Sonia James moved to Australia from India to complete her Masters Degree in Engineering Science (Management) in Brisbane.
She has since started working in the manufacturing industry and is currently working with Molycop, a Newcastle based supplier of mining consumables and related services.
Sonia was the winner of the Rising Start category in the Hunter Manufacturing Awards 2021 in recognition of her work in showing leadership in her role.
She was also selected for Standards Australia NEXTGen Program 2021 – 22. Standards Australia’s NEXTgen Program selects emerging industry and technical experts and provides them with an exciting opportunity to become involved in the national and international standardisation processes supporting Australian industry and government.
In addition to her experience and skills in the manufacturing industry, she is also a trained Indian Classical Dancer and Choreographer.
-------
Taylah Gray is a proud Wiradjuri woman and worked as a criminal defence lawyer for the Aboriginal Legal Service. She now works as a sessional academic at the University of Newcastle, where she teaches Aboriginal Tertiary Studies through an alternative entry program. Taylah is undertaking a PhD in Law with a focus on Native Title and land reform for First Nations people in Australia.
In July 2020 (whilst still a law student at the University of Newcastle), she successfully defeated a prohibition order sought by the NSW police in the Supreme Court to block the Newcastle Black Lives Matter protest.
-------
Tareka Chatfield is the Managing Director of Koiop Connect and a proud descendant of the Meriam People of the Torres Strait Islands and a Mitakoodi Woman on her my Mother’s side.
Tareka is an accomplished People and Culture Professional and Indigenous Education and Employment specialist, who is passionate about quality education and self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
From an extensive career in training, workforce development and employment, empowering people to be the best version of themselves is what she does best. She wants her people to not just exist in a job, but achieve great things as they become connected with their inner-self and Communities.
As a strong advocate for self-determination, Tareka has played a key role in the development of a culturally safe and respectful business model for the provision of quality supports for those living with disability. She wants to share her knowledge and culture to make a difference in the lives of others.
As the key person behind staff development and training at Koiop Connect, she’s had success with building the resilience and leadership capabilities of our teams. She is driven to see individuals thrive in both the workplace and their local communities, where they can take pride in what they do by contributing personally and economically through a sustainable and progressive career.
"Whilst Managing Director is my title, there is so much more to the work that I do. I gain great personal satisfaction from the success of others, not just in their professional capacities, but also as they are enabled to make a genuine difference to their communities. By changing the mindset of my teams towards training and development, I am inspired by knowing I have had a direct input into their sense of achievement in their work, and the resultant personal growth."
