.svg)
Our Founders
David Bensley
David was born in Woomera in South Australia in 1972, while the family was on an Army posting. The family subsequently moved to Canberra while he was still young, and continued to grow, where David remains firmly embedded in the local community. His family and extended family are from the Far North Coast of NSW, the Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah region - Bundjalung Country.
David holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Communications. In recognition of his commitment to his studies, in 2007 David's drive and passion for education saw him awarded the University of Canberra Indigenous Scholar of the Year. The value he places on education also drove him to provide mentoring and tutoring support for several years to younger Indigenous students entering tertiary education at the University.
David has spent over 20 years in the Commonwealth Public Service across several departments and agencies; with the majority in Defence. He has worked across numerous aspects of the ICT sector and in several related policy areas.In his spare time David is the president of a local rugby club where he oversees an annual budget of $400,000, managing very successfully with all challenges that come with vibrant not-for-profit community organisation. David has worked with the Australian Rugby Union in the Lloyd McDermott u18 'No School, No Play' program for Indigenous boys, held annually. The program has allowed David to combine his passions for rugby and addressing Indigenous social disadvantage. He gets enormous satisfaction seeing young Indigenous athletes excel in sporting environments, whilst also developing the skills confidence to transfer their newly developed high performance behaviours to their everyday lives.
David holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Communications. In recognition of his commitment to his studies, in 2007 David's drive and passion for education saw him awarded the University of Canberra Indigenous Scholar of the Year. The value he places on education also drove him to provide mentoring and tutoring support for several years to younger Indigenous students entering tertiary education at the University.
David has spent over 20 years in the Commonwealth Public Service across several departments and agencies; with the majority in Defence. He has worked across numerous aspects of the ICT sector and in several related policy areas.In his spare time David is the president of a local rugby club where he oversees an annual budget of $400,000, managing very successfully with all challenges that come with vibrant not-for-profit community organisation. David has worked with the Australian Rugby Union in the Lloyd McDermott u18 'No School, No Play' program for Indigenous boys, held annually. The program has allowed David to combine his passions for rugby and addressing Indigenous social disadvantage. He gets enormous satisfaction seeing young Indigenous athletes excel in sporting environments, whilst also developing the skills confidence to transfer their newly developed high performance behaviours to their everyday lives.
Trevor Ellis
Trevor was born in Katherine in the Northern Territory and many of his family still call the region home, other family members are spread around the country living in NSW, SA, Qld as well as the ACT.
Trevor and his family have many links to Aboriginal communities in the Top End and is proud to call himself a Territorian even though he has lived down south since the early 1980s.
After attending school in Sydney, Trevor has worked in the media and communications field for over 30 years. In that time he has worked for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, a major television production company in Canberra as a Producer/Director, as well as a number of Federal Government departments.
For the past 5 years, Trevor has worked for 2 major Commonwealth Departments in Indigenous affairs developing and producing communications products specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander audiences. As well as being passionate about issues affecting his people, Trevor has been actively involved in the Western District Rugby Union club for many years as a player, volunteer and mentor to young Indigenous players.
After attending school in Sydney, Trevor has worked in the media and communications field for over 30 years. In that time he has worked for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, a major television production company in Canberra as a Producer/Director, as well as a number of Federal Government departments.
For the past 5 years, Trevor has worked for 2 major Commonwealth Departments in Indigenous affairs developing and producing communications products specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander audiences. As well as being passionate about issues affecting his people, Trevor has been actively involved in the Western District Rugby Union club for many years as a player, volunteer and mentor to young Indigenous players.