Marlee Silva is a Gamilaroi and Dunghutti woman based in Sydney. She is the founder of Tiddas 4 Tiddas, a social media initiative, which is dedicated to celebrating Indigenous women and girls through storytelling. The Tiddas 4 Tiddas Instagram account was set up in 2018 as a way of continuing the 2018 NAIDOC theme 'Because of her, we can', and has already attracted more than 55,000 followers. Marlee also writes, produces and hosts her own podcast titled 'Always was, always will be our stories', where she interviews inspiring Indigenous role models who are working to change the world, one day at a time. Marlee has previously been published as a contributor in Anita Heiss’ anthology Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia, and in various online publications with her poetry and non-fiction work. Together with her sister Keely, Marlee was a finalist for the 2019 Human Rights Awards, and also features in the January 2020 issue of Australia's marie claire magazine in support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Tapsell is a proud Larrakia and Tiwi woman, known for her incredible work in the films Top End Wedding, Love Child and The Sapphires. Tapsell is a highly multi-talented woman too, as well as starring in Top End Wedding she also co-wrote and produced the critically acclaimed Australian romantic comedy and also hosts a podcast with playwright Nakkiah Lui.
Dr Liza-Mare Syron’s family clan is Biripi from the Mid North Coast of NSW.
Liza-Mare Syron is an Indigenous Scientia Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in the School of Arts and Media. Her broad area of research interest is indigenous performing arts, and her current research focuses on indigenous language revival in play texts
She is a director, actor, teacher, dramaturge and an award winning academic. She is a founding member of Moogahlin Performing Arts, and has been a key member of the company’s Artistic Directorate for over six years. Her work history includes; Indigenous Research Fellow at Macquarie University, Senior Aboriginal Cultural Development Officer for Arts NSW, and Head of Theatre Performance at the Eora College for Aboriginal Studies, Centre for Visual and Performing Arts in Redfern. Liza-Mare also works as a dramaturge and lectures on First Peoples theatre practices at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts NIDA. She is widely published in the areas of indigenous performing arts practice and training.
Dr Jared Thomas is a Nukunu person of the Southern Flinders Ranges and an Arts Development Officer at Arts, South Australia. Jared’s play Flash Red Ford toured Uganda and Kenya in 1999 and his play Love, Land and Money featured during the 2002 Adelaide Fringe Festival. Jared’s young adult novel, Sweet Guy, was shortlisted for the 2009 South Australian People’s Choice Awards for Literature and his children’s book, Dallas Davis, the Scientist and the City Kids is published by the Oxford University Press Yarning Strong series. Jared’s writing explores the power of belonging and culture. He lives in Adelaide with his partner and two daughters.
Frank Szekely is from Port Augusta and is curretnly playing football for North Adelaide in the SANFL.
Ceane G. Towers is a Dang–Wiradjuri–Gamilaraay woman. She is a visual artist and has studied, performed and taught Aboriginal dance for over twenty-five years. She is a practising Aboriginal medicine woman who initiates healing in others. She has a Bachelor’s of Education and a Master’s degree in Social Policy, specialising in Indigenous issues, and works in her local communities. Ceane is the mother of five children and has two grandchildren. The map below shows the country she comes from.
