The Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation Ltd (NYFL) is transitioning the CEO role to Ngurrara-ngarli, a Ngarluma or Yindjibarndi Traditional Owner.
The NYFL Board and current chief executive Sean-Paul Stephens said on Friday they are jointly supporting the next stage in the Foundation's leadership journey.
The Foundation said Traditional Owner leadership in the CEO role has "always been the direction NYFL has wanted to move toward".
"The transition is about continuing the course the Board and Sean-Paul have taken together - strengthening NYFL, building capability and creating the conditions for greater Ngurrara ngarli leadership and self-determination," the organisation said in a statement.
NYFL Chair Michael Woodley said the timing reflects the strength of the organisation and the opportunity to move confidently into its next chapter.
"When Sean-Paul came into the CEO role, it was always NYFL and Sean-Paul's plan to transition to one of our members to take the executive role at NYFL," Mr Woodley said.
"Sean-Paul's main tasks were to restore financial discipline, rebuild systems, strengthen our position and help NYFL become a stronger voice for our people. He has achieved that alongside the Board of Traditional Owners.
"Today, NYFL is in one of the strongest positions it has been since inception as the Land Access agreement party for the North West Shelf project, in 1998. The Foundation, Trust and commercial arm are on the strongest financial footing they have been."
Mr Woodley said Mr Stephens and the Board have strengthened governance and social impact programs, taken a firmer position in negotiations with the resource sector, and built relationships that now take Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi voices from Ieramugadu to national and international forums.
"True success for us is measured by supporting one of our own to lead NYFL as CEO. The purpose of rebuilding NYFL has always been about self-determination. It has always been our intention that, when the organisation was ready and the right pathway could be created, a Ngarluma or Yindjibarndi person will have the opportunity to lead NYFL as CEO," he said.
Mr Woodley, who is a Traditional Owner CEO of Yindjibarndi Nation Ltd, said Mr Stephens had approached that objective as part of his role rather than as something separate from it.
"I am proud to say the Board has been extremely pleased with Sean-Paul's performance since he started here as our CEO, and over the years he has become family for many Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi people. He has been through our Law initiation. He is one of the strongest allies we could have asked for," he said.
"Sean-Paul has always been passionate and supportive about Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi Ngurrara-ngarli stepping into executive leadership. He has pushed for this change alongside the Board."
During Mr Stephens' time as CEO, the Foundation noted, NYFL has increasingly participated in national and global discussions on First Nations social and economic reform; and has strengthened its advocacy and systems-change work, including Indigenous Data Sovereignty, evidence-based advocacy and major negotiations with the resource sector to modernise longstanding agreements.
NYFL has also established new partnerships, including with the Australian National University, and commenced a community-led research agenda that has taken the organisation to Imperial College London and connected Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi leaders with First Nations peoples and researchers from Canada, South Africa and elsewhere.
At the same time, NYFL notes it has maintained "a strong grassroots focus in Ieramugadu", which has included reshaping its food security work through the award-winning Ieramugadu Store Maya, developing social enterprises such as its trainee-focused not-for-profit café, and establishing Elder-led food growing and liveability initiatives designed to respond directly to local needs.
The transition from Mr Stephens' leadership, the Foundation said, follows a period in which NYFL has moved from "organisational repair to a much broader agenda of community-led systems change and advocacy".
In recent years, NYFL has worked to restore financial stability, strengthen its governance and operations, review commercial partnerships, expand community-focused programs and advocacy, and increasingly position self-determination and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the centre of its work.
Recognition of NYFL's role as the Traditional Owner representative organisation for the North West Shelf project has also strengthened over recent years, the Foundation said, including through partnerships with fellow Traditional Owner organisations.
NYFL was established in 1998 following the Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi Native Title claim that included the Murujuga area. While the Land Agreement was executed years after the North West Shelf was established, and is a non-royalties agreement, it meant NYFL maintained responsibilities for the North West Shelf area. This is reflected in NYFL band Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation (MAC) jointly being appointed by the State and Commonwealth Environment Ministers as Key Stakeholders for major Environmental Approvals for the North West Shelf project.
Alongside its responsibilities for the Ngurra (Country), NYFL has recently taken Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi perspectives into national and international conversations - including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), First Nations and research partnerships in based out of London, and global discussions on Indigenous economic participation, resource development, liveability and the just energy transition - while maintaining its focus on members, families and Ieramugadu (Roebourne) and the Pilbara.
Mr Stephens said he sees the transition from his leadership to Ngurrara-ngarli (Traditional Owner) leadership as a natural continuation of the work he has been privileged to undertake with the Board, Elders, members, staff and community.
