Our People

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiling at the camera. She is wearing a black sweater with white text that says 'How Your History' and other words partially visible. The background is a light-colored wall with a small window.

    Hayley McQuire

    Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
    Darumbal and South Sea Islander

    Hayley is a Darumbal and South Sea Islander woman from Rockhampton, Central Queensland. Her work is grounded in community, relationality and convening new collectives to reimagine education. She is a Co-Founder and CEO of NIYEC, Co-Chair of Learning Creates Australia, and serves as a board director for several non-profit organisations. With over a decade of experience in Indigenous policy and training, Hayley has worked on advocacy campaigns and capacity building initiatives with education coalitions and young people across Australia and internationally.

  • A woman smiling, wearing glasses and earrings, with curly hair, wearing a black T-shirt with colorful text.

    Renee Phillips

    Co-Founder & Program and Learning Director
    Saibai, Zenadth Kes

    Renee is a Saibai, Kerema and Daru woman from Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait) and Papua New Guinea. She is a Co-Founder of NIYEC and currently serves as its Program and Learning Director. A trained Science and Maths high school teacher, Renee has taught at an Independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school in Gimuy - Yidinji (Cairns) and at a state high school on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country. She has also worked as a Primary Educator and Community Development Officer at Children's Ground on Arrernte Country.

  • Brent McKnoulty

    Research and Impact Director
    Gamilaraay

    Brent is a Gamilaraay man from Moree ways, NSW, raised across South Brisbane, QLD, and Katherine, NT. As the Director of Research and Impact at NIYEC, his work is situated in the intersection of education, research, and community voice. Brent is a Science and Inclusive Education teacher by background and a current PhD candidate at QUT, focusing on advancing Indigenous education rights through sovereign research frameworks. Brent draws on over a decade of teaching and academic experience to strengthen Indigenous-led approaches to education and systemic change.

  • Steph Isbester

    Learning and Program Designer
    Wiradjuri

    Steph is a Wiradjuri woman and the Learning and Programs Designer at NIYEC. She began her career as an Early Childhood and Primary School Educator before moving into educational consultancy, supporting teachers to embed First Nations knowledges and perspectives in their practice. Steph’s work is driven by a commitment to truth-telling, deep listening, and co-design, with a strong focus on creating space for young mob to lead systemic change in education.

  • Layla Phillips

    Engagement Officer
    Saibai, Zenadth Kes

    Layla’s professional path has been shaped by a commitment to amplifying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples voices. In her current role as the Engagement Officer at NIYEC, Layla is fueled by a passion for Indigenous self-determination, student agency, and a commitment to a strength-based approach to systems change. She believes in the transformative power of highlighting strengths and assets to drive positive change within the broader education system.

  • Caitlin Brunton

    Operations Coordinator


    Caitlin is the Operations Coordinator at NIYEC, where she supports teams in delivering projects and achieving organisational priorities. Working across the organisation, she focuses on streamlining processes and strengthening systems to ensure teams have the structures they need to succeed. With a background in project management, Caitlin values collaboration and practical problem-solving. She is passionate about building systems that make it easier for people to work together effectively, helping transform ideas into impactful outcomes.

  • Alex Dorante

    Communications Coordinator
    Wagadagam and Meriam (Zenadth Kes)

    Alex is a proud Wagadagam and Meriam woman from Zenadth Kes, who grew up on Djiru Country in Far North Queensland. She holds a Bachelor of Communications from QUT, which she completed before starting her career as a journalist with the National Indigenous Radio Service. Now the Communications Coordinator at NIYEC, Alex uses storytelling and media to amplify First Nations voices, foster student agency, and drive systemic change, creating meaningful impact in education and communication.

  • Hamish McQuire

    Digital Officer
    Darumbal and South Sea Islander

    Hamish is a Darumbal and South Sea Island Man from Central Queensland. As NIYEC’s Digital Officer, he supports the organisation’s messaging and outreach with the creation of digital and physical assets, as well as maintenance of our digital spaces. Hamish has a deep passion for the arts and the self-expression of young mob, with a history in community radio and art museum spaces.

  • Alyssa Richardson

    Research Assistant
    Tagalaka

    Alyssa is a Tagalaka woman and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) from The University of Melbourne. As the Research Assistant at NIYEC, she supports projects that elevate young mob’s voices and strengthens First Nations perspectives in education. Her work is guided by a strong focus on Indigenous self-determination, blak joy, and learner wellbeing. She is passionate about creating space for young mob to lead systemic change and reimagine education.

Our Board of Directors

  • Nicola Barker

    Board Director & Co-Founder
    Murawarii, Wangkumara, Ngiyampaa

    Nicola Barker is a Murawarii woman from Brewarrina and Bourke, with bloodlines connected to Wangkumara and Ngiyampaa. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work, Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Health Promotion and is studying a Masters of Counselling.

    A co-founding member of NIYEC, Nic has a special interest in health and wellbeing and their influence on young people’s education participation. Across her roles, she has seen how embedding Indigenous Knowledges in children’s learning spaces strengthens childhood wellbeing.  

  • Rona Glynn-McDonald

    Board Director
    Kaytetye

    Rona is a proud Kaytetye woman who grew up in Mparntwe on Arrernte Country. With ties to storytelling, economics and narrative change, Rona works with First Nations organisations to shape future systems that centre First Nations people, knowledge and solutions.

    Rona is the founding CEO of Common Ground and co-founder of First Nations Futures. Rona was previously the Director of First Nations at YLab, a social enterprise that puts young people with diverse lived experiences at the centre of designing and developing innovative and impactful solutions to complex social issues. 

  • Dr. Jared M Field (Spearim)

    Board Director
    Gamilaraay

    Dr Jared M. Field (Spearim) is a Gamilaraay mari from Moree way, but grew up on Darug land in a small town along the Great Dividing Range. He studied maths and French literature at the University of Sydney, before completing a doctorate at Balliol College, Oxford.

    He is currently a McKenzie Fellow in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Melbourne. 

  • Kaytlin Kelly

    Board Director & Co-Founder
    Tjuparn, Ballardong Noongar, Willman and Minang

    Kaytlin Kelly is a Tjuparn woman from Tjwarl country as well as a Ballardong Nyoongar woman on her mother’s side. She is also a Willman and Minang from the south west Region of Western Australia on her fathers side. She is studying a Bachelor of Education (Primary) and is a co-founding member of the National Indigenous Youth Education Coalition (NIYEC). 

  • Anton Schirripa

    Board Director
    Ngarabal

    Anton is a Ngarabal man, who grew up on Wadjuk Country in Boorloo. Anton has an extensive background in Aboriginal Education, including the development of culturally responsive teaching practices and pedagogy, and supporting teachers to practically prioritise Aboriginal knowledges and voices in their curriculum. Anton is currently the Program Coordinator for Complex Student Support, utilising his knowledge and skills of trauma informed approaches to education to lead a team supporting young people and their families presenting with complex needs in Western Australia. 

  • Lilly Brown

    Board Director
    Gumbaynggirr

    Dr Lilly Brown is an interdisciplinary educator, facilitator and researcher. Lilly has worked with organisations and institutions across the not-for-profit, government, corporate, arts and culture, and education sectors on the development of practices of racial literacy and cultural safety. 

    With a Masters degree in education from the University of Cambridge and a doctorate in youth studies from the University of Melbourne, Lilly’s research has focused on the social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations and other young people across Australia, particularly in education contexts. 

  • Millie Telford

    Board Director
    Bundjalung and South Sea Islander

    Amelia (Millie) Telford is a Bundjalung and South Sea Islander woman. Millie is the First Nations Justice Director at Australian Progress, her role aims to build capacity of First Nations-led movements and advocacy across the country. Millie also co-founded and led Seed, Australia’s first Indigenous Youth Climate Network. Since Seed’s launch in 2014, the organisation expanded rapidly, becoming a national grassroots network of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to protect country, culture and communities from the causes and impacts of climate change.