Our Board Circle
Honouring our Journey
Shaping Our Future
From a pilot initiative to a lasting movement, Maganda Makers continues to empower Kimberley Aboriginal women in business—building strength, legacy, and opportunity for generations to come.
Maganda Makers
Natasha Short
Chair
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Natasha Short is the Founder and Managing Director of Kimberley Jiyigas (Birds) Pty Ltd, a consultancy established in 2018 with a vision to create “a movement of Kimberley Indigenous women influencing social change.”
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In 2020, she co-founded Maganda (Tomorrow) Makers Business Club, an initiative dedicated to empowering Kimberley Indigenous women to build wealth through business. Through Maganda Makers, Natasha champions female-led enterprises and supports the growth of Indigenous businesses across the Kimberley and beyond, recognising the importance of wealth creation through economic participation and the vital contribution Indigenous businesses make to their communities.
With a Diploma in Leadership and Management and over 25 years of leadership experience, Natasha has held executive roles, served on numerous Indigenous boards—including Native Title organisations—and contributed to ministerial appointments. Her career reflects a deep commitment to community development and improving outcomes for Kimberley people.
A respected voice on Indigenous business, leadership, and women’s empowerment, Natasha is frequently invited to speak at events and forums, offering insights from her unique Kimberley perspective. A proud Jaru woman of the East Kimberley, Natasha lives in Kununurra, Western Australia.
Sherena Bin Hitam
Director
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Sherena Bin Hitam also know as Jaogerie, traditional bushname, upholds with pride to represent my Aboriginal heritage Bardi-Jawi & Yawuru from the Dampier Peninsula & Broome, and my Malay and English ancestry.
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She brings over 30 years’ experience in Indigenous Affairs across service sectors, mining, oil & gas, community development, arts and social enterprise. As an Entrepreneur, she holds an MBA and is passionate about social enterprise and social impact and economic engagement from the ground roots.
Excited to be part of Maganda Makers, to give knowledge and learnings to fellow Kimberley Indigenous Women, who want change. With good business experience and acumen, she feels strongly it is timely for opportunity to contribute towards establishing and influencing effective change. This is what inspires me because I know!
Past directorships held include Magala Books, Nyamba Buru Yawuru, Nagula Jarndu, Kimberley Aquaculture Aboriginal Corporation, Goolarrgon Aboriginal Corporation.
Katina Law
Director
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Derby-raised and proud of her Worora and Walmajarri heritage, Katina is a seasoned executive with more than 30 years of international experience in financial and general management.
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She currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed Falcon Metals Ltd and Yandal Resources Ltd, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of IPS Management Consultants, Chair of Dutjahn Sandalwood Oils, and a Non-Executive Director of the K Farmer Dutjahn Foundation.
Katina holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia, is a Fellow of CPA Australia, and earned her MBA from the prestigious London Business School. She is also a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
An active angel investor and entrepreneur, Katina has founded and invested in multiple ventures and is passionate about mentoring Indigenous business leaders to strengthen their role in Australia’s economy.
Elizabeth Mary Gillies
Director
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Elizabeth (Liz) Gillies is an accomplished leader with more than 25 years of experience driving initiatives for social impact across the corporate, non-profit, and academic sectors.
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Since 2018, she has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Menzies Leadership Foundation, where she leads efforts to amplify a national leadership movement that empowers Australians to pivot to purpose, build leadership capability, and contribute to the greater good.
Liz began her career in academia and social enterprise, joining Melbourne Business School in 2009. There, she played a pivotal role in establishing the Asia Pacific Social Impact Centre and the Centre for Ethical Leadership. In 2011, she was appointed Research Fellow to lead a landmark partnership on strategic philanthropy, producing the influential reports Philanthropy: Towards a Better Practice Model (2018) and Philanthropy: The Continued Journey to Real Impact and Better Practice (2021).
A seasoned governance professional, Liz has served on numerous boards, including the Public Galleries Association of Victoria, Social Firms Australia, Uniting Care Community Options, United Way Australia, the Development Committee of the Towards A Just Society Foundation, and Philanthropy Australia.
Beyond her leadership and governance roles, Liz is also the Director and Co-Founder of Yal Yal Estate, a boutique vineyard on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
Maree Cutler-Naroba
Director
LinkedIn
Maree Cutler-Naroba is a seasoned business strategist and social change leader with over 35 years of experience spanning education, small business, child protection, law, local government, and community development.
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She has chaired boards, founded a school in rural Uganda, and led economic empowerment programs across Australia and New Zealand.
Currently undertaking a PhD, Maree’s research explores entrepreneurship as a pathway to healing among Kimberley Indigenous women. Her work is grounded in deep community listening and a commitment to healing-centred entrepreneurial ecosystem change, particularly for Indigenous women. Bringing a multidisciplinary and strategic lens, Maree is passionate about transforming vision into sustainable, people-focused outcomes.
Olive Knight
Patron
Olive Knight is a Walmajarri, Bunuba, and Gooniyandi Elder, and the esteemed Patron and matriarch of the Maganda Makers Foundation. With more than 70 years of lived and learned experience, she stands as a powerful voice of wisdom, guidance, and cultural authority for women across the Kimberley and beyond.
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An acclaimed blues and gospel singer, recording artist, and award-winning performer, Kankawa has used her artistic platform to mentor, inspire, and advocate for human rights and Indigenous excellence. Her music and leadership have touched communities locally and internationally, affirming her role as both a cultural custodian and a citizen of the world.
Fluent in Gooniyandi, Walmatjarri, and Kriol, she has dedicated her life to preserving language, strengthening cultural knowledge, and raising awareness of critical social issues. Kankawa’s enormous contribution to the cultural richness of the Kimberley continues to empower the next generation of Indigenous women in business, leadership, and community life.
Kankawa Nagarra (Olive Knight) is a revered matriarch of the Kimberley, her extraordinary contribution to the region’s cultural richness places her at the heart of a growing movement of women who look to her for wisdom, guidance, and authority.
With more than 70 years of lived and learned experience, Kankawa speaks words of power that inspire and empower women across generations. An acclaimed blues and gospel recording artist and award-winning performer, she uses her music and voice to teach, mentor, and advocate for human rights and Indigenous excellence.
On the move:
Honouring the Past & Forging the Future
for Kimberley Aboriginal Women in Business
In order to know where we are going, we must first look back, reflecting where we began and celebrating where we are heading.
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Maganda Makers is a vibrant community of Indigenous women—owners, dreamers, and trailblazers—created for us, by us. Initiated through a collaboration between Kimberley Jiyigas, the Menzies Leadership Foundation, and Good Return, Maganda Makers spans the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
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United by heritage, strength, and determination, members are transforming lives through business and entrepreneurship, building a legacy of empowerment and economic independence for generations to come.
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The journey began in 2020, when Natasha Short, founder of Kimberley Jiyigas, recognised a glaring gap in self-determination through economic development presence and outcomes for Aboriginal businesswomen in the Kimberley. Driven by a vision to build a stronghold of enterprising women and equip them to thrive in the economic landscape, Natasha partnered with Menzies Leadership Foundation and Good Return, to launch the pilot Maganda Makers.
After five years of growth and success, the Business Club has fulfilled its important pilot role and is now evolving into a bold new chapter: Maganda Makers Ltd. This not-for-profit entity will take the lead in driving Maganda Makers’ vision forward, providing a lasting platform for Kimberley Aboriginal women to build businesses, create opportunities, and achieve economic freedom.
“The Foundation is the natural next step,” said Natasha Short. “It reflects five years of focused effort to create a holistic space where Kimberley Aboriginal women can grow as entrepreneurs and be seen as serious contributors to our region’s economic future.”
The new Foundation will be governed by a board of six female directors with strong business acumen, ensuring it remains driven by the needs and aspirations of Kimberley Aboriginal businesswomen on the ground.
Maganda Makers is more than an organisation—it is a movement. By honouring the past and embracing the future, it aims to inspire and empower Aboriginal women to create lasting change for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Join the Movement
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Stay engaged, stay inspired, and walk with us as part of the Maganda Makers journey.
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