Our Mob

Shannon is a Gumbaynggirr woman from the Mid-North Coast of NSW with family and bloodline connections to Bundjalung, Tiwi Islands and Dunghutti countries. Shannon has been working in the child protection and out-of-home care sector for 20 years and has developed a unique blend of practice, cultural and cross-cultural knowledge, and leadership experience for which she is highly regarded.

Shannon has a strong contemporary working knowledge of the child protection and care system as an Aboriginal practitioner and senior leader and is currently the State Director of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Practice and Partnerships at Life Without Barriers.

Shannon’s Board experience includes being the director and deputy chair of Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council from March 2016 to January 2023. While in the director and deputy chairperson role, Shannon has participated in legislative, policy, and procedure reform across several industries. She has worked for many years to build robust relationships, enabling her to give frank advice and contribute to written submissions about how legislation, policy and procedures infringe upon Aboriginal Cultural Responsibility and Rights to Community and Country (Land, Waters and Airspace), and the protection of critically endangered migratory species of both fauna & flora.

Shannon Mackie

Winangay Chair

Debbie Hind

Winangay Vice-Chair

To be updated

Jason Dowie

Winangay Treasurer

To be updated.

Jason is a Dunghutti man with over 15 years of experience in the child protection and out-of-home care (OOHC) sector. Currently, he serves as the Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Support for a large OOHC agency, where he leads initiatives to enhance cultural safety and promote the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.

Jason is deeply committed to social justice, cultural responsibility, and honouring the obligations that come with his cultural identity. With a passion for sharing knowledge and fostering greater understanding, Jason works tirelessly to create spaces where culture is respected, celebrated, and embedded in practice.

As a board member, Jason brings invaluable insights into child protection, cultural support, and advocacy, ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are heard and prioritised to ensure the best outcomes for his people.

Michele Laurie

Winangay Member

Michele identifies lives as a strong and grounded Yaegl/Gumbaynggirr nyami (“Woman” in Gumbaynggirr)-accepted and living on Bundjalung jugun (Country).

She has many years of formal learning and experience within the human and community services and child protection. Her practice and relationships are centered around her cultural ways of knowing, being and doing. Michele has completed a Graduate Certificate in Human and Community Services (Interpersonal Trauma) and is currently undertaking her Masters in Business Administration.

Michele champions social justice and works hard to increase equality & equity for First Peoples. Systems change, institutional racism and discrimination are areas that are important areas for agitation and change.

Michele brings a rich, deep cultural practice of respect, reciprocal relationships, Dadirri, protocol, community obligations and responsibilities. Michele believes it is a privilege to work with communities and be a part of their journeys of change and empowerment.

"Our Children and Young Peoples Lives Matter".