Board Members
Director and Chief Executive Officer
Ricky Grace, MEDL BPolSc
Olympian and champion basketball player Ricky Grace has been a board member since 2004. Ricky holds a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Notre Dame University in Western Australia and his leadership qualifications and experience are further demonstrated by his five-time nomination as Most Valuable Player for the Perth Wildcats. Ricky is passionate and dedicated to the continued success of the Girls Academy in bringing about positive change and breaking down the barriers that prevent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls from completing their education.
Chairman and Chief Financial Officer
Simon Chesson, MBA (UWA) CPA CFP FFinSIA
Simon has been a board member since 2004 and has been awarded the degrees of Master of Business of Administration, and a Bachelor of Commerce. He is a qualified Certified Practicing Accountant, a qualified Certified Financial Planner, and a fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.
Simon Chesson has over 15 years experience in business, accounting, and the property industry. He has extensive experience as a Director and company secretary of numerous public and private companies. He has extensive experience with the Corporation Acts 2001 and Managed Investments Industry.
Non Executive Director
Sydney Chesson, Juris Doctor, MBA, CREM, FAICD
Sydney has been a board member since 2004 and has been awarded a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Notre Dame Australia, where he was admitted to the Vice Chancellor’s list for academic excellence. He is a licensed real estate agent and business broker, and a licensed finance broker. He has extensive experience in importing and exporting, production and manufacturing. He has over 25 years experience in real estate and over 35 years experience in business and commercial activities.
As a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Sydney has considerable experience as a Director of listed and unlisted public companies, unlisted property trusts, managed investment schemes, and several private companies.
Non Executive Director
Brett Lovelle
Brett has been a board member since 2013, he has in excess of 27 years of professional experience as an Executive, Management Consultant and Management Accountant with a major focus on businesses consulting in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. Brett has enjoyed broad and diverse experiences in both Corporate and Government sectors with a focus on business and ICT strategy development, design thinking, operational efficiency, strategic sourcing and the implementation of transformational change programs.
Non Executive Director
Dr Robert Isaacs, OAM, PhD, JP
Dr Robert Isaacs joined the board in 2016 and is from the WHADJUK- Bibilmum Wardandi Noongar language group of South Western Australia. He is the Chair of the Australia Day Council WA, Executive Member to the State Aboriginal Advisory Council – Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act, and is a Life Member of the Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service.
He is an inspiring, highly regarded and well respected Indigenous Australian who devotes his life to breaking down cultural barriers and improving the lives of disadvantaged people. His outstanding efforts earned him the accolade of 2015 Western Australian of the Year and the 2015 Outstanding Achievement Award at the NAIDOC Perth Awards.
Non Executive Director
Debbie Barwick
Debbie Barwick is one of Australia’s most accomplished Aboriginal women and joined the RMLA board in 2018. Debbie is a Kamilaroi Woman from Bora Crossing who has spent the past 17 years working to support the establishment and growth of viable Aboriginal businesses. She is the CEO, Founder and Chair of the New South Wales Indigenous Chamber of Commerce and has made significant contributions to the Aboriginal business sector, and her governance and strategic abilities are highly valued by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities and by the government and corporate sectors.