Our Team

Our CIR team includes eight permanent staff members and a panel of experienced associate consultants and specialists that we engage regularly across a broad spectrum of project work. Approximately two thirds of our team identify as First Nations peoples. Our team members have diverse community connections and expertise, including in health, communications, law, education, youth affairs, reconciliation, tourism, employment, the arts, transport, planning, and environmental management.

Yatu Widders Hunt

Director

Yatu is a member of the Dunghutti and Anaiwan peoples of the Northern Tablelands of NSW.

Yatu spent over ten years working as a senior communications professional in the Australian Public Service. She was the inaugural communications manager of the National Mental Health Commission, PR lead on heritage communications in the Department of Environment and internal communications adviser at the Department of Immigration. Yatu has worked for the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE), the National Rugby League and the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) as a freelance adviser and writer.

Yatu has experience in complex evaluation and qualitative research for a variety of organisations including the Federal Environment and Immigration Department and is the founder of the Australian Indigenous Fashion online communities, which promote and celebrate Indigenous design and fashion.

Tiernan Campbell O’Brien

Director

Tiernan was raised on Dharug country and is a descendant of the Yulluna peoples from Northwest QLD. He has a passion for working with First Nations people and communities, stemming from his time as a Youth Worker at the Cleveland Detention Centre in Townsville.

At CIR, Tiernan leads and is involved in major and complex community focused engagement projects, as well as supporting key communication projects which are aimed at driving real social outcomes with First Nations people. He has worked on projects for Department of Health, Cancer Australia, headspace, Country Road Group, Transport for NSW.

Now, Tiernan is the CIR Victorian lead and in charge of building a localised offering that builds on his experiences and passion for working with First Nations peoples to deliver better outcomes with Government, Corporate and Not-for-profit organisations.

Julia Martignoni

Senior Consultant

Julia is a non-Indigenous person born and raised on the lands of the Darug and Kuringai peoples on the edge of the expansive Kuringai Chase National Park. With a background in law, policy and sociology, Julia has extensive experience in First Nations community engagement through her work in the NSW native title and land rights' sectors.

Julia has expertise in policy development, social research, report writing and stakeholder engagement. Julia has gained detailed knowledge of how Federal and State legislative and policy frameworks affect First Nations peoples, such as heritage, planning and environment. Julia has also worked at number of community organisations and not-for-profits across various sectors.

Julia has a strong passion for social research, with experience in developing, conducting and interpreting quantitative and qualitative research methodologies in partnership with First Nations peoples. Julia has extensive experience engaging with First Nations communities and organisations and is committed to ensuring all research is grounded in strong ethical foundations and decolonising methodologies.

Conal Thwaite

Senior Consultant

Conal is a non-Indigenous man living in Naarm (Melbourne) on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung peoples. He brings experience as a researcher in economics and social policy and as a communications professional in the not-for-profit sector. Conal enjoys working with clients and First Nations stakeholders to develop policy frameworks and communications strategies that achieve common goals.

Conal was born and raised on the lands of the Boonwurrung and Gunaikurnai peoples in Gippsland. For several years, he worked as a communications professional with the World Health Organization in Europe. He also worked as a researcher and lecturer at the University of Sydney in the departments of Political Economy, Anthropology and Accounting. At Cox Inall Ridgeway, Conal has worked on projects related to media and education, for state and local governments, and in areas such as housing services, Reconciliation Action Plans, social history and Indigenous recognition.

Simon Anderson

Senior Consultant

Simon is a non-Indigenous man, living on Darkinjung Country. He is passionate about using his experience as a journalist and media professional to connect and communicate with First Nations people.

At Cox Inall Ridgeway, Simon supports projects by providing advice on how to best communicate through different mediums. With a career in the media spanning more than a decade, he has worked telling the stories of Australians from a range of backgrounds to diverse audiences. In addition to his experience in the media, Simon has worked in the Federal Politics, Government and sport sectors in media and communications roles. He also has an extensive background in story-telling through multimedia, as a photo and video content creator.

Ash Bartley

Senior Consultant

Ash is a proud Bwgcolman and Ewamian woman with a deep commitment to supporting First Peoples-led outcomes in economic development, land management and cultural governance. With lived experience of the systemic challenges facing Aboriginal people, Ash has built a career grounded in creating space for Aboriginal voices, knowledge, and leadership across sectors.

Chloe Gunning

Consultant

Chloe was born and raised on Wiradjuri country in Bathurst NSW and is a proud Wiradjuri descendant.

Chloe is passionate about collaboration in the First Nations sector and has experience in both corporate and non-profit organisations across New South Wales and Victoria. Having recently worked within the youth homelessness, and mental health sectors she has experience in policy, community and youth engagement, research, and social and emotional wellbeing. Chloe has worked on numerous programs and has created content and resources for both the Heal Our Way initiative and for youth entering and leaving homelessness accommodation.

David Cockatoo-Collins

Senior Consultant

David was born on the lands of the Yuggera and Turrbal people and is a descendant of the Yupungathi peoples from the Western Cape QLD and the Wakka Wakka peoples from the upper and central Burnett River region QLD.

David is a diligent and committed advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities, starting as the first Indigenous Information and Communication Technician for the Brisbane City Council. David has more than 15 years experience in stakeholder engagement with Federal, State and Local Governments as well urban, rural and remote Indigenous communities throughout Australia. Recently David was a Manager at Price Waterhouse Coopers Indigenous Consulting and has experience developing cultural and community protocol documents, business unit Plans, project management and policy, particularly in Indigenous specific areas of Employment, Business Development and Cultural Capability.

Aizhan Zhuvanysheva

Operations Lead

Aizhan is a non-Indigenous woman, living on Gadigal Country. She is passionate about applying her extensive experience in business operations and project management to support First Nations-led initiatives and create meaningful impact.

At Cox Inall Ridgeway, Aizhan ensures the company operates seamlessly, empowering the team to deliver exceptional work for clients and communities. She brings a unique blend of strategic thinking and practical expertise, complemented by a deep respect for cultural protocols and a drive to support self-determination. With an MBA from the University of Sydney, Aizhan combines academic expertise with a practical approach to solving complex organisational challenges.