Our Board

MLAHMC Board of Directors sets the strategic direction for the organisation as well as overseeing corporate governance. The Board takes seriously its corporate governance role and has a strong commitment to financial accountability and overall transparency.

The Board currently comprises of five Directors, from various communities within New South Wales.

Board members both individually and collectively bring to MLAHMC many years of experience. This experience has helped and continues to shape the organisation.

Karen Hartley – Chairperson

Karen Hartley is a Wiradjuri woman from Parkes, is the current chairperson of MLAHMC and has served on the MLAHMC Board for over 10 years. Karen is the Chairperson of Parkes Multi Purpose Aboriginal Corporation, which focuses on Aboriginal housing.

Karen has been an Aboriginal volunteer for her community for 9 years. Karen has worked in Aboriginal health with kids, as an Aboriginal tutor, and with a play group. Karen is very actively involved in the Parkes community.

Karen has worked in disability services the past 2 years and has acquired certificates in this field of work relating to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). She has undertaken governance training, as well as courses in Aboriginal mental health for children and childcare. Karen is also a member of the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG).  

Karen supports training for tenants, and traineeships for Aboriginal people.

Karen believes in a holistic approach to housing that works with other services such as the NSW Department of Community and Family Services; and in home ownership for Aboriginal people. She is concerned by over-crowding and a shortage of Aboriginal housing. Karen’s strength lies in culture and community leadership and she supports the company’s vision for stronger and healthier families.

Betty Biggs – Deputy Chairperson

Betty Biggs is a Barkandji woman; her mother was Barkandji, and her father was Ngiyampaa. Betty is from Murrin Bridge (an Aboriginal reserve in NSW) and lives in Lake Cargelligo, NSW.

Betty has served as a Board member of MLAHMC for 8 years. She is the Deputy Chairperson of Murrin Bridge Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC), which has a membership of over 170 persons. In this role, Betty has undertaken governance training for Chairpersons provided by the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC). Betty has served on the Murrin Bridge LALC Board for over 20 years and assists with the governance and management of Barooga Karrai, a large property handed back to Murrin Bridge LALC. Plans for the land include farming and providing units for kids in trouble working with NSW Corrective Services.

Betty was previously employed as a Centrelink agent, and worked with the Indigenous Affairs Community Development Employment Programme (CDEP). Betty has skills in financial management and is proficient in MYOB.

Betty serves as a Board member of the local Aboriginal pre-school and is a member of the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG).

Keshia Keed - Director

Keshia Keed is a proud Wiradjuri woman from Peak Hill and has recently been appointed a Board of Director of MLAHMC.

Keshia brings expertise from the Public Sector, having worked out of the Peak Hill Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) as a Centrelink Agent providing additional support to the LALC over the past 10 years.

Keshia has experience on various Boards including the Weigelli Centre Aboriginal Corporation (Drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre), The Warramunga Community Advancement Co-operative Society (Focuses on Aboriginal Housing) and the Peak Hill Aboriginal Medical Centre. She is also an active member of the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS).

Keshia is passionate about community led initiatives and leadership and has been involved in assisting mining companies to give back to community by setting up school programs, scholarships, and employment opportunities.

Keshia is concerned about the housing shortage for Aboriginal families throughout NSW and has joined the MLAHMC Board as she saw the role as a unique opportunity to amplify the housing needs of our communities within the Aboriginal Community Housing Sector.

Keshia believes that ‘Affordable and culturally appropriate housing services is an essential foundation to thriving communities’ and supports MLAHMC’s visions for ‘Stronger and healthier families and communities through the provision of sustainable, quality housing and related services’

Valda Keed - Director

Valda Keed was born in Peak Hill, NSW and is descended from a long line of proud Wiradjuri people from this area. She is from a family of eleven children; and has children and grandchildren of her own. She is a founding member of MLAHMC and has been on the organisation’s Board since its establishment in 2004 as a representative of one of the 8 organisations that came together to form MLAHMC for it to collectively manage their housing stock. Valda is proud to see MLAHMC now managing more than 700 properties for 36 Aboriginal organisations in 41 communities across NSW; and of its ambition to continue to grow for the benefit of Aboriginal people.

Valda has a long history of involvement in Aboriginal affairs and governance as a founding Board member of Peak Hill LALC, Warramunga Community Advancement Co-operative Society Limited (which focuses on Aboriginal housing), Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW (AH&MRC), Peak Hill Aboriginal Medical Service and the Weigelli Drug and Alcohol Centre. Valda has formerly been involved with SNAICC (the national non-government peak body in Australia representing the interests of Aboriginal children), the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), and a local accounting firm.

Valda is the Chairperson of the AH&MRC Ethics Committee; and has undertaken extensive governance and accounting training and certificates in this role and various others. She has been trained by CPA in accounting and bookkeeping; and is the treasurer of the Weigelli Drug and Alcohol Centre.

Valda is a former community representative on the local water management Board, and the National Parks and Wildlife Peak Hill/Hogan River Aboriginal Reference Group.

Valda strongly believes in a holistic approach to Aboriginal health that takes everything into account including the importance of housing. She sees MLAHMC’s strengths in its culture and community leadership specifically the representative nature of the Board, and its strategic expertise. In reflecting on MLAHMC’s work since her and others set up the steering committee over ten years ago, she states that in relation to housing “we need it and want it – so we go out and get it done”. Valda’s keen for MLAHMC to expand into home ownership and increase the quality of housing under management

In Memory of Former Director - Allan Lamb ‘Yaama’

Allan was a proud Yuwaaliyaay elder from Goodooga and a director of MLAHMC for over 10 years.

During his career dedicated to building better futures and opportunities for Aboriginal families and communities particularly in the North-West Region, Allan held various titles and positions including;

• Chairperson of the Goodooga Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC)

• Chairperson of Regional Enterprise Development Institute (REDI.E), an organisation with programs in employment, CDP, youth programs, education programs, and community development.

• Chairperson of the Northwest Region LALC and Director of the Northwest Land Corporation

• Director of NTSCORP Limited, the native title service provider for NSW and the ACT

• Board Member of the Bourke Community Development Committee Limited

Being the dedicated community man with a strong passion for rugby league, Allan was also on the Board of the Goodooga Magpies Football Club, was a member of the NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Association (NARLA) and was a founding member and Director of the Barwon-Darling Rugby League Association. In addition to this he was also a fierce supporter of his beloved West Tigers.

Allan was a prominent figure and advocate in the Aboriginal Community Housing Sector, who held a wealth of expertise derived from life experiences, professional exposure, and his former employment as a resettlement officer for Family Resettlement Aboriginal Corporation (FRAC).

MLAHMC’s vision for ‘Stronger and healthier families and communities through the provision of sustainable, quality housing and related services’ is a vision that resonated strongly with Allan, as he reflected on his own experiences and what this meant for the betterment his family and community.

‘I was brought up in a tin humpy – I believe that by living in proper housing, it improves the lives of our people in the way of health especially. Growing up without proper housing, my health suffered, we had no electricity, so my education also suffered.’

In reflection of the work Allan has been involved in during his time on the MLAHMC Board, we recognise the vital role he has played in shaping and securing the future of the organisation, forever holding it accountable to the families and communities we service throughout NSW.

Allan will be remembered as a strong advocate for the rights of Aboriginal people and as a patriarch of his community. As an organisation, we hope to continue to for fill Allan’s vision for our organisation and to honour his legacy.

In Memory of Former Director - Cherie Keed

Cherie was a proud Wiradjuri woman from Peak Hill and a Director of MLAHMC for over 15 years and was a founding Board Member.

Cherie was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Peak Hill Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) for over 20 years; and had been involved with the LALC network for 27 years. She was a qualified teacher who worked with the establishment of youth programs and education scholarships. Cherie had also been employed with the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Family and Community Services in governance and management roles, as well as community outreach. Prior to that, Cherie commenced her career in Aboriginal housing.

Cherie was a woman of many passions and was a strong advocate for Aboriginal Women's rights, Aboriginal Housing and the Aboriginal Land Rights Act over her career. Cherie served on eight boards which included mining companies, medical centers, Aboriginal organisations, Local Land Services, housing companies, schools and universities. Through these roles Cherie assisted mining companies set up school programs and scholarships.

Cherie’s expertise and vast skill set was invaluable in establishing the direction of MLAHMC as an Aboriginal organisation, providing essential housing and related services to Aboriginal families in both rural and remote communities within NSW. Throughout her career she acquired a Bachelor of Education, a Diploma in Accounting, a Diploma in Sociology and Aboriginal Community Studies, a Certificate IV in Community Housing, a Certificate IV in Business Management and has undertaking a wide range of governance training.

In reflection of the work Cherie has been involved in throughout her time at MLAHMC, we acknowledge the role she has played in shaping the organisation to what it is today through her knowledge, dedication and vision for better housing services and economic and social outcomes for Aboriginal families and communities.

Cherie will be remembered as an influential and inspirational woman, who leaves behind a strong legacy at MLAHMC. As an organisation, we hope to continue to for fill Cherie’s vision for our organisation.

In Memory of Former Director - Robert King

Robert King, affectionately known as ‘King'y’ was a Nyampaa man from Lake Cargelligo NSW. He served as a Director of the MLAHMC Board for over 10 years; and was formerly the Chairperson for many of those.

Robert had extensive expertise in the public sector; having worked for Lachlan Shire Council for 40 years. Robert commenced his career droving sheep in Cootamundra.

Throughout his professional career, Robert had vast experience on various boards including as Chairperson of Cudjallagong Aboriginal Corporation - Lake Cargelligo (an Aboriginal housing organisation) and as the only Aboriginal person on the Lake Cargelligo hospital board (Murrumbidgee Local Health District). Robert is also a delegate of the Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations (NBAN) in relation to the allocation of water to traditional owners under the Murray Darling Basin Plan and is a former office bearer of the Lake Alive Progress Association program.

Robert was also involved in many other community representative roles with key government and private sector stakeholders, including the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Office of Environment and Heritage. Robert undertakes cultural heritage work for his community to ensure Aboriginal sites are protected. He has been a part of a project proposal for an indoor sports center at Lake Cargelligo to benefit young and old alike.

Robert supported MLAHMC’s strategic mid to long-term goals to build and/or purchase homes to assist with this shortage. He was a strong believer that MLAHMC’s success lied in having a strong independent foundation; and its community leadership.

Robert was a cherished and dedicated member of our Board and a beloved friend – His memory and legacy will always hold a special place in our story.