Stephen became Deputy Director of the Cape York Institute with policy development experience as CYI's Welfare Reform Project Manager, consulting experience with ACIL Tasman and practical policy implementation experience having been CEO with Bama Ngappi Ngappi Aboriginal Corporation. The organisation delivered employment services including Job Network, New Apprenticeship Centres, CDEP, Job Placement and New Apprenticeship Access Program on behalf of the Australian government across Western and Northern Queensland. It also operated a range of community based business enterprises.

He brings corporate finance experience to the Institute having worked for Westpac in Corporate, Institutional and Retail divisions. He was also a secondee to Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation while with Westpac. His previous corporate experience includes roles with Bank of Melbourne, Coca Cola Amatil, BP and National Australia Bank.

Stephen also holds Economics and Arts degrees.

.