Meet
Our Team
Most solutions to food insecurity start with systems and spreadsheets. We start with people.
At Indigenous Futures Foundation, our team works alongside communities to support food justice and wellbeing – through meals, education and training that actually fit real lives. When decision-making sits where the knowledge already is, change becomes both faster and more durable.
Our Advisors
Meet the people guiding our work in food justice and wellbeing.
Their experience and insight help us support communities and make a meaningful impact.
Colin Gordon
Advisory Board Member
A First Nations business leader and former CEO of Worthwhile Ventures, Colin has spent his career empowering Indigenous entrepreneurs. He brings decades of experience in enterprise, mentoring, and building sustainable, community-led economies.
Melita Hegarty
Advisory Board Member
A Juru, Gaangulu, Darumbal and Butchulla woman, Melita drives outcomes for mob through AECOM’s projects nationally. She’s passionate about embedding reconciliation, opportunity, and respect into every organisation she supports.
Jason Mollenhauer
Advisory Board Member
From Kangalou, Wangan & Jagalingou, Goreng Mob, Jason is a leader in food justice and community development, driving initiatives across Queensland with Foodbank and Meals for the Mob. His vision for food sovereignty ensures communities can feed themselves — and thrive on their own terms.
Aunty Bessy
Advisory Board Member
Aunty Bessy is a respected Kuku Yalanji Elder and cultural custodian dedicated to preserving the ancient food traditions of the rainforest. By sharing the knowledge of seasonal bush tucker and traditional preparation methods, she bridges generations through the power of food. Aunty Bessy ensures the flavors and stories of the Bama remain strong, fostering a future built on cultural pride, healing, and deep connection to Country.
Our Supporters
Standing with us on the journey.
We’re thankful for the organisations and partners who’ve stood with us along the way.
Their generosity, expertise, and belief in our mission help us keep doing what we do — together, for community.
Our Team
Meet the team working with communities to make our mission real — creating practical change and stronger futures for First Nations families.
Suley
Co-Founder
Born and raised in El Salvador, Suley learned early that real change doesn’t start in policy—it starts with people. Those experiences shaped a deep commitment to community empowerment and practical, lasting solutions.
As Co-Founder, she anchors operations, partnerships and cross-cultural collaboration, with a strong focus on social justice, women’s leadership and building bridges between communities with shared resilience. Her heart for service keeps the Foundation grounded—and moving forward.
Koo
Social Worker & Food Security Officer
Taniela, better known as Koo, is a social worker who treats community wellbeing and food justice as practical work, not theory. He works side by side with families and local partners to build culturally safe, community-led responses, with a sharp focus on helping young people thrive.
He brings compassion, structure and solutions you can actually use. And he’ll tell you food isn’t just fuel -it’s connection, culture and healing.
Levi
Co-Founder
Levi is a Kuku Yalanji man of the Bulgun Warra clan and the driving force behind the Indigenous Futures Foundation. His work began with a promise to his grandfather: help his people with Mayi (food) and restore the right to feed themselves on Country.
He believes food insecurity isn’t a lack of food, but a lack of systems that work. So he builds sustainable, community-led enterprises to create lasting change – towards a future where every Indigenous family thrives with dignity, purpose and opportunity.
Charlie
Senior Cultural Consultant
Drawing on his Miyan and Maiawali heritage, Charlie leads our food security initiatives with a clear belief: real health starts with reliable access to traditional and nutritious foods – especially in regional communities.
He focuses on the practical gap between what’s available and what families actually need. By connecting community resources with households, Charlie helps ensure consistent support for sustainable, healthy living, while always respecting cultural food practices that run deep on Country.
Kiana
Community Kitchen Coordinator
With Kamilaroi and Bundjalung roots, Kiana leads our nutrition programs, food deliveries and meal-prep support. Her approach is practical and empowering – helping Mob build kitchen confidence, stretch ingredients, and create simple routines that make food feel manageable again.
The aim isn’t just to fill a plate. It’s to help households feel organised, well-nourished and secure in their daily rhythm, with less stress and more control over what’s on the table.
Kenny
Food Literacy Lead
A descendant of the Biri and Watjarri peoples, Kenny brings warmth and steady leadership to our community cooking sessions. He helps participants build practical skills – managing food budgets, cooking fresh meals, and making the most of what they have.
But the real magic is what happens around the table. Kenny creates a space where people feel they belong, stay on track with their goals, and enjoy the social lift that comes from cooking and eating together – building food security one shared meal at a time.
