Nominations will be considered from South Australian Aboriginal people who live in South Australia and who meet the selection criteria. Successful nominees can demonstrate their interest and experience in working with Aboriginal heritage in South Australia; display an appreciation of the Act and the Committee's functions, as well as their understanding of good governance principles and practices.

Eligible individuals may self-nominate or be nominated by their local community. If self-nominating, an endorsement from a Recognised Aboriginal Representative Body, native title or heritage body is highly recommended and should be provided unless there is good reason not to.

Nominations will be accepted where the selection criteria (within the nomination form) has been addressed, and the form has been signed by the nominee.

The nomination form can be downloaded here:

State Aboriginal Heritage Committee Nomination Form 2026 (PDF, 288.7 KB)

Contact the Committee's Executive Officer if you would like a copy of the nomination form mailed or emailed to you.

Email: jill.walsh@sa.gov.au
Ph: 8429 9413

Nominations close at 5.00pm on Monday 25 May 2026.

Please note that late nominations will not be accepted. Completed nomination forms should be posted or emailed to:

Jill Walsh, Executive Officer – State Aboriginal Heritage Committee
c/- Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, AGD
GPO Box 464, Adelaide SA 5001

Email: jill.walsh@sa.gov.au

For more information please phone 8429 9413

Fiona Singer – Chairperson (2022 –); member (– 2028)

Fiona Singer is an Arabana and Arrernte woman with over 25 years’ experience working within both Commonwealth and State Governments, and has qualifications in management.

Fiona is passionate about heritage and has a comprehensive knowledge and appreciation of the cultural, social and economic needs and challenges of Aboriginal people and Communities in South Australia, particularly native title holders.

Joshua Haynes – Vice-Chair (2022 –); member (– 2027)

Joshua Haynes is a Yandruwandha man who is currently a director of the National Native Title Council, Chair of the Maree-Innamincka Landscape Group and Chair of South Australian Native Title Services. Joshua is appointed to Victoria's Dhawura Ngilan (Remembering Country) steering committee, which seeks to implement nationally consistent Aboriginal heritage legislation across Australia that will improve heritage protection, strengthen culture and give primacy to the voices of Aboriginal people in respect of their own cultural heritage.

Ali Abdullah-Highfold (– 2026)

Ali Abdullah-Highfold is a Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri, Narungga, Kokatha and Wirangu man. Ali has worked with the South Australian museum for the last 25 years, where he repatriates cultural heritage information back to communities across Australia and provides family history research services for Aboriginal people to reconnect to family, community and country. Ali is passionate about protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage and giving the Aboriginal community a voice for their cultural heritage interests.

Elaine Kite (- 2027)

Elaine is Kokatha and a member of Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation (KAC), a former KAC director and currently serves as a member of the KAC Culture and Heritage Committee. She is also a member of Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara Aboriginal Corporation and the Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation.

Elaine is passionate about social justice for Australia's First Peoples and is committed to ensuring our diverse cultural traditions, our cultural rights and interests, wherever they exist, are protected and upheld for future generations.

As a recent appointee to the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee, Elaine welcomes this opportunity to work with members of the Committee to ensure that, to the best of our collective abilities, members work together to uphold the cultural heritage of our Aboriginal communities throughout South Australia.

Kahlia Gibson (– 2028)

Kahlia Gibson is a proud Kokatha and Barkandji woman, currently living on Kaurna Country. She is deeply committed to the promotion, protection, and preservation of Aboriginal cultural heritage and brings a strong background in governance, advocacy, and community engagement.

Kahlia has previously served as Chairperson and Recognised Aboriginal Representative Body (RARB) Project Officer with Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, where she played a key role in representing and advancing the interests of her community. She has recently been reappointed as a member of the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee, where she continues to contribute her knowledge and lived experience to support the safeguarding of Aboriginal heritage across South Australia.

Ken Jones (– 2028)

A Bunganditj Elder, Ken’s interest in the environment began early through regular family hunting and fishing trips along the Limestone Coast, discovering bush tucker, growing a native fruit orchard and timber forests. His work and volunteer career spans commercial fishing management, environmental building, habitat restoration and field and bird surveys.

From near Port MacDonnell, Ken now teaches and addresses care for intangible heritage values and the environment within Bunganditj Country.

Kym Thomas (– 2028)

Kym Thomas is a proud Nukunu Aboriginal person committed to the holistic development of people and communities in personal development, health, employment, education and the protection and preservation of Aboriginal Heritage. Kym is a former Researcher with the University of Adelaide's Rural Clinical School in Port Augusta. He retired from the University in December 2024. Kym was honoured to receive the Degree of Doctor of the University of Adelaide (honoris causa) in September 2025. He has over 25 years' experience in government and tertiary education sectors, where he has maintained collaborative partnerships with Aboriginal organisations and services across the state. He is the former Chairperson for Nukunu Wapma Thura Aboriginal Corporation.

Kym's belief that Aboriginal cultural heritage is important for all Australians, and that it warrants appropriate protections, led him to seek membership of the Committee.

Marius Liddle (– 2027)

Marius Liddle is an Arrernte man born in Adelaide with family ties to the Mparntwe/Tyuretye, Irlpme and Uremerne traditional estates in Central Australia. Having grown up in the Riverland, Marius has maintained a strong commitment to regional environmental preservation and community wellbeing.

Marius is the Founder and Director of MTL Consulting Services, a South Australian First Nations-owned consultancy that delivers strategic, culturally informed solutions for governments, corporations, and community organisations. He is dedicated to ensuring that First Nations voices are central in decision-making and policy development, particularly in areas of cultural autonomy, economic opportunity, and community-led change.

With strong values of respect, inclusivity, and cultural integrity, Marius continues to contribute through board and committee roles, championing the protection of heritage sites and artefacts and supporting the long-term sustainability of First Nations peoples and communities.

Robert (Jimmy) Neville (– 2027)

Jimmy Neville is of Adnyamathanha / Kuyani descent.

Adnyamathanha / Kuyani lands are the Flinders Ranges, from Quorn, where Jimmy was born, through to Hawker and as far as Roxby Downs.

Jimmy grew up on Country, in the company of his grandfather and uncle, from whom he gained his cultural knowledge and his knowledge of his Adnyamathanha / Kuyani heritage.

Jimmy is a fluent Adnyamathanha speaker and understands a number of other South Australian Aboriginal languages.

Sue Haseldine (– 2027)

Sue Haseldine is a Kokatha woman from Ceduna. She is a member of the Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation. Sue is a long-time advocate for heritage protection, having tended sacred sites for most of her life. Sue currently works with educators, taking young people onto Country to teach them the traditional ways and stories.

Vicki Dodd (– 2026)

Vicki Dodd is a proud descendant of the Cooper Basin and Lake Eyre region, born and raised on Country. Her deep cultural connection to Land and Community has guided both her personal and professional journey.

Vicki has worked across government, non-government, and not-for-profit sectors, building experience in governance, community development, and service delivery.

Grounded in her heritage and driven by a commitment to Community, Vicki continues to contribute in ways that strengthen both culture and future opportunities.

*Biographical information is correct at the time of publication.