James is a Yorta Yorta/Bangerang man who is currently employed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Community Elders Service. James’ previous employment was as Chief Executive Officer of the Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative and as Manager of Koorie Education with the Department of Education and Training.
James has a great deal of organisational experience and has served on Boards at a state and national level.
James has been a VACCA Board Member for 19 years. He was one of the founding members of the first Victorian Aboriginal Youth Advisory Committee and a participant in the Koorie Leadership Program.
Rachel Atkinson is a proud Yorta Yorta woman who is dedicated to improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
She is a qualified Social Worker with over 25 years’ experience as CEO of large community-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations delivering health, and child and family services. She has been the CEO of Palm Island Community Company since its incorporation in 2007 and has overseen its growth to become the largest non-government service provider and employer on Palm Island.
Ms Atkinson is the current Co-Chair of the Queensland First Children and Families Board, Co-Chair of Family Matters Queensland, Board Director of SNAICC and Deputy Chairperson of Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council. She is a previous Chair of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak and CEO of Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service.
Natasha McCormack is an Arrernte, Warumungu, Alawa (NT) and Kija (WA) woman with strong ties to Mparntwe (Alice Springs) through both her mother and father.
With multiple qualifications and over 20 years’ experience in governance, policy, advocacy, community development, social justice and organisational systems change, Natasha’s career spans the commercial, government and non-government sectors. Having lived and worked in both urban and remote regions of the Northern Territory, she has a lived experience of the systemic issues and ongoing impacts of colonisation and intergenerational trauma for Aboriginal people, and the barriers to accessing essential services when living remotely.
A wife, mother of five, postgraduate student, netball coach and founder of her own cultural consultancy business, Natasha joined the Purple House as Co-Deputy CEO in July 2024. Natasha’s passion to enable and inspire positive change is the driving force behind her commitment to supporting the development of people, policies and organisational change. She is excited to have joined the Purple House family, both to learn from its success and to contribute to its future growth.