Meet the Team

Christianna is a Darug woman from Western Sydney who was raised in Wellington NSW. She relocated to beautiful Dunghutti country on the Mid North Coast of NSW in 2002.

With over 16 years’ experience, Christianna has extensive knowledge of employment services and played a pivotal role in the development of partner organisation, Real Futures and its mother company Pathways to Pilbara.

Christianna is a strong advocate for gender equality and has driven the implementation and progress of the Women’s Business Second Chance Hub to create best practice and enthusiasm for innovative ideas that can be applied to achieve the advancement and success of First Nations Women.

Marty Chambers is a proud Indigenous man with Torres Strait Island heritage. Marty builds strong connections with local people and helps communities develop business together. He is a great communicator and understands the issues Indigenous people face in remote areas of Australia.

He has held various roles within Jobfind and RISE over the last 10 years of his employment with Angus Knight before becoming a Board Director. Marty has a strong background in managing projects and has considerable experience with Indigenous communities and relationships. Marty’s passion is family and communities and he is enthusiastic about Indigenous Advancement in the workplace.

He is invested in his role as a mentor for Indigenous staff within our organisation.

Leah Simmons has worked for Jobfind and Rise Ventures in various roles since February 2012. Leah’s journey started as an administration officer in Coen Cape York and has progressed over the years to Regional Manager of Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw Community Development Programme then on to Performance Support Manager for Rise Ventures.

Her most recent role is Project Manager – Pathway Services covering Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw, Katherine, and Central Arnhem. Along the way, she has made many valuable and long-lasting community relationships. Leah’s passion is Indigenous staff development and building strong teams with a variety of skills.

Cameron, a proud Kokomenjena and Yir Yorant man, is a Kowanyama local through and through. Growing up in “Kowie” has fuelled his commitment to give back to the town and people he loves so much.

A talented sportsman, Cameron first big opportunity came in the form of AFL. He moved to Cairns and then Brisbane, training and playing there for four years. After working in AFL development for a number of years, Cameron moved home to Kowanyama and began his journey with RISE Ventures. Starting as a Service Coordinator, before moving to Community Project Coordinator, he knows RISE Kowanyama inside out.

In 2023, Cameron seized the opportunity to be Business Manager, becoming the first local Indigenous person to lead RISE Ventures Kowanyama. A proud moment for both Cameron and his community! Motivated by his local people, Cameron wants to make a difference to their lives and build pride in his community.

Outside of work, Cameron loves to watch footy and go fishing with his family.

He is also very involved in the Kowanyama community, sitting on the Boards of Health Action, Kowanyama Community Justice Group, and the Sports and Recreation Association.

Duane is from Halls Creek in the Kimberly and his people are the Kidja Mob.

With an extensive background in various industries, particularly in mining and construction, Duane made the move into remote communities services when he moved to Central Arnhem Land.

Duane’s track record includes several years of successful remote work across different roles, demonstrating his adaptability and capability to thrive in diverse environments. Having previously worked at the Roper Gulf Regional Council, Duane brings a wealth of experience about the local area and a unique understanding of the challenges and opportunities working in remote communities.

One of Duane’s strengths lies in mentoring, having dedicated more than four years to this crucial aspect of workforce development. His commitment to empowering individuals aligns perfectly with the RISE Ventures values.

Yvette Hayes brings over 12 years of community development experience to Rise Ventures. She holds qualifications in Management, Project Management, Community Services and Sustainability.

Yvette has worked across Australia, engaging with communities on various development projects, she has owned and operated businesses in travel, training, consulting, and construction.

She is particularly supportive of enterprise development and most recently was integral to development of a microenterprise program for low-income individuals and disaster-impacted communities. She has also managed community initiatives, led sustainability projects, and engaged in numerous community programs.

Her passion is in business management, compliance, governance, financial oversight and building capacity in communities and individuals, with a current focus on supporting employer creation in remote areas.