Economic Development Manager - MYAC
Dewayne is a ninth generation Mandingalbay Yidinji man and graduated from the Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Arts (Justice). Dewayne has over 20 years' experience in native title, six years as the CEO for a native title representative body and achieved 17 native title determinations during that time.
Since 2012 Dewayne has been engaged by MYAC as the IPA Tourism and Infrastructure Manager, transitioned into the Economic Development Manager (2023) to enhance and progress socio-economic opportunities through the establishment of network partnerships with industry and levels of government. During this time, Dewayne has been instrumental in the negotiating outcomes particularly primary agreements to enable commercial tourism activities to occur on MY lands, whilst ensuring the natural and cultural values remain intact.
Dewayne is currently managing the development of the Mandingalbay Yidinji Eco Cultural Tourism Infrastructure Project located at East Trinity Lot 158 adjacent to the Cairns CBD. Dewayne is also the Chairperson for the Gunggandji Mandingalbay Yidinji Peoples PBC (GMYPPBC) and guiding the GMYPPBC to amending the Yarrabah Town Planning Scheme, establishing an Indigenous Land Use Agreement and lodgement of a Development Application via the Masterplan Project for the Trusteeship Area. Volunteers his time to local PBCs to assist them to achieve their aspirations for country by thinking beyond borders.
