Yilabara is excited to announce the appointment of three New Board Directors.

Yilabara CEO, Matthew Clarke, has expressed his excitement about the recent appointment of three new board members, saying, “We are honoured by the recent appointment of three incredible and passionate Aboriginal leaders to Yilabara’s board – Anthony Ashby, Claire Beattie and Michael Newman. Their experience and appetite for change is infectious, and I look forward to working with them and the rest of our board as we challenge ourselves to further improve economic opportunities for our Aboriginal Communities.  

We would like to welcome three new experienced board members to Yilabara; Michael Newman, Claire Beattie and Anthony Ashby. Their experience and knowledge will be an incredible asset to Yilabara.

Claire Beattie

Claire is a proud First Nations woman and is the Executive for Business Engagement at NAB. Claire believes in being the change and making a difference in everything she does and is deeply committed to serving NAB customers ensuring that their economic aspirations are supported and achieved. Claire’s career includes experience as a prominent senior NSW Public Servant with over 21 years of experience in government across agencies such as Transport, Department of Communities and Justice, Treasury and Education. In her career she was part of the leadership team in School Infrastructure that delivery $27.9 billion across NSW Claire also led the governance and performance of Financial Investment Review Board and the Global NSW Strategy in NSW Treasury. Claire was the first female in Traffic Operations in NSW at a Manager level and managed the St Helena Tunnel project in 2015 that delivered the first managed, operated and maintained tunnel in NSW History ($858m). Claire has been the recipient of high-profile commendations including winning and being a finalist in the NSW Premier’s Awards, winner of Resilience NSW and National Resilience Award 2024, winner of NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce Infrastructure Person of the year in 2023, a Finalist in the Australian of the Year and Young Australian of the Year Awards and Finalist in the Women’s Agenda Awards.  

Claire has held non- Executive Director roles on many non-for-profit boards such as Reachout Australia, Women and Girl’s Emergency Centre in Redfern, Macquarie Universities’ Fire to Flourish, a board member of National Indigenous Disaster Resilience Board and is Chair of the Cultural Diversity Committee for Women on Boards.

Anthony Ashby

Anthony is a Gamilaraay-Yuwaalaraay man from north western New South Wales.  He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (UNSW) and a Certificate of Public Practice from Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.  Anthony is a Registered Company Auditor and Chartered Accountant.  He has operated his own public accounting practice since 2004.  Anthony has worked for over 30 years in the accounting and finance industry both domestically and internationally, starting his career as a graduate with Ernst & Young, he worked on secondment in New York/New Jersey and was responsible for the finance function of the Darrell Lea Chocolate Shop group.  Anthony is experienced in governance, has held various board and committee roles as Chair, Director and Independent Member.

Michael Newman

Michael is a Galari Gibir (Lachlan River man) of the Wiradjuri Nation, the people of the Three Rivers. Born in Orange, he has familial and cultural links to the Central West, Capital Country, and Riverina-Murray areas of New South Wales.

Michael is a dedicated and dynamic leader with over 19 years of experience in enhancing the health and wellbeing with and for Aboriginal people and communities across many human services.

Michael is currently the Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Lowitja Institute based in Naarm (Melbourne) and previous to this, Michael was Chief Operations Officer with Orange Aboriginal Medical Service (OAMS) where he played a pivotal role in expanding funding, growing workforce, and designing services for the community.

Throughout his career, Michael has demonstrated a strong track record in overseeing and supporting the implementation of organisational development plans, ensuring staff and systems are safe, effective, efficient and quality-driven. His leadership in the community-controlled sector builds on a distinguished career in the NSW Public Service, where he contributed to Education, Communities and Justice, NSW Police Force, Aboriginal Affairs, and TAFE NSW. Michael has extensive governance experience having served for a number serving on a number of boards and committees, including previously the Orange Aboriginal Community Working Party, Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council, Three Rivers Regional Assembly, and TAFE NSW Western Aboriginal Advisory Committee.

Michael currently serves on the Ministerial Aboriginal Partnership Group (NSW Department of Communities and Justice), National Health and Medical Research Council Indigenous Advisory Group, Aboriginal-led Commissioning Project Steering Committee and Western Health Alliance Limited.