Other speakers include:
Major Partners:
Proud Kamilaroi man living on the Central Coast based on Darkinjung country currently University student of Newcastle enjoys footy, gym, stomping and dancing with my family and my community.
Especially doing funny and relatable TikTok content which was inspired by NITV BlackComdey and especially inspired from many other great talented and staunched Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content creators.
Dave, a proud Wardandi/Noongar man is a scholar within the Indigenous Programs at UNSW, bringing over 18 years of experience in teaching, research, and community engagement. His work is grounded in long-standing relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and a deep commitment to advancing Indigenous-led education and research. His research interests centre on Indigenous participation in sport, with a particular focus on how Indigenous athletes have challenged societal attitudes and contributed to broader cultural change in Australia.
Gurridyula is a Mari Cultural Custodian from the Eastern side of the Great Dividing Range at Waddananggu, an Autonomous Tribal Clan Estate inside Wangan & Jagalingou territory in Central Queensland.
Coming from a long line of warriors, it is his duty to protect his homelands and The Sacred Doongmabulla Springs.
Professor Heidi Norman is a researcher at UNSW where she is director of the Indigenous Land and Justice Research group. Her research has focused on Aboriginal histories of working life, movements for change including land rights and climate justice. She is a descendant of the Gomeroi people from northwestern NSW. She recently contributed to the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy and is a member of the NSW Renewable Energy Sector Board.
Her most recent book, titled ‘Land Back’, published with NSWPress, came out in 2025 and has coauthored a recent report, titled ‘Local Aboriginal Land Council Powershift: sharing the benefits of the energy transition’.
Jake Gordon is a proud Ngemba man working at the intersection of cultural safety, leadership, and reform across the employment sector. He is completing a PhD in business at the University of Technology Sydney, focused on Aboriginal cultural safety and in the Australian workforce.
Jordan is a descendant of the Birri Gubba people, Associate Dean of Indigenous Strategy and Services and Applied Mathematician at the University of Sydney, He completed his PhD at the Australian National University in 2019 developing methods to model the inundation caused by tsunamis and storm surges. His current research, begun as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Adelaide focuses on modelling the interaction between ocean waves and sea ice, which forms as the ocean’s surface freezes. This interaction influences the annual growth and melt of sea ice, which is a key indicator and driver of the Earth’s climate.
Julie Nimmo is a member of the Wiradjuri nation, and the editor of the Indigenous Affairs Team, ABC News. Julie has reported stories featuring First Nations peoples, their interests and concerns for three decades.
Lachlan Wright is the father of young Jai Wright, killed in police custody in 2022. The Wright family campaign for justice saw the first successful conviction of a police officer for a death in custody in Australian history.
Liza-Mare has kinship ties to the Birripay and Worrimay peoples of the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. She is a co-founder of Moogahlin Performing Arts and served on its artistic and company leadership team for 17 years. Her work history includes serving as Head of Theatre at the Eora Centre in Redfern and as Senior Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Officer at Arts NSW. As an award-winning academic with an extensive publication record in Indigenous performing arts, Liza-Mare currently holds the position of Scientia Associate Professor in the School of Arts and Media and the Co-Associate Dean (Indigenous) in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture at the University of New South Wales.
Lizzie is an activist, educator, poet, and warrior woman from the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung, and Dunghutti peoples.
Mary is known as a TikTok sensation from KUW Tristan and Mary.
Mary is a proud Ngemba mother of 3. She loves playing Netball and a tragic Sydney Roosters Fan.
Associate Professor Michael Mossman is the Associate Dean Indigenous, lecturer and researcher from the University of Sydney’s School of Architecture, Design and Planning where he leads the school’s exciting strategic initiative, the Indigenous Knowledge Place.
CEO Metropolitan LALC since 2014, NSW Aboriginal Housing Office 2000 to 2014(LWOP 2010/11 & 2014), CEO Birpai LALC 1997-2000 & 2010 & 2011, NSW Department Education and NSW AECG, UTS law student and inaugural Llyod Mc Dermott scholarship holder, long standing volunteer coach with Redfern All Blacks Basketball & Rugby League. Former founding Chairperson Werrin AMS, secretary Central Coast Regional Aboriginal Land Council, president Mid north coast AECG, Board member ARCH (Association for the Resourcing of Co-operative Housing) NSW and Koori Radio volunteer broadcaster 1994/95 as a youth and 2000’s as founder Yarncarters covering Aboriginal political news and mainstream media reporting on Aboriginal peoples, communities and culture.
Uncle Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves is a senior Warlpiri leader from Yuendumu and a family spokesperson for the campaign for justice for Kumanjayi White.
Paul Silva is a Dunghutti man and a Stop Deaths in Custody advocate.
Pauline is a Yaegl woman from the North Coast of New South Wales and is currently Associate Professor, Manager of Cultural Resilience Hub, Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education & Research at the UTS. She has been a driving force in the creation and sustainability of the Indigenous voice in Australian screen and television. She has worked as a storyteller and producer in film and TV for over 30 years.
She is founder and Artistic Director of Winda Film Festival in Sydney, a programmer for imagineNATIVE media +arts festival in Toronto and is co-creator of NativeSLAM a 72-hour Indigenous film challenge held at Maoriland Film Festival in Otaki and nativeSLAM the feature. Her current documentary is “Colleano Heart” and she is in post on a scripted feature “Promise Mum”
Professor Reuben Bolt is a descendant of the Yuin/Wandandian people and the Monaro/Ngarigo people of southeast Australia. He is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Strategy and Services at the University of Sydney, and is the first Aboriginal appointee to the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), where he leads the national rollout of the National and Science Research Priority ‘Elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems’. He is passionate about influencing policy, programs and research that results in positive outcomes in Indigenous communities, specifically those at the intersection of Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science.”
Saint Murrumu of Walubara is a member of the Yidindji society.
Murrumu was appointed by Jangalan Yidindji, (the tribal council of elders) to bring attention to the international community Yidindji’s position and authority.
On the 4th day of January 2015 Murrumu was appointed by Jangalan Yidindji to direct Minjaani Wungarlji, and to act as the Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade.
Professor Shane Hearn, a proud Ballardong, Whadjuk, man, is a highly experienced leader in First Nations health, education, and community engagement. He brings over 25 years of expertise in designing, implementing, and evaluating culturally safe programs, research initiatives, and policy frameworks across health, education, and not-for-profit sectors, with a focus on co-designed, inclusive approaches.
Shane has led national-level campaigns, developed strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation, and successfully guided multi-sector collaborations to deliver measurable outcomes for First Nation communities.
Shannan Dodson is a Yawuru woman, her family are from Broome, Western Australia. She is the CEO of The Healing Foundation; that provides a platform to amplify the voices and lived experience of Stolen Generations survivors and their families. She was previously the Deputy CEO of the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy (NASCA).
She has 20 years experience working in Indigenous affairs and is a strategic communications and engagement specialist. She has extensive skills in management, campaigning, public speaking, media, writing, and community engagement.
She was recently the Co-Chair of the National NAIDOC Committee and worked on the Australian Marriage Equality campaign. Shannan is passionate about First Nations’ rights and understanding mental health issues, particularly intergenerational trauma for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”
Tristan is a proud Dunhgutti and Gadigal man from Kempsey and Sydney NSW known on TikTok for his Koori Humour. Tristan grew up in Western Sydney in Mount Druitt.
He loves Netball and spending time with family and mob.
A Walbunja man from the Yuin nation on the far south coast of NSW, Wally is also an applicant for the South Coast People native title claim and member of NSW Aboriginal Fishing Rights Group. Wally is currently employed as a Project Office with Joonga Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation.
“I manage projects for Joonga Corporation including the Smart Drumline (shark) contract in Eurobodalla Shire, running Cultural boat tours in Narooma to deliver Culture awareness and understanding on the impact of colonization. I am also responsible for Co coordinating a Scientific Dive team and sourcing other contract opportunities for Joonga staff.”
Wally has formerly held positions position with NPWS, providing a maintenance program for Cape Byron Marine Park and Byron Bay Light house and former Aboriginal Liaison Officer for Batemans Marine Park, also holding the position of Incident Controller for marine mammal strandings, for the north coast whale disentanglement team. Wally regularly volunteers his time working closely with AIASTSIS, Wollongong Uni (Blue Economy) and Oxfam to build a foundation for economic development for his community.
“My passion is Aboriginal fishing rights and working towards building a sustainable healthy Yuin land and Sea Country. I believe if you have healthy land and Sea, you will have healthy Yuin people.”
Yiŋiya Mark Guyula has been the Independent Member for Mulka in the Northern Territory Parliament since 2016, representing people of Yolŋu country in East Arnhem Land. A Yolŋu leader and senior authority in Maḏayin law, he advocates for laws and partnerships that recognise Aboriginal governance, culture, and self-determination.