Our Team

Moodjar engages talented and experienced people, not just from Nyungar boodjar (country) but from across the state, the country and even internationally to work with us to ensure our clients are provided with the highest level of excellence and service in the areas of indigenous policy, strategy, welcome to country ceremony, research and administration support. Below is a brief profile of our core team.

Len Collard – Director

Len is a Director of Moodjar. His research interests are in the area of Aboriginal Studies, including Nyungar interpretive histories and Nyungar theoretical and practical research models. Len, through his work with the University of Western Australia and Curtin University has conducted research funded by the Australian Research Council, the National Trust of Western Australia, the Western Australian Catholic Schools and the Swan River Trust and many other organisations. Len’s research has allowed the broadening of the understanding of the many unique characteristics of Australia’s Aboriginal people and has contributed enormously to improving the appreciation of Aboriginal culture and heritage of the south west of Australia. Len’s ground-breaking theoretical work has put Nyungar cultural research on the local, national and international stages.

Len has an extensive relevant skill set which is supported by both qualifications and experience, including research, preparation and implementation of Aboriginal interpretive plans, engagement with Aboriginal communities, preparation of statements of significance, recording and conducting Noongar oral histories, policies and procedures and conducting on-country tours and providing cultural guidance. Len has undertaken these activities have been undertaken for many years at local, regional, national and international levels to a wide audience including students, tourists, international dignitaries and world leaders.

Qualifications

  • Master’s Degree in Literature and Communications. University of Western Australia

Relevant Experience

  • Master’s Degree in Literature and Communications. University of Western Australia

  • City of Perth - Cultural Heritage Assessment Nedlands and Crawley Bay

  • City of Vincent - Cultural Heritage Assessment

  • City of Stirling - Noongar governance project

  • New WA Museum Project - Whadjuk Content Working Group

  • Cultural Heritage Assessment - Wellington Square

  • Cultural Heritage Assessment - City of Leederville

  • City of Fremantle - Cultural Consultant for the Statements of Significance for the Fremantle Area and Registered Aboriginal Sites - Cantonment Hill, Rocky Bay and Swan River. Key deliverables associated with this project included researching the Nyungar history of the Fremantle region, the key Nyungar stories associated with the area, consultation with the Whadjuk Nyungar Working Party and other key Whadjuk Nyungar stakeholders within the community.

  • 'Recording Traditional Knowledge' for the Avon Catchment Council (NRM).

  • Nyungar Tourism in the Southwest of Western Australia: A Case Study Analysis

  • Noongar of the Beeliar 

  • Quop Maaman: Aboriginal Fathering Project http://thefatheringproject.org/research/aboriginal-program/

  • National Indigenous Research and Knowledges Network - Indigenous Knowledge Production : Generating Change through Connections

  • Boodjar Nyungar Placenames of south west of Western Australia 

  • Nyungar Wardan Katitjin Bidi - Derbal Nara (People's Ocean Knowledge Trail of Cockburn Sound & Districts) 

  • Editorial Board, ab-Original: Journal of Indigenous Studies and First Nations' and First Peoples' Cultures (Penn State University Press) 

  • 2020 – Engagement with the METRONET Noongar Reference Group (MNRG)

Lisa Collard – Director

Lisa Collard is co-Director and Project Manager of Moodjar with over 10 years' experience in the management and coordination of Moodjar's projects. This includes managing the team of consultants, and coordination of the engagement and consultation processes as well as management of all financial records. Lisa also works on the strategic vision for Moodjar, working with the partners, stakeholders and the community to achieve best practice for Indigenous engagement and high quality outcomes for Moodjar's stakeholders.

Relevant Experience

  • 2019 City of Perth - Cultural Heritage Assessment Nedlands and Crawley Bay (Moodjar)
  • 2019 City of Stirling - Noongar governance project - (Moodjar)
  • 2019 City of Vincent - Cultural Heritage Assessment - (Moodjarancy)
  • 2016/17 City of Perth -Wellington Square project (Moodjar)
  • 2015/16 City of Fremantle. Statements of Significance for the Fremantle Area and Registered Aboriginal Sites - Cantonment ill, Rocky Bay and Swan River (Moodjar)

Sandra Harben – Senior Consultant

Sandra is a Whadjuk Ballardong Nyungar woman from the southwest of Western Australia. She has an interest in Australian Indigenous History with a focus on Nyungar culture. Over the past 20 years, she has conducted extensive research and produced reports, journal articles and chapters in books about Nyungar culture. Some of her projects have included making films in which she is acknowledged as the co-producer or scriptwriter and assisted in the development of the “Nidja Beeliar Boodjar” Murdoch University Website.

Her other work includes a literature review “Recording Traditional Knowledge” for the Avon Catchment Council, Noongar of the Beeliar (Video), Nyungar Tourism in the Southwest of Western Australia: A Case Study Analysis and developed the curriculum for the Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre at Murdoch University “Introduction to Nyungar Cultural Studies”. Sandra has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Australia with double major in Industrial Relations and Geography and minors in History and Anthropology. She was also awarded the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Overseas Study Award in 1996. She undertook research work at the University of Illinois, USA and then continued her travels to South America, Europe and Asia as part of her cross-cultural learning.

Sandra has experience including preparation of statements of significance, engagement with Aboriginal communities, recording and conducting Noongar oral histories, policies and procedures. Sandra also has demonstrated experience with Whadjuk ceremonial practice including welcome to country and smoking ceremonies, and Noongar mythology as she has written and published extensively about Noongar mythology, undertaken Aboriginal educational tours for schools and delivered cultural awareness of Noongar cultural practices and dreamtime stories.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Industrial Relations and Geography UWA.
    Awards include:

  • The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Scholarship, Murdoch University, 2003

  • National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Overseas Study Award, 1995, undertaken at University of Illinois, 1995.

Relevant Experience

  • 2019 City of Perth - Cultural Heritage Assessment Nedlands and Crawley Bay (Moodjar Consultancy)
  • 2019 City of Stirling - Noongar governance project. Community Engagement Specialist (Moodjar Consultancy)
  • 2019 City of Vincent - Cultural Heritage Assessment - Principal Researcher and Community Engagement Specialist (Moodjar Consultancy)
  • 2016/17 City of Perth - Wellington Square project Principal Researcher and Community Engagement Specialist (Moodjar Consultancy)
  • 2015/16 City of Fremantle. Principal Researcher and Community Engagement Specialist for the Statements of Significance for the Fremantle Area and Registered Aboriginal Sites - Cantonment Hill, Rocky Bay and Swan River. Key deliverables associated with this project included researching the Nyungar history of the Fremantle region, the key Nyungar stories associated with the area, consultation with the Whadjuk Nyungar Working Party and other key Whadjuk Nyungar stakeholders within the community. Organising and presenting at the Community Engagement and Stakeholders meetings and workshops. (Moodjar Consultancy).
  • 2020 – Engagement with the METRONET Noongar Reference Group (MNRG)