Introducing the ELP team
Laura Egan has had a passion for using innovative business models to address social issues since 2005. After completing a double degree in Arts/Commerce, she volunteered with a small organisation in India that was working to create economic empowerment opportunities for women; it was here that she first saw microenterprise being used as a tool for community development.
When she returned to Australia in 2006 she began working in the remote Ngaanyatjarra Lands as a Youth Development Officer with the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku. She started exploring how microenterprise would work in a remote Australian context and found that it was well suited to remote Aboriginal communities as it:
Once she realised there was a dearth of support in this area, she began developing an organisation to help people living in remote communities develop the skills, confidence and experience to explore and develop their ideas.
Steve Fisher is ELP’s Strategic Development Advisor. Steve is the Director of Community Works and brings his extensive experience in participatory training and facilitation in a wide range of community, Indigenous and cross-cultural settings. His specialised skills include international development practice, monitoring and evaluation, community development and appropriate technology, as well as professional coaching, strategic development and attracting resources for new ventures. Steve’s knowledge and expertise have been invaluable to the growth and development of ELP.
Shannyn Palmer is the lead facilitator of ELP’s Ngaanyatjarra Lands project. Shannyn is based in Alice Springs and is currently working towards a PhD under the theme of Deepening Histories of Place. She is passionate about working alongside people in communities to create spaces where Aboriginal people can realise locally driven ideas and projects, and believes that learning and capacity-building in a cross-cultural context go both ways.
Sharratine Campbell is our community-based facilitator in Yarralin community. Sharratine is a Traditional Owner of the Ngaringman people and has been working with ELP since September last year to explore and develop enterprise initiatives with community members in Yarralin. Sharratine has a two-year-old son Tayo and also works part-time at the Yarralin Safe House.
Dominique Costello recently joined the ELP team to support ELP’s work in Yarralin community. Dom is a very proud third generation Kamilaroi woman, with family connections to remote central New South Wales. Dom is passionate about facilitating a space for Aboriginal people to be expressive, self-determinate, cultural, engaged, encouraged and valued within the broader community. As a business owner herself, Dom is excited about the ways in which micro-enterprise can enable the growth of strong and sustainable communities into the future.
Rhett Hammerton is a freelance photographer based in Alice Springs and contributes his skills to ELP through his role of Creative Director. He provides photography and design expertise across a range of projects and has assisted a number of enterprises with logo design. Rhett’s current work with ELP involves assisting members of Yarralin community to develop a calendar. He looks forward to sharing his passion for photography with people living in remote communities and will continue to work alongside ELP to support individuals exploring photography-based enterprise opportunities.