MEET THE TEAM
OUR OPERATIONS STAFF
LIONEL LAUCH
FOUNDER & CEO
Read Lionel’s Bio….
Lionel Lauch is a Gunditjmara Kirrae Wurrung-Bundjalung man, residing in his home country on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. The Peninsula has been home to Lionel since he was 6 years old, where, as a child, he was drawn to exploring the land and natural environment and developing a deep connection and understanding to his country and cultural heritage.
Lionel has a passion for expanding and sharing his vast knowledge of cultural practices, stories, production of artifacts and traditional tools, bush foods and medicines, healing, building practices, artworks, music, dance, traditional ceremonies and contemporary engagement programs. He embraces the opportunity to share his extensive knowledge of the land and Indigenous cultures and traditions with the wider public through guided walks ‘on country’, yidaki healing, meditations, smoking ceremonies, talks and educational programs in agreement with both the Bunurong Land Council and the Boonwurrung Foundation to work on Country which we are based on.
Lionel is also a well-known artist, visually depicting his culture and lore through paintings, murals, carvings and sculpture. His works are made with passion which is evident in the final result of all his work.
“I teach people about the importance of the land. The land can live without us, but we can’t live without mother earth”
“I teach respect and healing and i help other people, black or white, to get through their problems, as I have experienced a great deal of what life can throw at you”
Lionel has the blessings of the local Boon Wurrung and Bunurong community to share traditional knowledge and stories specific to the area.
HEIDI DUELL
CO-FOUNDER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, EVENTS, PARTNERSHIPS & STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT
Read Heidi’s Bio….
Heidi began her career in the disability sector & moved to the surf industry when her children were young.
Since then has worked and volunteered for many not for profit and grassroots groups.
She is proud of the many collaborative community initiatives that has seen upgrades to services and infrastructure that support our ocean environment whilst protecting and rehabilitating public land and strengthening community voices and awareness towards things that matter.
Her favorite things are her children, surfing, lazy days reading, live music and whenever possible traveling off the tracks barefoot and footloose.
SKYLA LAUCH
CULTURAL GUIDE, ARTIST & DANCER
Read Skyla’s Bio….
Skyla is a 24 year old Gunditjmara Kirrae Wurrung-Bundjalung women, who was born and raised on Boonwurrung/ Bunurong land.
From as early as Skyla can remember, culture has been a very large part of her life.
As Lionel’s daughter, Skyla’s childhood consisted of weekly trips out to the bush, learning of how her ancestors lived off the land, making artwork with her father, attending cultural workshops, and being part of the original Baluk Arts dance group. Skyla found a real passion for dancing in particular. It allows her to self-express and connect to the land and her ancestors. She now is part of the trio that is, ‘The Kalat dancers’.
All her life, Skyla has also been a very talented and passionate sportswoman who went on to become a national-level sprinter. This led to her becoming a 3x NAIDOC Sports Person of the Year and 2x NAIDOC Youth of the Year, with her first NAIDOC award being when she was just 9 years old. Skyla’s love for sports drove her to complete a bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science at Deakin University.
Skyla’s love for art and storytelling has always been an important thing in her life. She recently has started collaborating with brands/companies, creating digital contemporary Aboriginal art. This passion has led to Skyla creating her own brand, Pink Ochre Collective, where she hopes to create wearable art, combining her passion for culture with her love for fashion.
Another passion of Skyla’s is the modeling and fashion world. She has been an agency-signed model since the age of 12 and has participated in 3 Melbourne Fashion Festival runway shows, hundreds of photo shoots, editorial campaigns, and national advertisements. She even won the title of Miss Galaxy Australia 2023, the first Aboriginal woman to ever win this title. It is through her modeling work that Skyla hopes to inspire other young Indigenous women to become whatever they want to be and to follow their dreams because anything is possible.
MEG BUTCHER
ACCOUNTS & OPERATIONS MANAGER
Read Meg’s Bio….
HUDSON FRASER
CULTURAL GUIDE
Read Hudson’s Bio….