Our Team

Associate Professor Rick Macourt is a proud, queer Gumbaynggirr man, lawyer, and economic specialist. He leads First Nations Economics as Managing Director of Strategy and Foundation and serves as Associate Dean of First Nations Strategy and Services at the University of Sydney.

With over 15 years of experience spanning government, corporate, and not-for-profit sectors, Rick is deeply committed to advancing the economic development of First Peoples. As the former Director of First Nations Expenditure and Outcomes at NSW Treasury, he spearheaded the state’s inaugural Indigenous expenditure reporting processes and established the groundbreaking First Nations budget process in 2021/22. Previously, Rick held an executive role at the Westpac Group, overseeing First Nations affairs, and has a rich history in government, monitoring, evaluation, and negotiation, with senior positions at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, City of Sydney, and Standards Australia.

Rick is a published author with Oxford University Press, a member of the First Nations Advisory Board of Siemens Australia, and a Non-Executive Director on the board of Barnardos Australia.

Lindsay is a proud Gija man with over 25 years of experience driving strategic outcomes across government, industry, and community sectors. With extensive policy and strategic leadership experience in the Western Australian government, Lindsay has specialised in regional economic development, investment strategy, policy design, and local government service delivery. He previously led First Nations-focused consultancy practices at EY, delivering high-impact programs and masterclasses for leading institutions, including the Australian Rural Leadership Program and the Australian Major Projects Leadership Academy. Lindsay is deeply committed to designing governance frameworks and embedding robust cultural integrity systems, ensuring alignment between economic objectives and genuine community values. His career reflects a strong dedication to authentic stakeholder engagement, land-based economic development, and achieving meaningful outcomes for First Nations communities.

Elaine is an experienced leader with family ties to Far North Queensland. She currently serves as FNE’s Manager, Partnerships and Public Relations. Elaine brings over 15 years of experience in Indigenous engagement, social responsibility, and economic development, gained across various sectors, including government, non-profit organisations, and private enterprises in regional and remote Northern Australia. Now based in Naarm (Melbourne), she previously held key leadership roles, including Executive Manager of the Goldfields Aboriginal Business Chamber and CEO of the Broome Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Leanne is a well-respected ally and FNE’s Manager, Community Impact. Since entering the financial services industry in 2002, she has developed strong relationships with Aboriginal companies, communities, and individuals across Eastern Australia. Leanne is passionate about financial education and fostering trusted, connected relationships. Drawing on her professional experience, she has provided practical support and created opportunities for people in regional, remote, and urban areas. This dedication was particularly evident in her previous role as Manager of Indigenous Business at Westpac.

Chris is a highly accomplished and trusted management consultant with extensive experience across public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. As an experienced management consultant, he specialises in all facets of business analysis and solutions, particularly in effective project delivery for large-scale and complex organisational transformations across various industries. As a graduate of Victoria University, holding a MBA and a Master of Change, Innovation, and Leadership, Chris is known for developing and maintaining key stakeholder relationships, collaborating to create and embed meaningful change, and leveraging innovative and agile ways of working. Raised on Dharug land and now residing on Wurundjeri Country, Chris has contributed to major initiatives, including evaluating large-scale programs, implementing data management systems, and supporting partnership resourcing.