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Our People
Our People
Asha Bhat - CEO
Asha Bhat leads the award-winning regional Southern Aboriginal Corporation (SAC), which provides services and programs that address the Noongar peoples' needs and aspirations in cooperation with other community and business organizations. With an asset base of $24 million, SAC provides services and programs in areas such as structured indigenous training and employment, family violence prevention, affordable housing, healthcare support and legal services.
Asha has worked across all levels of the organization, from grassroots through senior management, and as CEO, she oversees all aspects of the organization and is responsible for ensuring that sustainability and viability are built into operations on a daily basis.
Under Asha’s leadership, SAC has won awards for demonstrating its impact in the community, including the Community Business Award of the Year 2016 and the 2018 Community Services Excellence Award which recognises excellent leadership and services to the Noongar Community.
Asha has an MBA from Kaplan Business School and holds master’s and bachelor's degrees in mathematics and business and professional accounting. She is an associate member of CPA and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In 2017 Asha received the Albany Citizen of the Year award and in both 2017 and 2020 was a finalist in the Telstra WA Business Women of the Year Awards. Asha was selected to attend the Global Ambassadors Program in Chicago in September 2016 and she was one of the 11 women leaders selected globally and only awardee from Australia. Asha is also a Cordes fellow and participated in opportunity collaboration in Mexico in 2018. She was one of the 60 successful Cordes fellow and the calibre of Cordes applicants included high-impact, innovative, entrepreneurial for-profit and non-profit executives with a demonstrated commitment to social justice and poverty alleviation.
Oscar Colbung - Deputy CEO
Oscar Colbung manages the Indigenous Community Links (ICL), Health Promotion, Aboriginal Training and Employment (ATE) and Family Violence Prevention Legal Service (FVPLS).
Oscar has been in the role of FVPLS Manager at the Southern Aboriginal Corporation in Albany since July 2015. Prior to this position he worked for SAC for 27 years as a Field Officer, Manager of Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP), Family Violence Regional Activities (FVRAP) Social Program Manager and as Community Relations Manager.
In his previous role as FVRAP Manager he has coordinated, planned, implemented and evaluated many family violence preventative projects and health initiatives in order to reduce the incidence of family violence and to promote healthier lifestyles. Oscar has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Aboriginal Community Management and Development from Curtin University of Technology. At a community level, he is a respected member of the local Noongar and wider community and has developed strong networks and built constructive relationships within the Noongar community. Oscar has worked on several not for profit Boards and was a previous chairperson of SAC.
Susan Lee - Community Support Officer (FVPLS) Katanning
I have worked with Noongar families in my many and varied roles ever since I came to Katanning in 2007. These have been local families in Katanning but also through outreach, such places as Gnowangerup, Tambellup and Jerramungup to name just a few of the places I have worked within the community.
I love helping Noongar women to hopefully make them feel empowered.
Living in a small country town gives me plenty of time to relax and enjoy my blended family. Between my partner and I, we have six adult sons and six grandchildren. Half of the grandchildren live in Katanning and the other half live in Perth.
Pamela Watts - Counsellor/Community Support Officer (FVPLS)
I am a Mother to a beautiful daughter, two sons and have been blessed with three grandchildren. (I want more) 😊
Family is my first love, empowering and supporting people is a passion of mine and I am honoured to be in a position to provide for community.
My employment started with Southern Aboriginal Corporation in 2011 as an educator trainer Moordity Yakka Pre employment program, then in 2012 as Indigenous Community Links coordinator, to be in my current role as Counsellor/ Community Support since 2014.
I hold a Diploma of Community Services, Diploma of Counselling, Certs in Youth Work and Mental Health with extensive experience in trauma informed practice and 16 years of collective knowledge and highly developed skills from employment in Community Service roles in Personal support programs, Juvenile Justice Officer, Career Guidance Counsellor and headspace to provide the best care and support to clients and families.
Sri Mallela - Finance Manager
Cricket. Mangoes, and family. My name is Sri, and those are just three of the many things I love. Moving from India to New Zealand almost two decades ago, and then moving from New Zealand to Australia in 2011, I have found Albany to be my peaceful home.
I am a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand. I have vast experience in the hospitality industry, and legal sector. I enjoy working at SAC because it gives me the opportunity to give back to the community in the best way I can, through my profession.
My beautiful wife and two kids are what keep me going, and to say I'm a family man is an understatement.
In my spare time, I love going for long walks as it keeps me fit and lets me enjoy Albany's beautiful scenery. I also enjoy playing cricket with my kids, and watching documentaries on Netflix.