Phil Rist is a Nywaigi elder and Traditional Owner of the broader Ingham/Hinchinbrook region in North Queensland. He has strong cultural ties to both the rainforest and saltwater country, and is passionate about Indigenous land and sea management and how it can contribute to the spiritual and emotional health of mob.

One of the original founding members of the Girringun Aboriginal Corporation over 30 years ago, Phil is still currently working with Girringun as the Process Unite Coordinator. During his career Phil has served in multiple organisations and on boards and committees including:

• First ever Indigenous Marine Park Inspector at the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
• First ever Indigenous Representative Director at the World Wildlife Fund, Australia
• Former Chair of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee
• Former Chair of the Indigenous Arts Centres Alliance
• Former Director with the Wet Tropics Management Authority
• Former Director with the North Queensland Dry Tropics Natural Resource Management Body
• Former Deputy Chairperson of the North Queensland Land Council