our team
Angus Crichton
FOUNDING DIRECTOR
Angus is a professional footballer for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL. Angus spent the first three seasons of his professional football career at the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Angus was a boarder at The Scots College, having grown up on a farm in country NSW. Angus was known at school for two things: his talent as a rugby player, and the energy and commitment he put into the Indigenous program.
His support and friendship with the First Nations boys provided a great example to other students, and this helped develop a very successful Indigenous Program.
Angus’ ongoing commitment to the advancement of Indigenous peoples has since lead to the establishment of First People Project.
Gyan ainkaran
Managing DIRECTOR
Gyan is currently studying medicine, and works part-time for Yalari with the Indigenous boys at Riverview and Shore. Through working for Yalari he has come to see how transformative a good education can be, not only for the individual, but for the communities they are a part of – he wholeheartedly believes that education is a vehicle for intergenerational change.
He has also seen first-hand that the stories of these students is rarely smooth sailing, they face several challenges both during and after school, those of which can often hinder their experience and prevent them from maximising their full potential.
To that end, he thoroughly believes that in creating a strong ‘pathways’ mentoring program, it is possible to increase the traction that these students gain post-school, thereby helping them to achieve their goals.
Jonny Samengo
Jonny has spent most of the last decade helping Indigenous young men gain a top-class education through his leadership of the Indigenous Education Program at The Scots College. In this time, Jonny grew the program from a fledgling concept to arguably the most respected program of its kind in Australia. He was responsible for raising over eight million dollars from private and institutional donors and helping educate over 40 young Indigenous men from around Australia including boys from urban, regional and remote communities. Under Jonny’s leadership, the program became known for its pioneering drive to open the school up to boys from remote communities in the NT and Torres Strait.
Jonny has always recognised the need for the development and encouragement of enterprise in remote communities. He has a reputation of making things happen, and is known for his passion in helping young Indigenous people, and building a community of committed supporters and volunteers. As a member of First People Project, Jonny has an exciting pathway in continuing to help Indigenous people beyond youth into adulthood.
Dave Rawlings
Dave has a great passion for the inclusion and betterment of young people. He has championed effective initiatives such as the National Australia Bank Emerging Youth Leader (Diversity) Project, worked with SWYPE Mission Australia on social inclusion and enterprise initiatives, and coordinated the delivery of Indigenous sport programs in conjunction with both the Federal and State Government.
Dave is recognised as an aligned partner with the NSW Council for Pacific Communities and has invested significantly in the mentoring of young people of Indigenous and Pacific cultures.
As the founder of RSM, Dave has developed strong networks in the sport and media industries. His core principles around inclusivity, diversity and equity help underpin and drive the outcomes of First People Project.
