Our IBA - Meet Tim

About Tim

I consider myself a self-proclaimed professional fisherman. I have caught everything from tuna, salmon, sharks, and one-time, a 30m humpback whale (yes, I let it go). The most interesting part of fishing is, ‘I don’t eat fish.’ 

Growing up I lived in places like Camperdown to Newtown to Tathra to Bega (all NSW) to growing up in a quiet country town in ACT. I am both a Yuin and Gadigal man with Fijian and Indian ancestry. 

Apart from always finding me at Tathra wharf trying my luck fishing, I love all things rugby (League & Union, GO MANLY), cricket, abseiling, canoeing, kayaking and being a part-time superhero.  

What is your role at IBA? 

I am a Senior Securities & Settlements Officer in the Business Solutions program. My role includes a number of tasks which is not limited to drafting and issuing loans, security documentation, facilitating release of funds to customers, vendors, settlement agents, and assisting other teams on enquiries regarding securities and settlements matters, processes, and requirements. 

Highlight at IBA/career 

Through my time at IBA, I never aspired to be a director, CEO or chairman. I always just wanted to do something that I enjoyed. With IBA, I was able to understand and see first-hand the way we directly assist mob, not only individuals but also organisations, in realising their dreams in owning their own home, business, and assisting their own communities. 

I have been with IBA now for 20 years since the abolishment of ATSIC in 2005. Overall, I have been attached to the home and business loan programs for nearly 26 years since June 1999 (6 years ATSIC Legal Unit, 6 years with IBA Housing Solutions, then 14 years with IBA Business Solutions since 2011). 

Why IBA  

Working with and for mob is highly important as only mob can help mob. From my personal experience having lived predominately in an urban area such as the ACT (including foster care for a long period), I had not been exposed a lot to my own culture (both Fijian and Aboriginal), so being with, working with and for, anyone from your own cultural background is very important. 

What does 50 years mean to you? 

Being able to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in achieving their goals in both home and business ownership for 50 years has been a great achievement for the programs that have continually evolved to meet the needs of our customers. IBA has changed in many ways over the years, but even through the changes and evolving, IBA remains its own unique self.