Our Story

Rick is a Potaruwutj or Aboriginal man originally from the Tatiara or Padthaway Region of South Australia, he spent nearly 20 years working for the South Australian Government and then commenced a private sector business career in 1995. In late 2000, after 5 years at KPMG, he commenced his own boutique consulting firm called Yaran Business Services Pty Ltd.

His core competencies involve working predominantly with First Nations peoples and mainstream businesses by assisting with entrepreneurial approaches to business creation, sustainability and expansion by undertaking consultation and mediation, evaluation and reviews, research and marketing; business start-up and development; charitable trust office management and distributions, business and marketing planning, management accounting, general management; commercial negotiations for Aboriginal engagement in any aspect of business no matter what the industry; and has skills and undertakes investigations and special administrations for statutory and other corporations.

Rick is the Chairman of JLB Yaran Pty Ltd which offers employment within the defence sector for First Nations and non-First Nations peoples with mainstream defence primes and businesses in the Defence sector. He proudly acknowledges a number of his clients such as Department of Health, National Indigenous Australians Agency, ORIC, Department of Industry Innovation and Science, ASC, BAE, Boeing Defence Australia, DSTG, iDiC, Babcock, Carey Mining Group and Jacobs amongst others.

He also works as a non-executive director for a number of NFP organisations around Australia such as the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura DMC and Funding Committee in the Pilbara, the Martidja Thandu Trust), the Regional Anangu Services Aboriginal Corporation Board & Trust, (APY Lands SA) Rural and Remote Mental Health Board (Australia wide), the Aboriginal Community Services (Aged Care Services) Inc (South Australia wide) and is a Member of the South Australian Aboriginal Advisory Committee (South Australia wide).

Brendan is a proud Wiradjuri man, born in Queanbeyan and raised in Yass, New South Wales. He was appointed Managing Director JLB-Yaran in 2019 and continues to lead the business to success amidst an international pandemic.

Brendan’s life is dedicated to community and country. He served over 14 years as a Maritime Logistics Officer in the Royal Australian Navy and four years as a firefighter with Queensland Fire and Rescue Service. He provides ongoing support to Indigenous community housing in North Brisbane, which provides crises accommodation, social support services and affordable housing solutions to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Brendan’s service in Navy spanned 24 countries and five global operations. Notably, he served as Aide-de-Camp to Chief of Joint Operations Australia and to Commander Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East Area of Operations, primarily Afghanistan. Brendan instructed over 300 new Navy Officers’ in leadership and Navy culture through the Royal Australian Naval College at HMAS Creswell. He recently completed a five-month deployment with the Naval Reserve on Operation COVID-19 Assist as second-in-command of quarantine, compliance and monitoring in South East Queensland.

JLB-Yaran represents Brendan’s passion for serving community and country; by providing professionals to Defence Industry and striving for social and economic empowerment of First Nation Peoples. JLB-Yaran is an avid supporter of Veteran and Indigenous employment.

Brendan is a Royal Australian Naval College, Australian Defence Force Academy and University of NSW graduate. He was awarded a Bachelor of Business and will soon complete his Masters In Project Management.

The Sunshine Coast is home for Brendan, his wife Racheal and children Jack and Bella. He enjoys rugby league, touch football, surfing and all things sport.

Sean was born in Sydney before moving to Adelaide in his teenage years and still today calls Adelaide his home. Sean was an original partner with our Chairman Rick Callaghan, making up the JLB component of JLB-Yaran, with Rick’s Yaran Business Services. Today, he has been appointed Director – Governance, Risk, and Compliance, drawing on his many years of experience as a Management Consultant.

JLB-Yaran is an opportunity to combine elements of Sean’s core values of community and duty. He served for 10 years as a Maritime Warfare Officer in the Royal Australian Navy, before transitioning to civilian employment. After witnessing the struggles of some of his military peers, Sean became the founding Chairperson of the Executive Committee for Defence Shed Inc, which assists uniformed personnel transition from service, and now boasts over 5,000 serving and ex-serving members.

Sean enjoyed his Navy career, spending most of hist career on Anzac Class Frigates as an Officer of the Watch, and Armidale Class Patrol Boats as Navigating Officer. Sean enjoyed operational sea-going postings, and participating in international training exercises such as RIMPAC where he sailed with JLB-Yaran Managing Director Brendan.

Since leaving the Navy, Sean has become a Board Member of Adelaide Business Hub, and Director of JLB Management Consultants, both organisations assisting in small and medium sized Australian companies grow efficiencies and profitability through systemised processes. Sean is also an Executive at TQCSI, the world’s largest JAS-ANZ Accredited Certification Body, where he is the Aerospace and Defence lead, auditing Australia’s largest Primes and Government departments.

Sean is a Royal Australian Naval College, Australian Defence Force Academy and University of NSW graduate. He is a Certified Management Consultant of the Institute of Management Consultants, Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and one of seven Australian-based Aerospace Experienced Auditors (OIN 6128321720). He was awarded a Bachelor of Business from UNSW and 2021 will see him complete his Masters in Business from UNSW, and his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Adelaide.

When not travelling for work, Sean enjoys spending time with his partner Kylie and two young sons, Connor and Beau. Sean is an Ice Hockey devotee, and a long-suffering New York Islanders fanatic.

Born and raised in Alice Springs, Joel joined the Navy as a Maritime Logistics Officer in 2006 before graduating the Naval College and then the Australian Defence Force Academy with a Bachelor of Business in 2009. Joel had a number of memorable postings whilst in service, posting to Fleet Logistics Support Element – Darwin as the Deputy Officer in Charge providing logistics support to tender units and Major Fleet Units supporting Operation Resolute, and then to the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Program to provide Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) for the delivery of the Navy’s new Destroyer capability.

During his sea postings, Joel deployed to the Middle East Area of Operations on a number of occasions supporting Operations CATALYST and SLIPPER. Joel also deployed ashore to South Sudan in 2013 for Operation ASLAN supporting the United Nations Mission as a Staff Officer Logistics Plans and then to Operation HIGHROAD in 2015 as the NATO Funded Equipment Manager controlling all NATO assets in theatre.

Transitioning from service in 2017 to industry, Joel continued to deliver support to the AWD Program as the ILS Manager where the team was successful in delivering the three DDG platforms and the Support System into service. He continues to provide ILS and Project Management support and expertise to major Maritime acquisition programs.

Joel joined the board of JLB-Yaran in June 2020 and continues to provide strategic advice and direction for the Company after helping build JLB-Yaran’s Professional Services capability as the General Manager from 2017.  Joel is passionate about Indigenous advancement and is committed to breaking down barriers to develop opportunities for Indigenous involvement and employment in the Defence Industry.

In additional to his Bachelor of Business, Joel’s academic achievements include a Masters of Project Management from the University of New South Wales and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Living in Adelaide with his wife Kim and two border collies, Joel enjoys partaking in the many South Australian wineries and watching American Football, AFL Football and Cricket.

Born and raised in Melbourne, Hayden is a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Veteran where he served for 12 years before joining JLB-Yaran in 2019. Initially employed as the Business Development Manager, Hayden was promoted to General Manager in 2020 and leads JLB-Yaran’s Management from our Melbourne office.

Serving for over 12 years as a Maritime Logistics Officer in the RAN, Hayden experienced a diverse career which included sea postings on ANZAC Class Frigates HMAS Warramunga and HMAS Arunta and overseas deployments on Joint Task Force 631 (Timor Leste) and Joint Task Force 631 (Operation Resolute / Border Protection Command). Complementing his Operational experience, Hayden also served on CASG and CIOG Logistics Information Systems Programs and supported ADF Operations from Joint Logistics Command’s (JLC) Operational Headquarters.

The pinnacle and most influential posting of Hayden’s ADF career was a two-year exchange posting to Jacksonville Florida, where he was the Officer-in-Charge of Fleet Logistics Center Mayport, supporting the provisioning and cargo distribution for all United States Navy (USN) unit’s operating in the South East area of the Contiguous of the Unites States of America (CONUS).

Transitioning out of the ADF in early 2019, Hayden’s passion for the growing Australian Defence Industry led him to JLB-Yaran where he was able to diversify his skillset by growing an Australian SME while support Defence requirements. As JLB-Yaran’s capability to support Defence continues to grow, Hayden is also committed to increasing the low Indigenous representation in Defence and ensuring career opportunities are created for Indigenous talent in the Defence sector.

With a Masters In Business and soon to be certified with the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Hayden aspires to continue supporting Veterans employment in the Defence sector, creating more opportunities for Indigenous talent in Defence and collaborating with other Australian SME and Veteran owned businesses.

Melbourne’s Bayside is home for Hayden, his fiancé Melissa and their puppy Roxi. He enjoys all things sport, having a hit at the Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club and enjoying time with his friends and family.

Luke is a proud Ngarrindjeri man, born and raised in Adelaide SA. Working in various roles in the oil and gas industry and the SA Public Service in Transport, Education and Further Education.

Being interested in helping to solve all social and economic issues that Indigenous people may face, Luke is particularly passionate about increasing participation and providing opportunities in employment, training and education for his community. As JLB-Yaran’s Operations Manager, Luke is responsible for the management of JLB-Yaran consultants and day to day operational requirements at Head Office in Adelaide and will provide Indigenous mentoring to participants in the Indigenous Development & Employment Program (IDEP).

Luke has a keen interest in Defence and is a former Army Reservist and Australian Public Service (APS) employee with the Department of Defence. Luke’s previous employment was at the Naval Construction Branch (NCB) for the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) where he worked alongside JLB-Yaran Consultants as the Information Manager. Impressing with his performance and ability at the NCB, JLB-Yaran approached Luke for the Operations Manager position at Head Office.

Luke joined Defence in the Indigenous Apprenticeship Program (IAP) and with a background in mentoring and training Indigenous trainees and apprentices, Luke brings valuable insight to the IDEP which will benefit all participants. Luke has completed a Certificate IV in Indigenous Leadership from the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre as well as certificates in Business, Government and Military Skills.

Luke is married to Vanessa and has 2 children – Isaac and Iliana. As well as being a proud father, Luke enjoys playing sports, travelling and spending time with his family and friends.

Heidi is a proud Kokatha woman born in north of Eyre peninsula, SA. Heidi grew up in the mid north of Australia Coober Pedy where she previously worked as an Indigenous Service officer with Centrelink. In her experience working in remote communities, she developed a greater appreciation of the challenges faced by indigenous communities, challenges with lower level of education, living in area’s with fewer labour market opportunities resulting in lower employment rates than non-Indigenous Australians.

Heidi was previously an Australia Public Service employee of Department of Human Services as a Test Lead and Automation Tester and with Department of Defence, working at 462SQN Cyber Warfare as Officer in Charge for the operation support team. Joining JLB-Yaran as a Consultant in 2019, Heidi was contracted to the Wide Area & Space Surveillance systems as the International Traffic in Arms Regulations Manager at the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group.

Heidi was recently promoted to JLB-Yaran’s HR Manager at Head Office and will be a key driver of the Indigenous Development & Employment Program (IDEP). In addition to her HR Management role where she will manage JLB-Yaran’s growing workforce needs, Heidi is an Indigenous Mentor within the IDEP and will be a key point of contact for clients and IDEP participants. Passionate for Indigenous employment, training and development, Heidi’s influence in the IDEP will ensure young Indigenous participants reach their professional aspirations.

Heidi has completed a Dual Diploma of Human Resource Management and Leadership and Management & Cert IV in Indigenous Leadership with Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre.

Heidi enjoys travelling back home to Ceduna, Point Pearce, camping, fishing, cooking bush tucker and spending time with family and friends.

Andrew was born in regional Queensland however spent most of his childhood growing up in South-West Sydney. Following an illustrious career in the Australian Regular Army, Andrew joined JLB-Yaran in April 2020 and has proven to be an extremely valuable member of the team, recently assuming the role of Industry Engagement Manager and ILS Manager. 

Andrew’s career within the Australia Regular Army spans close to 25 years where he fulfilled roles in various leadership, training and supply chain specialist roles across different posting. Andrew’s strong leadership, excellent communication skills and relatable personality forged him the opportunity to fulfil prestigious Army postings at both the Army Recruit Training Centre – Kapooka and the Royal Military College – Duntroon where he was given the responsibility to mentor and train the new generation of Army Soldiers and Officers. Through his exceptional performance at these posting, Andrew was considered the ideal mentor for Junior Ranks and Junior Officers throughout his career. 

Andrew’s military career has seen him reside in almost every state and territory throughout Australia. During his career, Andrew has represented his country on operational deployments to East Timor, Iraq and twice in Afghanistan. In addition, Andrew was selected to assume a Senior Logistician role in the United Kingdom, where he integrated with coalition nations in support of bi-lateral training exercises. 

Andrew transitioned from the Australian Regular Army as a Warrant Officer Class 1 and has since worked with some prestigious companies outside of Defence.  A highlight of his experience was his contributions whilst at Rolls Royce Australia where he assisted with the sustainment strategies of the Canberra Class Land Helicopter Docks (LHD). In addition, Andrew worked on the introduction into service of the Mission Support System for the new RAAF Boeing 737 as well as working on the development of Supply Chains and Technical Support Networks in support of the new Navy Auxiliary Oiler ships for the Spanish shipbuilding company Navantia. 

Andrew is now transferring his skills, knowledge, and mentoring abilities into the private sector through his current role as the Industry Engagement Manager for JLB-Yaran. He has become very passionate about the Indigenous Development and Employment Program and strongly believes it will be one of the key factors for bridging the gap and increasing the development of the professional skills and experience for the talented and ambitious Indigenous Australian’s. 

Andrew is also the JLB-Yaran lead for the ACT and now calls Canberra home, along with his wife and the eldest of their three sons. He enjoys a variety of outdoor activities ranging from motorcycle riding through to hiking and fishing, four-wheel driving, and camping. 

Daniel was born and raised in Sydney, New South Wales before moving to Canberra to pursue a career as an Australian Army Officer. He recently joined the JLB-Yaran team in January 2021 and aspires to enhance his understanding of Defence Industry out of uniform with the long-term goal of assuming a managerial position as part of the JLB-Yaran management team.

Daniel’s career experience begun as a Property Manager in Southern Sydney before learning the trade skills of an apprentice plumber. Realising his true calling with the Australian Army, Daniel was accepted into the Royal Military College – Duntroon in January 2013. Daniel served over 8 years within the Australian Regular Army as a Logistics Officer and recently transitioned his service to the Army Reserves, where he continues to provide effective service today.

Daniel’s military career has seen him serve on Domestic Operations in support of the ADF’s response to COVID-19 as well as conduct key logistics planning for the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and Special Forces activities in 2017. Daniel has also served on International Operations in Fiji conducting Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief in 2016, as well as serving in Afghanistan in 2019, where he conducted Train, Advise, Assist missions in support of the Afghanistan Air Force.  Daniel’s military career highlight was being recognised in the Australia Day Honours List 2021 where he received a Commendation for Distinguished Service for distinguished performance in warlike operations in Afghanistan during 2019.

Daniel is a proud veteran and is passionate to provide valuable contribution to Defence Industry. Daniel believes that his proven competence, pride to serve and strong interpersonal skills will enable him to uphold the rich values and history of JLB-Yaran. He has shown a keen interest in JLB-Yaran’s Veteran Transition Program, as this was key to facilitating his smooth transition from the Australian Regular Army.

In 2021, Daniel will complete his Masters of Business through UNSW and has his sights on the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course in the near future.

Daniel currently resides in Sydney with his wife Brittanni and their son Kai. Daniel is a keen golfer and cricketer and an avid fan of the Cronulla Sharks and Sydney Swans.

Josh was raised in country South Australia and joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Maritime Logistics Officer after finishing school. Joining the ADF was an easy decision for Josh, who was actively involved in sport in his local community growing up, as well as the volunteer Country Fire Service.

After graduating from the Royal Australian Naval College in 2005 and the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2008, he commenced the Maritime Logistics training continuum which included postings to numerous ships and eventually culminated in the award of Charge Qualification in 2015. Josh served for 15 years in the Navy, with career highlights including playing for the Navy and ADF Australian Rules sides, the numerous overseas port visits, and operational deployments to South Sudan and Afghanistan, working with the UN and NATO respectively.

Josh joined JLB-Yaran in early 2020 and has since been supporting numerous Defence projects as a commercial contracting officer in Melbourne. He aims to continue to play a role in the growth and sustained success of the company while providing a high level of service to Defence as a professional service provider.

Josh holds a Master of Business from UNSW and intends to remain active in the Naval Reserves. Having accepted that his footy playing days are behind him, Josh is gradually trying to improve his golf swing. He is an avid follower of the Adelaide Crows, the Australian Test Cricket side and Liverpool Football Club.