Board of Directors and CEO
Aboriginal Legal Service of WA Ltd Board of Directors
ALSWA’s Board of Directors commit their time, Cultural and business expertise to provide leadership and governance. Their combined skills and expertise alongside ALSWA Executive Management Team have played a major role in improving ALSWA’s corporate governance and operations, since the implementation of a new constitution and company structure.
Michael Blurton,
Chairperson and Director
Chairperson Michael Blurton is a Ballardong Noongar from the Wheatbelt town of Quairading, and has a long association with ALSWA. His involvement with the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA spans back to the 1970’s when he worked as a Field/Court Officer for seven years. Michael, a former and current President, has served on ALSWA’s Executive Committee for twelve years. Greatly committed to the work of ALSWA, Michael supports and promotes the vital role this organisation plays in striving for justice and supporting our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within the justice system.
Kathy Watson,
Deputy Chairperson and Director
Vice-Chairperson Kathy Watson is a Nyngina woman on her mother’s side and Gidga on her father’s and is from Broome in the West Kimberley. She is passionate about legal issues for our Community members and staff of the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA. For Kathy, all issues facing our people are important but she would like to see more Cultural input into court matters, particularly within District Courts.
Donald Abdullah,
Director
Director Donald Abdullah is a Wongi man from Esperance, which is located on Western Australia’s south east coast. 2015 marked his first involvement with the ALSWA Executive Committee and he is dedicated to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Donald feels strongly about keeping our young people out of prison, being supportive of women who face domestic violence and providing guidance on legal matters.
Paul Baron,
Director
Paul is a Baiyungu man from Carnarvon who has been involved with ALSWA since 2015. Paul supports the promotion of ALSWA’s important work and is committed to continuing to highlight the organisation’s fresh outlook for the future. Issues of importance for Paul include the provision of appropriate legal services for our people and the expansion of core legal and other unique services developed and delivered by ALSWA.
Murray Jones,
Director
Murray Jones is a Ballardong Nyoongar Maam (man) from Quairading in the Wheatbelt region. With an Associate Degree in Aboriginal Development and Community Development, Murray is the Managing Director of Waalitj Hydroflow Pty Ltd. Committed to striving for justice, Murray has formerly represented the Black Deaths in Custody Watch Committee in Geneva Switzerland at the United Nations on issues of inhumane treatment and torture in prisons. His contributions were also acknowledged at the UN World Racism conference in Durban, South Africa.
Selina King,
Director
Selina has been part of the ALSWA Board since February 2023 and was appointed to fill a casual vacancy of elected directors. Selina lives in Broome and her mother is Karrijarn and her father is Nyikina. Selina has been a welcomed addition to the ALSWA board.
Preston Thomas,
Director
Preston Thomas is from Laverton and has lived in Kanpa Community for many years. Kanpa is located in relatively close proximity to Warburton Community. With a long association with the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA through his role on the Executive Committee, Preston is deeply committed to the issues facing our people and the vital work done by ALSWA within WA’s justice system.
ALSWA CEO
Wayne Nannup has been the CEO of the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA Ltd (ALSWA) since 2023.
With family connections to Western Australia’s South West, Pilbara, Goldfields, Mid-West and Kimberley regions, Wayne brings a wealth of experience to the role and a strong commitment to the complex issues facing First Nations Peoples within the justice system.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Laws from Murdoch University in 2009 and admitted to practice law in 2010, Wayne’s 2023 appointment as CEO saw his return to the organisation where he commenced his legal career within ALSWA’s Criminal Law Unit over a decade earlier.
The former CEO of the Aboriginal Housing Recovery Centre Limited and the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, Wayne is also a Director of Noongar Mia Mia and Company Director of IronMerge.