Board of Directors
UMI Arts is a not-for-profit company and is proudly managed by an all-Indigenous Board of Directors.
The UMI Arts Board meets regularly throughout the year and Directors play an active role in developing programs that support the organisation’s vision and mission.
The role of the Directors is to govern the operations of the company within the bounds of the Constitution and shape the organisation and led us in to the future. As we renew, adapt and adjust to the challenges we face and as we abandon and replace the old with the new, the Board of Directors stay strong and positive while they guide and lead us to achieve strategic objectives.
UMI Arts’ Directors are respected business and community leaders, Artists and Cultural Practitioners and hold a wide range of skills that they contribute to the organisation and membership and come from strong and diverse backgrounds.
Carly Jia
Chairperson
Carly Jia has more than 19 years of experience in high-level leadership positions on an international, national, and regional level. As a Yidinji, Badulaig, and Meriam woman from Far North Queensland Carly is deeply committed to amplifying our first nations arts and culture and advocating for the possibilities that art and education offers.
Connie Rovina
Director
Connie Rovina’s traditional homelands on her grandmother’s side are Musgrave Station and Laura area, being the Kuku-Thaypan people of Far North Queensland, and the Bowen Basin district Birriah and Widi people of Central Queensland, of her grandfather. Connie played a crucial role in the establishment of UMI Arts and has worked in First Nations arts consultancy positions, project management, curation, public art, and advocacy for the Aboriginal Arts Industry and artists.
Priscilla Major
Director
Priscilla Major, also known as Ma Cheltrulalie, is an elder from the Kokoberra peoples on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula. The Kokoberra people are the Traditional Owners of the Mitchell River area, which includes the Aboriginal community of Kowanyama. Priscilla is a founding member of UMI Arts and has dedicated her life to living and working in the community. She focuses on passing down traditional language, stories, and art to younger generations.
Yvette Walker
Director
Yvette Walker grew up between North Queensland and Brisbane, with a Scottish father and mother of Aboriginal, Indonesian, and Chinese descent. Her heritage is with the Waanyi people of Northeast Queensland. Making her professional acting debut in 1996 with Kooemba Jdarra in Jack Davis’ The Dreamers, Yvette has studied at the Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts and is now ready to follow her passion to contribute to First Nation’s advancement.