The Board

JOHN LEHA

FOUNDING DIRECTOR + CHAIR

John Leha is a proud Birra Gubba, Wakka Wakka and Tongan man born and raised on Gadigal land (Sydney). John is our founding Director and Chair of BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation he has worked extensively in Indigenous education and employment across all levels of government and community. John is well-known health ambassador and founder of Sydney Deadly Runners. He currently chairs Gadigal Information Service (Koori Radio). John is pro-active member of the Sydney Aboriginal community with membership with the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, Aboriginal advisor to the Kingsford Community Legal Centre, Advisor for the Aids Council of New South Wales Aboriginal project, and active membership with the Indigenous Marathon Foundation leadership group. John Leha’s the very proud son to an amazing family and simply a beautiful big black gay man driving force for change with recognition, respect and reciprocity of LGBTQ+ peoples past, present and future. John is the sustainability lead of the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence a leading Aboriginal not for profit social enterprise that aims to empower excellence in others. John says, “BlaQ is me BlaQ is you BlaQ is home.”

BLAKE TATAFU

DIRECTOR

Blake Tatafu is proud Wiradjuri, Dunghutti (Smith/Clarke) and a Tongan man with Hawaiian and Fijian ancestral links. Blake was born and raised on Dharug Country in Western Sydney, where he currently lives and works among his community. Blake is a social worker with a passion for Social Emotional Wellbeing, Youth Justice, Intergenerational Healing and uplifting the work of Stolen Generations Survivors. Blake is currently the Chair of the Healing Foundation’s national Youth Reference Group, where he actively supports the National Stolen Generations Reference Group and Stolen Generations Organisations across Australia. Blake has formerly held Director Positions on the Boards of Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS – South-East Region), Western Sydney Aboriginal Regional Alliance (WSARA) and Ngaramura Indigenous Corporation. Blake celebrates the diversity of all sexualities and gender identities and has a vision to support and increase the visibility and participation of LGBTQ+SB mob across the country with a focus on his home, Western Sydney, where he feels currently lacks a safe space for Mob to be authentically themselves. Blake would like to demystify the stigma of sexuality and further educate others to inspire LGBTQ+SB to be their true selves, without indignity or shame.

CORRINNE SULLIVAN

DIRECTOR

Corrinne Sullivan is Wiradjuri scholar currently residing on Dharug Country. She is currently the Associate Dean (Indigenous Education) and Professor of Geography at Western Sydney University. Her research areas include: Indigenous LGBTIQ+ people’s social and emotional wellbeing; Indigenous peoples and urban spaces; Indigenous communities and organisations; Indigenous education; and gender and sexuality studies. Her research has made significant and timely contributions to government policy, institutional practice, and community-based services and resources. A key objective of her research agenda is meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities and organisations to develop appropriate and impactful resourcing that can contribute toward building safe, inclusive and sustainable communities.
Corrinne is a lesbian cis-woman who is passionate about celebrating Indigenous sexualities and genders and ensuring that our individual and collective aspirations are achieved. It is to this end that Corrinne is committed to the work that BlaQ engages in to create positive and sustained change for our communities.

BRENTON CREED

DIRECTOR

(Wulgurukaba Traditional Owner of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenu) Mr Creed is a Wulgurukaba Traditional Owner of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun, lands and seas, a part-time carer for his mother and emerging community leader. Mr Creed is well connected in Townsville and is a member of several committees including the Townsville City Council Inclusive Communities Advisory Committee that provides information and advice to Council on current and emerging social planning and community development matters to create a city that is accessible and inclusive for all people. He was also a member of the LGBTQIA+ Roundtable which provided an effective engagement mechanism for Queensland’s LGBTQIA+ communities to discuss issues, challenges and opportunities with the Queensland Government and to strengthen outcomes for communities. As a result, the Roundtable was instrumental in creating the Pride in Our Communities Action Plan 2024-2026, which focuses on three key areas of impact: Inclusive culture, stronger communities and connections and responsive, inclusive and accessible . He has good knowledge of the issues that affect LGBTIQIA+ Sistergirl & Brotherboy people including the need for appropriate and inclusive services.

Acknowledgement

BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge and pay special respects to our LGBTQIA+SB mob. We honour their legacy in everything we do.

The Board

JOHN LEHA

BLAKE TATAFU

CORRINNE SULLIVAN

BRENTON CREED

Acknowledgement

BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation

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