The WAITOC - Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council - Board is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Council. As a governing board, it guides and directs the Council, sets performance goals, ensures corporate compliance and management accountability, endorses strategic plans and approves operating budgets. The Board ensures that WAITOC has the resources necessary to achieve goals and outcomes on behalf of its members.
Darren ‘Capes’ Capewell
Chair | Western Australia
Darren "Capes" Capewell is a proud and passionate descendant of the Nhanda and Malgana People of Gutharraguda (Shark Bay) situated in the Yamaji region of Western Australia.
Capes is proud of his homeland and his family, he loves sharing his knowledge, leading his tour guests across a cultural divide and helping them to connect with one of the most pristine areas on the planet.
Capes is the owner and operator of Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventures and conducts on country eco cultural experiences around Gutharraguda. As a descendant of the land's Traditional Custodians, Capes feels it is his duty to be an ambassador for both his people and his country.
Steven Jacobs
Vice Chair | Destination Perth
Steven Jacobs is a proud Whadjuk Noongar man and the founder of In Culture Tours, an Aboriginal-owned cultural tourism business based in Perth, with deep ancestral ties to Whadjuk Country.
Through In Culture Tours, Steven shares the stories, traditions, and lived experiences of his people, guided by the teachings of Elders and grounded in respect for Country. His tours offer immersive and multi-sensory experiences, inviting guests to see, touch, smell, and taste Country while exploring Dreamtime stories, sacred sites, bush medicines, and the impacts of colonisation.
Since taking on leadership of In Culture Tours in 2023, Steven has guided visitors through some of Perth’s most iconic landscapes — including Fremantle (Walyalup), Kings Park (Kaarta Gar-up), and Cape Peron (Boya Kaarla) — creating opportunities for truth-telling, reconciliation, and connection.
Steven is deeply committed to empowering Aboriginal youth, strengthening community, and ensuring that Noongar culture is celebrated with pride, respect, and authenticity. His leadership reflects a strong belief that cultural tourism can unite people through shared understanding and respect for the world’s oldest living culture.
Ronald Morgan
Western Australia
Ronald Morgan is a proud Kimberley Aboriginal man, based in Kununurra, whose connection to Country is deep, enduring, and central to everything he does. As an operator of cultural tours on his homelands, Ronald shares stories and knowledge that have been passed down through generations, offering visitors an authentic and respectful insight into Aboriginal culture and the land.
Through his tours, Ronald seeks to educate, inspire, and build meaningful connections between people and Country. He has witnessed first-hand the transformative impact that tourism can have when led by Traditional Owners, creating opportunities for cultural education, economic growth, and reconciliation, while ensuring that culture remains at the heart of every experience.
Ronald’s approach is community-driven and grounded in cultural integrity. His tours go beyond simply showing places, they invite visitors to understand their spiritual and cultural significance. With a strong commitment to truth-telling and respect, Ronald champions Aboriginal-led tourism.
Neville Poelina
Western Australia
Neville is a proud Nyikina man from the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Born and raised in Derby, Neville has lived in the Kimberley his entire life. He possesses deep cultural knowledge and a strong connection to Country, with family ties spanning across the Kimberley.
With over two decades in the tourism industry, Neville is the founder and operator of Kook Koo's Own,having launched Uptuyu Adventures in 2002. Neville is a passionate advocate for Aboriginal tourism and cultural education, and has dedicated his career to sharing Indigenous knowledge, stories, and experiences with visitors from around the globe.
Neville’s leadership has extended beyond his own business. He is a former WAITOC chair, a past member of the Tourism Western Australia Board of Commissioners, and a former board member of the Tourism Council WA. His contributions have helped shape the growth and recognition of Aboriginal tourism at both state and national levels.
Temali Howard
Australia’s North West
Temali is the owner and operator of Blak Tapas Café & Catering, a proudly Aboriginal-owned business showcasing local flavours, cultural hospitality and contemporary dining experiences in the East Kimberley. Based in Kununurra, Temali is passionate about creating opportunities for Aboriginal people through tourism, hospitality and small business development, while promoting the culture, stories and unique visitor experiences of the Kimberley region.
With strong connections across the local community and tourism industry, Temali brings practical business experience, regional insight and a commitment to strengthening Aboriginal tourism outcomes across Western Australia.
Robyne Reynolds
Australia's Golden Outback
Robyne is a Noongar woman; born in Boddington, she spent her early years in Boddington, Collie and Bunbury. After finishing high school in Bunbury, she commenced her professional journey within the WA Education Department as an Early Childcare Specialist. She spent the next 25 years teaching early childhood before a career change and, along with her husband, Doc, sister and brother-in-law, Gail and Mark, commenced Kepa Kurl Enterprises Pty Ltd, focusing on cultural tourism, including the Kepa Kurl Art Gallery and cross-cultural awareness training.
Kepa Kurl is the local Wudjari name for Esperance; Kepa means water and Kurl means boomerang - where the waters lie like a boomerang.
Her entrepreneurial spirit shines in the many successful ventures of Kepa Kurl, including managing the Kepa Kurl Gallery and backing up her husband’s expanding business operations. Because of the expanding operations of Kepa Kurl, the decision was made to separate the business, with Robyne and Doc staying with Kepa Kurl and Mark and Gail moving on to commence their also expanding business operations.
After 10 years of managing the Kepa Kurl Art Gallery, the decision was made to sell the gallery and look at further exciting business ventures. The Lucky Bean Café, a business Robyne commenced along with her daughter, Tegan, began operating in Lucky Bay in the Cape Le Grand National Park. After 10 years of managing the café, Robyne and Doc decided to sell the “Bean” and looked at winding down and doing something close to home.
Robyne is now channelling her passion into developing a couple's retreat (Koolark) at her daughter’s property and possible Camping with Traditional Owners with her husband.
With a passion for sharing her cultural knowledge, Robyne delights in connecting with tourists from around the world. She has promoted Aboriginal tourism nationally, internationally and Kepa Kurl has won tourism awards. She has also inspired many Aboriginal people to join in the journey of cultural tourism. Beyond her business ventures, Robyne has lent her expertise to numerous boards such as the Esperance District Education Council, Tourism Esperance, Australia's Golden Outback (AGO), and the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC board) where she is still a current board member.
Robyne now enjoys gardening and spending time with her grandchildren and meeting up with family.
Josh 'Koomal' Whiteland
Australia’s South West
Josh Whiteland is a proud Wadandi–Pibbulman Noongar man, born in Busselton and raised in Western Australia’s South West. His traditional family name, 'Koomal', meaning brushtail possum, was given to him by his Elders and reflects his deep connection to Country, culture, and community.
As the founder of Koomal Dreaming, based in Dunsborough, Josh shares the stories, knowledge, and traditions of the Wadandi and Pibbulman peoples with visitors from across Australia and the world. Through immersive cultural tours, storytelling, native food foraging, didgeridoo performances, and art and cave experiences, Josh provides authentic insights into Aboriginal heritage and the natural south west environment.
With over two decades of experience in the tourism industry, Josh has helped shape Western Australia’s Aboriginal tourism sector, earning multiple state and national tourism awards recognising excellence in Aboriginal tourism and authentic visitor experiences. He believes tourism, when led with integrity and respect, is a powerful pathway for reconciliation, education, and sustainable economic growth for Aboriginal communities.
Josh has also worked extensively in education and community engagement, including ten years as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer with the Department of Education. He is a passionate advocate for environmental stewardship, working with community, government, and conservation partners to protect and promote the Cape to Cape and Warren Blackwood regions.
Rennee Turner
Australia’s Coral Coast
Rennee is a proud Yinggarda woman, born and raised in Gwoonwardu (Carnarvon). As a Traditional Custodian of this Country and one of the five language groups of the Yamatji nation, Rennee honours the footsteps of her ancestors who have walked these lands for thousands of years. Their traditions, stories, and wisdom have been entrusted to Rennee and she is dedicated to sharing this knowledge to protect and preserve the cultural heritage for future generations.
As an owner/operator of Wooramulla Eco Cultural Journeys, Rennee's vision is to create insightful, educational and immersive experiences that celebrate her rich heritage. Through storytelling, sustainable practices and deep cultural engagement, Rennee aims to develop a greater understanding, connection and appreciation of this land's first custodians among guests and visitors, both local and from overseas.
Rennee's mission is to celebrate and preserve our rich heritage of Aboriginal culture through authentic tourism experiences, and she strives to educate and inspire visitors to respect and understand our traditions, landscapes, and histories through three core values: preservation, conservation and education.
Deb Carr
Independent Director
Deb Carr is a highly experienced tourism professional with over 30 years of industry expertise. Deb has a business and career record of delivering outstanding results in business strategy, people leadership, sales management, marketing, revenue management and distribution, stakeholder engagement, chair and board experience and customer service delivery.
Exceptional communicator and negotiator, delivering strong company representation, including public speaking. Strong commercial acumen, with proven record of achieving targets within cost-of-sale guidelines, P&L and cost centre management. Committed to strong governance. Experienced in risk management, business continuity planning and OH&S.
Accomplished people and human resources leader with a variety of experience in talent recruitment, coaching and mentoring, facilitating change, re-structuring teams and experienced in culturally challenging environments.
As a consultant for ATEC and Metro Hotels, Chair of Rottnest Island Chamber of Commerce and an Independent Director of WAITOC. Deb is a prominent figure in the tourism sector. Deb is passionate about developing sustainable tourism practices and creating memorable travel experiences for visitors.
Dan Sweet
Independent Director
Dan Sweet has an extensive track record of delivering major private and public property and tourism projects. Dan led the Ritz Carlton and Towers apartments at Elizabeth Quay. He also worked with the State Government to deliver Elizabeth Quay, Perth City Link and hotel incentives package including the FESA House/Westin redevelopment.
Prior to this Dan had a national role with Mirvac in hotel investment and funds management. Dan is currently the Chief Property Officer at Skyfields by Perth Airport. Skyfields is one of the largest property companies in the state and undertakes property development and asset management of the Perth Airport estate. Dan is also a director of Kai-Fella which is a WA charity created to tackle youth suicide.
