Our People and Governance

Simon McKeon

Patron

Simon McKeon is a member of the Big Issue Advisory Board and an Australia Day Ambassador for the Victorian Government. He previously served as Chancellor of Monash University, Chairman of In2Science, AMP and CSIRO and the Group of Eight's Industry and Innovation Board. He was Founding President of the Federal Government's Australian Takeovers Panel, as well as its Point Nepean Community Trust.

Other previous roles include Founding Chairman of MS Research Australia and Business for Millennium Development. He was also Chairman of the Federal Government's Panel which in 2013 completed a Strategic Review of Health and Medical Research. Simon was also the 2011 Australian of the Year.

Martin Hirons

Patron

Martin Hirons is Managing Director of Solucio and a highly respected strategist, researcher, and business leader with over 35 years of experience across the sport, leisure, and community sectors. From his first role selling basketball sponsorships to guiding national strategies for leading organisations, Martin has built a reputation for seeing the big picture and turning it into action.

Before joining Solucio he held senior roles with Sweeney Research, where he became a Director. His diverse career also includes leadership roles in Canada, teaching roles at universities in Australia and North America, and on the frontlines of sport, directing a professional golf tournament on the Canadian Tour.

Community-oriented he’s held board and leadership roles with Amputee Golf Victoria, State Baseball and Softball Centre and 16 years as Red Dust’s Inaugural Chair.

Ally Anderson

Ambassador

Ally Anderson is a proud Gangulu woman and AFLW midfielder for the Brisbane Lions. She was part of the Brisbane team that won the AFL Wonmen’s premiership in 2021 and won the AFL Women’s season seven best and fairest award. Ally was also a duel Brisbane best and fairest winner and was named in the 2019AFL Women’s All-Australian team.

Alongside being an ambassador for Red Dust, Ally is an ambassador for JobTrail. They help Indigenous job seekers along each step of their employment journey and assist employers with their Indigenous engagement initiatives.

Ally is an active role model for young First Nations women and players and has coached the AFL Indigenous KickStart program made up of U17s Queensland and Torres Strait Islander girls.

Dane Simpson

Ambassador

Dane Simpson burst onto the scene in 2015 as a national finalist on Deadly Funny and from there it has been a fast-rising trajectory for this comedian in hot demand. A whirlwind of corporate gigs, tours and festival runs were to follow, both as a solo artist and as part of Aborigi-LOL. Dane has toured his hit show Didgerydoozy at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and debuted his new show Always Was Always Will Be Funny at the MICF. Dane has also appeared with his dad Bow competing on Network Ten’s The Amazing Race – Celebrity Edition.  He produces the monthly Riverina Comedy Club and is a programmer/producer of the Wagga Comedy Festival, as well as being a regular guest on ABC radio with Anna Moulder and Richard Glover’s TGIF show.

Dane’s stratospheric rise continued with guest appearances on Just for Laughs, Would I Lie to You?, The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala, Have You Been Paying Attention?, Wil Anderson's Question Everything, Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow (2022 & 2023), Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala (2021), Get Krackin’, The Hundred with Andy Lee, SBS's Letters & Numbers, and even showing off his cooking skills (or lack thereof) on The Cook-Up with Adam Liaw. He will soon be seen on Guy Montgomery’s Spelling Bee.

Dane is also an accomplished actor with roles in The Emu War (2023), Residence (2024 release), The Merger (2018), and Get Krackin’ (2019). He’s also a sought-after MC and comedian on the corporate circuit.

Melanie Jones OAM

Ambassador

Melanie (MJ) is known as a pioneer for women's cricket in Australia and around the world. She brings a wealth of sporting experience and achievement to her role, having represented Australia in winning multiple World Cups and Ashes teams.

A qualified teacher, she went on to work in cricket development and sports management before pursing a media career and is currently commentating cricket on domestic and international cricket events including the Australian and England summers, ICC World Cups and the Indian Premier League.

MJ recently finished as a Director on the Board of Cricket Australia which included being Co-Chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Indigenous Cricket Committee.

Molly Hunt

Ambassador

Molly Hunt is a Balanggarra /Yolngu woman with connections to Bunuba /Jaru & Gija Country. Originally from Wyndham, Kimberley, Western Australia.

Her blend of digital illustrations, animations and mural art has earned the attention from major brands such as BodyShop, Google, TikTok, EA Sports, Platypus and FIFA.

Molly's recent work, ‘This Book Thinks Ya Deadly’. Her debut illustrated book with Deadly Science Founder Corey Tutt. Is found all over Australia, has been named one of Australia’s top read children’s books for 2023. She made a career debut as a comic writer. Co-writing with Dark Hearts Author Scott Wilson on ‘DREAMWALKER’, the first ever Kimberley Blak, Female superhero - the first of it’s kind!

Before devoting her career to art, Molly made a name for herself as a journalist. Over the years, she has written amazing pieces on race, injustice, mental health and self-love. Molly has worked in mainstream media such as The ABC, Channel 10, Vogue and JUNKIE Media.

Molly unique approach to storytelling is what sets her apart from others. Effortlessly communicates strong messages through her style.

Sarah Hosking

Ambassador

Sarah is the vice-captain of the Richmond Tigers Football Club and an experienced midfielder. Her passion and dedication for the sport is shown through her continuous success. One of these accomplishments is holding the most tackles in an AFLW game, with 16 tackles against GWS in 2018.

Using her influence for good, Sarah has been working with several initiatives and charities. ‘2 Boots’ is one of these charities and has been established by her twin sister, Jess.

Santo Cilauro

Friend of Red Dust

Santo is a filmmaker and TV personality with the Working Dog team. His work includes such classics as The Late Show, D Generation, Frontline, The Castle, The Dish, Thank God You're Here, The Panel, and worked with Glenn Robbins in All Aussie Adventures.

Santo generously gives his time and expertise to encourage remote students.

Ray Minniecon

Cultural Advisor

Ray is a descendant of the Kabi Kabi nation and the Gurang Gurang nation of South East Queensland, the South Sea Islander people, with connections to the people of Ambrym Island.

Ray earned a BA in Theology and helped establish the Aboriginal Education Unit in Murdoch University. He has also worked for World Vision Australia's Indigenous programs.

Scott Stirling

CEO

Scott is an experienced public health executive who joined Red Dust in 2017 following five years as a senior manager at the Stroke Foundation.

Born and raised in North East Arnhem Land Scott is a passionate advocate for working in partnership with remote communities to improve health and wellbeing outcomes.

Alan Palmer

Regional Manager | Strong Young Men & Boys Program Manager

Alan is an Arrernte & Kaytij man with German ancestry. A qualified health worker Alan is a generous sharer of cultural knowledge and draws from extensive personal Central Australian family and community stories to inform, educate and mentor young people.