Dr Jim Giumelli is the founder of Ertech, a leading civil construction company built on innovation, integrity, and shared success. Starting in 1981, Jim grew Ertech from a small operation into a $150 million employee-owned enterprise with over 600 staff. His decision in 1993 to give employees ownership of the business was transformative, fostering loyalty, accountability, and long-term performance. Today, 34 employees are co-owners alongside Jim and the CEO.
Jim’s leadership style is grounded in respect and presence—he regularly visited work sites and made sure every employee felt valued. Under his guidance, Ertech secured major infrastructure projects and adapted to market changes, earning its place as an industry leader. He was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in the category of Financial, Business and Property in 2007 and EY Entrepreneur of the Year in the category of Services in 2013.
His proudest legacy, however, is the opportunities he has created for others. In 2008, he founded the Ertech Construction Academy to train young people, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds. Now known as the Motivation Foundation, the program graduates more than 70 students each year into vocational careers.
Jim’s generosity extends far beyond the construction industry. He and his family have made substantial financial contributions to medical research, funding early-stage genetic research into motor neurone disease at the Perron Institute, which has now reached the clinical trial phase. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from the University of WA in 2017, where he continues his support of scholarships for rural students.
Jim continues to mentor emerging engineers and business leaders—quietly and generously building futures the same way he built his business: by helping others succeed.
Professor Colleen Hayward AM is a distinguished educator, policy leader, and proud Noongar woman whose career spans more than 35 years of exceptional service to education, public policy, and the Indigenous community. Widely recognised as one of Western Australia’s most influential voices in Indigenous affairs, she has demonstrated sustained leadership across academia, government, and the corporate sector.
Professor Hayward began her career in teaching, working in metropolitan and regional schools where she developed a strong understanding of the role education plays in shaping opportunity. Following a transition into policy, she contributed to significant reform through the State School Teachers’ Union of Western Australia, advocating for merit-based promotion systems and improvements to teacher retention. She also contributed to the development of Aboriginal studies curriculum and policy work associated with the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.
At Edith Cowan University, Professor Hayward served as Head of Kurongkurl Katitjin, the Centre for Indigenous Australian Education and Research, before being appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Equity and Indigenous) from 2012 to 2019. In these roles, she led transformative change, embedding Aboriginal knowledge and cultural perspectives across the university curriculum and significantly increasing Aboriginal student participation through culturally inclusive practices.
Professor Hayward has also held leadership roles with the Aboriginal Legal Service, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and the Telethon Kids Institute. In 2023, she became the first Aboriginal woman appointed to the board of an ASX50 company, Mineral Resources Ltd.
Her many honours include Member of the Order of Australia, NAIDOC Aboriginal Person of the Year, and induction into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame, recognising her enduring contribution to education, equity, and community leadership. These qualities are further recognised in the conferral of Colleen as an Emeritus Professor and as a Distinguished Alumni of both Murdoch and Edith Cowan Universities. She is also Patron of the MADALAH Education program and the RUAH Centre for Women and Children.
Grammy-winning musician and internationally acclaimed steel guitarist Lucky Oceans has made a significant contribution to music in both the United States and Australia. Born in Philadelphia, he co-founded the influential roots band Asleep at the Wheel, earning two Grammy Awards and multiple nominations, and performing with artists including Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Emmylou Harris.
In the 1980s, Lucky relocated to Perth and became a central figure in Western Australia’s music scene. Based in Fremantle, he has worked as a performer, composer and collaborator across live music, film and television, including performances with Paul Kelly and Joe Camilleri. He has been recognised multiple times by WAM as Instrumentalist of the Year and was inducted into the WAM Hall of Fame in 2004.
For 21 years, Lucky hosted ABC Radio National’s The Daily Planet, showcasing global music and supporting emerging artists. He has also contributed to music education through writing and teaching World Music 101 at the University of Western Australia and serving on the Australia Council Music Board.
Lucky has spent decades mentoring musicians and teaching pedal steel guitar, supporting emerging Australian talent and fostering intergenerational and intercultural collaboration in music. He uses music as a tool for social connection, working with the Aboriginal people of Roebourne and creating music with incarcerated people and local communities.
He was Musical Director for Songs for Peace and Songs for Freedom concerts across Australia, supporting awareness of Indigenous incarceration issues. He currently plays with African, Indian, Country, Jazz, Blues, Folk and Aboriginal musicians in his quest to find a new voice that honours today’s W. Australia.
His 2019 album ‘Purple Sky’ featured Kasey Chambers, Tex Perkins, and Vika and Linda Bull, and received an ARIA nomination. His contribution to the pedal steel guitar has earned international recognition, with induction into the International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame scheduled for 2026.
He has raised a family and expanding a flourishing career from his home in Fremantle. Lucky also co-founded Fremantle’s iconic Fly by Night Club and continues to advocate for the growth and sustainability of live music in Western Australia.
Dr Jim Giumelli is the founder of Ertech, a leading civil construction company built on innovation, integrity, and shared success. Starting in 1981, Jim grew Ertech from a small operation into a $150 million employee-owned enterprise with over 600 staff. His decision in 1993 to give employees ownership of the business was transformative, fostering loyalty, accountability, and long-term performance. Today, 34 employees are co-owners alongside Jim and the CEO.
Jim’s leadership style is grounded in respect and presence—he regularly visited work sites and made sure every employee felt valued. Under his guidance, Ertech secured major infrastructure projects and adapted to market changes, earning its place as an industry leader. He was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in the category of Financial, Business and Property in 2007 and EY Entrepreneur of the Year in the category of Services in 2013.
His proudest legacy, however, is the opportunities he has created for others. In 2008, he founded the Ertech Construction Academy to train young people, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds. Now known as the Motivation Foundation, the program graduates more than 70 students each year into vocational careers.
Jim’s generosity extends far beyond the construction industry. He and his family have made substantial financial contributions to medical research, funding early-stage genetic research into motor neurone disease at the Perron Institute, which has now reached the clinical trial phase. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from the University of WA in 2017, where he continues his support of scholarships for rural students.
Jim continues to mentor emerging engineers and business leaders—quietly and generously building futures the same way he built his business: by helping others succeed.
Mark Glasson is the Chief Executive Officer of Anglicare WA and a leading voice in Western Australia’s social services sector, with more than 25 years of senior executive experience across community services, justice, local government and social policy. He is also President of WACOSS, former Chair of Shelter WA, Co-convenor of the Home Stretch WA campaign, and a Leadership WA Honorary Fellow in 2023.
Beginning his career in social work, Mark developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals and families experiencing disadvantage. Across senior leadership roles, he has consistently focused on system reform, service integration and improving outcomes for vulnerable communities.
As CEO of Anglicare WA, Mark oversees services delivered across more than 100 locations, supporting over 100,000 Western Australians annually. He is known for a collaborative leadership style grounded in the belief that complex social issues are best addressed through partnership and shared responsibility across government, community and service providers.
A significant achievement of his career is co-convening the Home Stretch WA campaign, which successfully advocated for extended support for young people leaving out-of-home care. The initiative led to a 2021 state government commitment extending care and support to age 21, improving long-term stability and outcomes for care leavers across Western Australia.
Mark has also played a key role in the WA Rent Relief Program, which has distributed more than $18 million in rental assistance to over 4,100 households, helping families avoid eviction and maintain housing stability through targeted financial and wellbeing support. In corrective services, he led a major redesign that increased program delivery by 140 per cent within two years, with a strengthened focus on evaluation and evidence-based practice.
As President of WACOSS, he has strengthened sector collaboration, including initiatives such as the Financial Wellbeing Collective, which coordinates services across 14 organisations to improve access to financial counselling. He is also a strong advocate for gender equity through CEOs for Gender Equity.
Mark is widely respected for his inclusive leadership style, his ability to build cross-sector partnerships, and his commitment to practical, evidence-based solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities.
Dr Daniel Hunt is a Jaru and Indjibarndi man, General Practitioner, and nationally recognised leader in Aboriginal health. He was NAIDOC Person of the Year in 2025, AMA WA Advocate of the Year in 2025, and Indigenous Doctor of the Year in 2024, reflecting his sustained contribution to clinical care, public health and health equity.
Inspired by his mother, an Aboriginal health practitioner, Dr Hunt began his medical journey early and has dedicated his career to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal communities across Western Australia. He spent more than a decade at Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service, an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, where he served as Deputy Medical Director and Acting CEO, overseeing comprehensive programs in chronic disease, mental health, sexual health, environmental health and developmental paediatrics.
A key achievement of his career has been leadership in infectious disease control during the Australian syphilis epidemic. He led the implementation of a Syphilis Point-of-Care testing program, delivering more than 1,300 rapid tests, enabling early diagnosis and treatment and contributing to the prevention of congenital syphilis. His work informed state and national strategies, including the WA Syphilis Action Plan.
Dr Hunt is also a Homeless Medicine Consultant at Royal Perth Hospital, where he provides in-reach clinical care and advocacy for people experiencing homelessness. His work supports safe discharge planning, continuity of care and connection to housing, family and social services.
He holds multiple leadership and advisory roles, including Chair of the Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmitted Infections Advisory Committee (WA), Director of Diabetes WA, and member of the WA RACGP Council, RACGP Aboriginal Health Council, the Kirby Institute governance group, and NACCHO advisory structures. Through these roles, he ensures Aboriginal voices are embedded in health policy and system design.
Dr Hunt is a committed advocate for cultural safety, workforce education and equitable access to care. His work spans clinical leadership, policy reform and frontline service delivery, with a consistent focus on reducing preventable illness and improving outcomes for Aboriginal and vulnerable populations across Australia.
Stephen Michael is one of Western Australia’s most celebrated Australian Rules footballers and a highly respected community leader. A proud Noongar man from Wagin and Kojonup, he is a South Fremantle Football Club premiership player in 1980, two-time Sandover Medallist in 1980 & 1981, All-Australian captain, and was selected in the Indigenous Team of the Century. He has been inducted into both the Australian Football Hall of Fame and the WA Football Hall of Fame and is an inaugural member of the Fremantle Football Hall of Legends.
Raised in regional WA, Stephen left school at 15 and developed a strong work ethic through manual labour alongside his father. This grounding shaped both his approach to football and his life beyond it. Moving to Perth to pursue WAFL football, he went on to play 243 games for South Fremantle, earning a reputation as one of the game’s most dominant and respected players. Despite opportunities interstate, he remained in Western Australia to stay close to family, community and culture.
Stephen is widely regarded for his humility, often emphasising teamwork and respect over individual achievement. In recognition of his broader impact on the game and Indigenous representation, he was named Sir Doug Nicholls Round Honouree in 2025.
Beyond football, Stephen is Patron of the Stephen Michael Foundation, established in 2017 to support young people across Western Australia through sport, education and wellbeing programs. The Foundation now reaches more than 5,000 young people annually across over 40 schools, with a focus on improving school engagement, attendance and leadership outcomes.
Its programs use sport as a platform to encourage education participation, build confidence and reduce antisocial behaviour, particularly in regional and remote communities. The Foundation also supports greater inclusion for girls and young women in sport and leadership development.
Stephen remains actively involved, regularly visiting schools and communities to share his story and mentor young people. He is widely respected for his ability to connect across generations and backgrounds, using his experience to inspire opportunity, unity and aspiration in the next generation.
Jack Anderson is an innovative education leader and Co-Founder of Elucidate Education. His work and academic achievements have been recognised internationally, including receiving the Global Humanitarian Award for Australia in 2025. He was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship in 2025, with a further Fellowship confirmed for 2026, and has been selected as a Schwarzman Scholar for 2026, reflecting his growing influence in global education and policy reform.
Jack holds an Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Western Australia, a Master of Education Technology from Harvard University as a Frank Knox Scholar and has commenced a Master of Global Affairs at Tsinghua University on full scholarship. At Harvard, he became one of the youngest Teaching Fellows, teaching fluid mechanics and entrepreneurship.
He is also a Winston Churchill Fellow, undertaking research in Japan, Denmark, Sweden and Finland to study high-performing education systems and inform reform in Australia.
Jack co-founded Elucidate Education, a not-for-profit producing senior school textbooks written by high-achieving graduates to improve accessibility and understanding. The organisation now supports over 80,000 students annually through textbooks and digital resources. Its two-for-one model funds donations to low socioeconomic schools, with over 55 volunteers contributing to its development.
He also founded Global College Admissions, supporting more than 200 students globally into leading universities.
Jack’s work focuses on reducing educational inequity, particularly for rural, Indigenous and low socioeconomic students. Elucidate resources have helped improve academic outcomes by 20–30% in many cases and are designed to close learning gaps of up to three years.
He leads biannual donation trips to the Kimberley and Pilbara, delivering textbooks and laptops to remote schools, improving access to education and long-term opportunity.
As a Man Up Board Member, Jack also contributes to youth mental health in WA, supporting awareness and prevention initiatives. He has also raised $50,000 for various West Australian charities through endurance fundraising challenges, including a planned world record attempt for one-arm push-ups.
