Our Team

Our team have strong relationships with community members, Elders, Traditional knowledge holders and cultural consultants throughout NSW and across much of eastern and central Australia. For each project we build the most appropriate team, look to engage our extensive networks, are always guided by cultural protocols and respecting relationships that already exists across Country and community.

DAvid Newham

Chief Executive Officer

Qualifications: PhD Candidate, Doctor of Philosophy (Cultural Studies), UoN. Master of Philosophy, UNE; Graduate Certificate in Professional Practice (Aboriginal Lore and Culture), UNE; Bachelor of Social Science, UoN; Diploma of Aboriginal Studies, UoN; Diploma of Business Management, TAFE NSW.

David is a proud Aboriginal man Traditionally connected to the Wiradjuri and Ngemba/Wongaibon groups of central and north-west NSW through the Glass family. Born in Waratah (NSW), he has lived all his life in Newcastle. A respected and sought after Aboriginal cultural educator, David brings over 25 years’ experience in Aboriginal community engagement, the public and not-for-profit sectors, and a specialty in Aboriginal culture, education and training. He holds extensive networks across Newcastle, the Hunter Region and NSW.

David brings a poignant Indigenous lens to all his work, informed by Traditional Aboriginal philosophy and culturally responsive practice. David’s research expertise is in cultural and social contexts, Traditional Aboriginal philosophy, and cultural practice under Traditional Aboriginal Lore. His connections to many Aboriginal communities balanced with embedded, country-based knowledge systems, are invaluable to projects and the research paradigm.

David’s Master of Philosophy thesis developed a Traditional Aboriginal pedagogy based on Ancient Aboriginal epistemology and philosophy. This work, combined with key theoretical research, is being used to create a series of action-based research projects. Central to these projects is Indigenous-based and approved research methodologies co-designed in collaboration with other prominent ‘Indigenous’ academics and Elders. David has extended this work as a PhD candidate, taking a deeper exploration into the relationship between Traditional Aboriginal philosophy and Indigenising curriculum approaches across Australia in higher education.

Heather Kember

Chief Operating Officer

Qualifications: PhD Psychology, USYD; Bachelor of Arts (Hons.), USYD; Graduate Certificate in Project Management, UON

Heather is an accomplished researcher, strategist, and engagement specialist with over 15 years of experience spanning the worlds of academia, policy development, strategic planning and infrastructure delivery.

With a PhD in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Sydney, Heather has a keen interest in what motivates people—how they think, behave, and engage with the world around them. As a Director at Mawambul, she blends research and real-world applications to ensure that complex challenges are met with strategic and innovative solutions that contribute to a more resilient and responsible future.

Heather’s career has spanned roles in both Australia and the USA, where she has led research, engagement, and planning projects. This makes her adept at tailoring her approach to meet the unique needs of each client and community. Deeply committed to fostering a culturally responsive workplace, Heather actively supports teams in building cultural capability while working to reduce the cultural load for Indigenous colleagues and stakeholders. Through her work, she strives to create inclusive spaces that empower individuals and communities to thrive.

Originally from Hong Kong, Heather completed high school in Tasmania and now calls Newcastle home. This nomadic upbringing has shaped Heather to be resilient and resourceful with a love of connecting with people from all walks of life. An avid musician and linguist, Heather enjoys road trips with her rescue pup, Brodie.

BEAU DE BELLE

Director

Qualifications: PhD Architecture, RMIT; Masters of Architecture, UON; Bachelor of Design (Architecture), UON

Beau de Belle is a proud Gamilaraay/Gomeroi man born in Tamworth on Kamilaroi Country, and a designer, researcher and educator whose practice is grounded in Country, community and Indigenous ways of knowing. As a co-director of Mawambul, Beau contributes to design, advisory and cultural research work that supports Indigenous-led, place-responsive and ethically grounded outcomes across the built environment.

Beau’s doctoral research, Message Stick Protocols, examines the role architects can play in fostering community-led architecture, with a strong emphasis on meaningful engagement and adherence to cultural protocols. This research foregrounds culturally informed approaches to sustainable development that are respectful of Aboriginal community needs and values.

Beau’s practice engages across architecture, landscape and urban contexts, focusing on embedding Indigenous sovereignty, cultural authority and custodianship within design processes and decision-making. This work supports projects to move beyond consultation toward enduring, Indigenous-led approaches accountable to Country.

Alongside professional practice, Beau is a Senior Lecturer in Indigenising the Curriculum at the University of Sydney, where teaching and research focus on Indigenous knowledge systems, pedagogy and design governance. This academic work informs Beau’s practice through critical engagement with education, institutional change and Indigenous leadership in design.

Beau also holds sector leadership and advisory roles, including membership on the Australian Institute of Architects First Nations Advisory Panel and the NSW State Design Review Panel, providing advice on design quality, cultural integrity and Indigenous outcomes across policy, projects and governance frameworks.

Across all work, Beau is committed to advancing Indigenous self-determination in the built environment and supporting practices accountable to Indigenous communities and Country.

Professor ‘Uncle’ Paul Gordon

Non-executive director

Qualifications & Academic Appointments

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – University of New England (2023)

Master of Philosophy (MPhil) – University of New England (2023)

Professor of Indigenous Knowledges – The University of Melbourne (Appointed 2024)

Prof. Gordon is a Ngemba man, born at Brewarrina in northwestern New South Wales, Australia, where he grew up in a tin humpy on the Barwon River. Since 1983 he has spent most of his time with the Old Men doing and learning about Country and Lore. He has dedicated his life to teaching and connecting with other Lore men and women across this land and working with communities throughout Australia to support cultural learning, caring for Country, and connecting stories through Lore and culture.

As a respected Lore man and cultural custodian, Prof. Gordon has led countless cultural camps and workshops spanning four decades plus supporting Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to reconnect with Traditional practices, philosophies, and their own stories. He has developed unique leadership models that integrate Traditional Aboriginal cultural values and philosophy into personal and business practices.

Prof Gordon is a Co-author of 'The Dreaming Path: Indigenous thinking to change your life' (2022); and 'Leading From The Dreaming: Indigenous Thinking For Authentic Leadership' (2026) with Dr. Paul Callaghan.

Prof. Gordon is applying his unique ancient knowledge to a number of current research projects whilst continuing to share his deep wisdom across Australia and internationally.

Professor Deen Sanders OAM

non-executive Director

First and foremost, Deen is a Worimi Giparr (cultural man) from the mid North Coast of New South Wales, freshwater and saltwater people. His cultural knowledge and Indigenous worldview underpin his work at the intersection of Indigenous knowledge systems and sectors.

His academic background includes undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in Law, Psychology and Business. His PhD is in the field of Complexity Theory, Trust and Regulation and has co-authored another, along with research papers covering fields such as Lore and Law, environmental future, Space, Indigenous voice, and economic complexity.

He was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2017 for his academic and regulatory work and is an Adjunct Professor at Newcastle University (Law School) while advising a number of other Universities.

In addition to Mawambul's Board, he holds a number of other Board and advisory roles; all focused on public good and all not-for-profit, including:

Director for: World Economic Forum – Values and Systems Change Leadership Group, Global Future Council on Natural Capital, Australian Sustainable Finance Institute, Centre for Policy Development, Indigenous Systems Knowledge Collective and The Living Country.

Advisory Board for: Landcom, Geoscience Australia, Ziranjiti Environmental Consultancy, Australian Space Agency, FNICIP Intellectual Property Law Reform (Department of Arts), Cranlana Ethics Institute (Monash University), Burunh Program (Melbourne University).

He is a Graduate member of the AICD (GAICD) and a member of the Business Council of Australia’s (BCA) Indigenous Leadership Group and a Certified Dispute Resolution Specialist.

Deen is committed to advancing reconciliation and tackling complex societal challenges. He advocates for the integration of Indigenous ways of knowing and being with Western science and contemporary leadership models.