OWNER

Initiated in Martu culture (Puntu) this 45 year old “second contact leader” has sacrificed over twenty years of his life to the Dutjahn vision of rights to live off his land and culture. Darren was elected as the youngest ever Australian and Torres Island Commissioner in the 1990’s.

Darren went onto assist his first contact elders and Central Deserts Native Title Services fight a major land rights claim by the Birriliburu-Martu people over two decades in which finally they won a LANDMARK Native Title Exclusive Determination with full natural resources rights against the Western Australian Government in December 2014, in which the State in 2016 withdrew its final avenue to resource appeal. Martu people now own the resource.

OWNER

Since immigrating to Australia in late 2000 Keith, together with Ron Mulder, established WA Sandalwood Plantations (WASP) and has been the Managing Director since 2001. Keith has been involved with the development and management of each existing commercial Western Australian sandalwood plantation WASP manages on behalf of its sophisticated investors and institutional clients. Keith has experience in client liaison, company management, management accounting, finance and sales.

Keith graduated in Chemistry from University College, London in 1986. He then joined what is now ICAP Plc, the world’s largest inter dealer-broker, in their currency options division. During a career of 14 years with the company, Keith worked initially as a broker in London before opening currency option divisions in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Sydney in the late 1980s. After managing the London division from 1991 – 1998 he then moved to New York where he managed the product globally, until leaving ICAP in June 2000.

OWNER

Ron Mulder established New Forest WA Pty Ltd in 1995 to specialise in the propagation and supply of Western Australian sandalwood trees as a combatant to the growing problems of salinity in rural Western Australia. Research on the species and the successful establishment of thousands of sandalwood trees put New Forest in an ideal position to capitalise on the deregulation of commercial farming of sandalwood in the mid 1990’s. Building on these early projects aimed at revegetation and land care Ron, together with Keith Drage, established WA Sandalwood Plantations (WASP) in 2001.

Today WASP has grown to become the world’s largest Santalum spicatum plantation asset manager responsible for over 13,000 hectares of spicatum plantations in the wheatbelt region of Western Australia.

OWNER

Derby-raised, from Worora and Walmajarri families, Katina is an executive with over 30 years’ international experience in financial and general management roles.

Katina is currently a Non-Executive director of ASX listed Yandal Resources Ltd and DGO Gold Ltd and a Non-Executive director of headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation.

Katina has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from UWA, is a Certified Practising Accountant and has an MBA from London Business School. She is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

As an Angel Investor and entrepreneur, Katina has developed and invested in several businesses, as well as mentored Indigenous business people to grow their influence in Australia’s economy.

OWNER

Has never worked for anyone in his whole life because he is a self-employed sandalwood harvester. His father Ken, (first contact – deceased) taught him to care for country with socio-economic – environmental principles known to him as custodianship. Sandalwood harvesting in the desert is tough uncompromising work. Clinton manages and operates Kutkububba Aboriginal Corporation’s Indigenous Martu harvesting enterprise. Caring for country and following in his father’s footsteps is a cultural and commercial obligation to the Martu people.

OWNER

An initiated man in Wongi Traditional Law (Wati.)

Kado is a statesman anthropologist/archaeologist/editor and environmental activist.

This intellectual tribal desert man is in the prime of his life; transcending from statesman to elder and has invaluable experience in Aboriginal Heritage. Kado Muir has been fighting for Indigenous Land Rights in the Central Deserts for over 20 years. Kado grew up from an early age living in the bush and his passion is to “look after country” which led him to become an approved FPC dead wood harvester to compliment his Ranger programs with troubled youth in the Central Deserts.

Guardian
“The oil coming from Dutjahn Sandalwood Oils has a 50% Indigenous financial benefit compared to the original Mt Romance system that gave back 5%. More importantly royalties are controlled by Indigenous people. It will lead to us winning our Treaty – the most important socio-economic driver for our impoverished Desert Nations.”