The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council's elected arm consists of 9 Councillors. They are democratically elected by Local Aboriginal Land Council members and represent the 9 Land Council regions of NSW. Each Councillor serves a four year term.

CENTRAL COAST REGION

Bev Manton
Chairperson

Bev Manton, a member of the Worimi nation, is a strong and respected advocate for community development, particularly in relation to employment, housing, health and education.

Involved with NSWALC since its inception, Bev is a founding member of the Karuah Local Aboriginal Land Council and worked as the LALC Co-ordinator for four years before being elected to NSWALC.

Chairperson Manton represents her people on a number of Boards including the Worimi Conservation Lands, Aboriginal Community Environment Network and the Northern Alliance.

NORTHERN REGION

Tom Briggs
Deputy Chair

Tom is a member of the Gumbainggir nation and has lived and worked in the Armidale District most of his life.  He is a member of the Dorrigo Plateau Local Aboriginal Land Council.  He previously worked with the Department of Education, Employment and Training for twenty years, gaining extensive experience in human resources and training issues.

He is a former councillor with the Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Commission and the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council and the Armidale City Council.  He is Chair of the NSW Aboriginal Justice Advisory Council and has a degree in administrative leadership.

SYDNEY / NEWCASTLE REGION

Roy Ah-See

Roy is a Wiradjuri man who was born and bred on Nanima Reserve, near Wellington. He is a member of the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council.

He has previously worked at the NSW Aboriginal Housing Office and various government departments as a policy officer.

He worked at NSWALC as a policy officer before being elected.

Roy has a Bachelor of Arts  Degree (Social Welfare).

WIRADJURI REGION

Craig Cromelin

Craig, an artist, is a descendant of the Ngiyampaa people of south west New South Wales.

A former cotton picker, carpenter, welder, he describes himself as a “jack of all trades.”  He is a member of the Murrin Bridge Aboriginal Land Council.

Craig has held several managerial positions, including Chairperson of the Murrin Bridge Aboriginal Advancement Corporation, the Murrin Bridge Local Aboriginal Land Council and the Wiradjuri Regional Land Council.

NORTH WEST REGION

Steve Gordon

Steve has been involved with Aboriginal affairs for about 35 years both in a voluntary and professional capacity.

A member of the Brewarrina Aboriginal Land Council, he was the first Aboriginal Ombudsman in New South Wales and in June 1997, was the first Aboriginal representative to address the NSW State Parliament.

In 2002 he was voted national NAIDOC Person of the Year. He was a former Commissioner with the now defunct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.

He lives in Brewarrina where he has served as a Shire Councillor.

SOUTH COAST REGION

Neville 'Jack' Hampton

Neville is a Yuin man. He has been active in Aboriginal Affairs for more than 40 years. Before his election to NSWALC he was engaged in Aboriginal employment consultancy work at Mission Australia.

He also recently worked with his wife of 46 years, Eileen, to mentor Aboriginal Students in Hostels after more than 30 years work with Jervis Bay National Park.

He has a Bachelor Degree in Adult Education and is a former deputy chair of Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council and former Treasurer of Nowra Local Aboriginal Land Council, of which he is still a member.

NORTH COAST REGION

Patricia Laurie

Patricia, a Yaegl woman and member of the Bundjalung nation, has been active in Aboriginal Affairs for more than two decades and has been involved with the NSWALC network since its formation 24 years ago. She is an accredited Community Planning and Trained Mediator.

She is Deputy Chairperson of the Northern Alliance representing four regions and 38 Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) and was Treasurer for nine years of the Far North Coast Regional Council.

She is a member of the Birrigan Gargle Local Aboriginal Land Council at Yamba.

WESTERN REGION

William Murray

William is a member of the Nari Nari nation and was born in Balranald.

He has spent most of his life in the Wilcannia area.  William has previously held positions on the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council and the Murdi Paaki Regional Council.

He has enjoyed a long involvement with various Aboriginal organisations.

He is an active member of the Wilcannia Local Aboriginal Land Council.

CENTRAL REGION

Stephen Ryan

Stephen is a Wiradjuri man who lives in Dubbo.  Stephen has worked in a range of areas such as family violence and land management.

He has held several managerial and elected positions. Councillor Ryan worked for the NSW Native Title Services for 5 years.

He is a former chairman and current member of the Dubbo Local Aboriginal Land Council. Stephen believes it is important that NSWALC focuses on securing land given its spiritual, social, cultural and economic importance to Aboriginal people.

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