the Gomeroi traditional owner group, which extends broadly from the Queensland-NSW border region to Tamworth, Aberdeen/Muswellbrook, Coonabarabran and Walgett.
Mr Brennan was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2006 and is the Chairman of the national Aboriginal Employment Strategy – an Indigenous not-for-profit recruitment company. He was also a member of the Indigenous Business Australia Board from 2014–15.
Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Martin Pakula
“I congratulate Neil Westbury and Sue Dahn on their appointments as new directors of the Victorian Traditional Owners Funds Limited.”
“Mr Westbury’s experience in Indigenous affairs and public sector management will be of great benefit to the company, as will Ms Dahn’s work in auditing, accountancy and finance.”
“These appointments build on the contribution made by Glen Brennan, who brings financial credentials and a strong understanding of social justice issues in the Indigenous community.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020