Meet the team
Larissa Pickalla
Director
As Director of the Hub and a proud Djiringanj (Yuin) woman, Larissa leverages over 20 years of diverse educational experience. She is dedicated to growing the next generation of Aboriginal teachers and leaders. Her work focuses on embedding culturally responsive pedagogy and building sustainable, community-led education pathways across the NT.
Haydon Staines
First Nations Educational Leadership Coordinator
Haydon is a proud Indigenous educator and the Hub's First Nations Educational Leadership Coordinator. He is also a Lecturer in Indigenous Knowledges at CDU. He works to promote culturally responsive teaching and empower Indigenous leadership, and champions the inclusion of First Nations knowledges, languages, and perspectives across education systems.
Grace Skehan
Academic Programs Manager
Grace is the Academic Programs Manager and a Lecturer, bringing over a decade of teaching experience in the NT. She is passionate about literacy, numeracy, and language education, and her PhD research focuses on co-designing Initial Teacher Education. She has deep knowledge of culturally responsive and inclusive teaching practices to contribute to the Hub's work.
Sheyenne Von Senden
Lecturer in Indigenous Knowledges - Pre Education Pathways
Sheyenne is a proud Alawa and Marra woman and a Lecturer in Indigenous Knowledges for the Hub. Trained as a Social Worker, she is passionate about decolonising curriculum and advancing First Nations education and health. She brings rich practice knowledge from child protection and wellbeing, and is committed to being a strong role model for her community.
Jean-Eddy Moutou
Marketing and Communication – Digital Content Producer
Jean-Eddy is the Hub's digital content producer and a multidisciplinary creative professional. With over 20 years of experience, he leads the Hub's branding and digital storytelling. He creates culturally grounded visual stories to showcase First Nations educators and community voices, blending technical skill with cultural sensitivity to bring the Hub's vision to life.
Keippa Newton
Administration Officer
Keippa is the Administration Officer for the Hub, bringing over a decade of professional experience. Her background includes international study programs, event management, and exam coordination. Her core interests are in project and administrative management, and she focuses on developing efficient systems to support staff and strengthen organisational objectives.
Ayesha Woibo
First Nations Academic Support Officer
Ayesha is a Bindhi Warra woman and a First Nations Academic Support Officer for the Hub. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Governance and Policy, she is passionate about helping students succeed in their studies. Ayesha has a strong interest in language revitalisation and uses her role to support students on their academic journey.
Pat Fleming
First Nations Education Pipeline Coordinator
Pat is the First Nations Education Pipeline Coordinator, managing the Pre-Education Pathways Program. He prepares assistant teachers and school leavers for teacher education. With a background in teaching and youth mentoring, he supports students' journeys toward higher education. He is passionate about empowering Aboriginal people to create positive change for themselves and their communities.
Jakinta Ryan
Lecturer
Jakinta is a Lecturer for the Hub with broad experience in remote schools, VET, and higher education. Her work focuses on supporting First Nations learners through innovative, culturally responsive programs. Committed to two-way learning, she blends Indigenous knowledge with Western science, and her teaching philosophy centres on building bridges between knowledge systems.
Belinda Stapleton
Lecturer – TAE and VET Pathways
Belinda is a Lecturer for TAE and VET Pathways, with over 13 years of VET sector experience. She collaborates with First Nations Australians to co-design and contextualise the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. Her work strengthens local capacity by developing First Nations trainers and assessors, and focuses on creating culturally relevant, community-focused training resources.