Yarning About

Benny Wilson

Benny Wilson is a Jagera man strongly connected and obligated to the Country around Meanjin (Brisbane), Karilkiyalu (Brewarrina) and The NSW Central Coast. He is a career educator, having taught in the public and private sector in Brisbane for ten years, and as a consultant in Indigenous Education for eight years. He is currently an Assistant Professor in Education at the University of Canberra and is in the final stages of completing his PhD through the Australian National University on transformative opportunities in education utilising Indigenous pedagogies.

Kirsten Tapine

Kirsten Tapine is a proud Gamilaroi woman. She graduated from the University of Canberra with a double-degree of Bachelor of Information Technology/ Bachelor of Commerce. Kirsten is currently employed at the University of Canberra as a Business Manager at the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership and Strategy.

Dr Paul Collis

Dr Paul Collis is a Barkindji person, Paul was born in Bourke, in far West NSW, on the banks of the Darling River.

Paul spent his primary years in Bourke, listening to, and walking on, Country with many of his Barkindji elders, slowly learning about Country and Culture from their teachings.

Paul is a writer and academic and now lives in Canberra, where he works teaching at University Canberra.

Marina Martiniello

Marina Martiniello is an Arrernte woman with more than 15 years experience in the education sector working with youth at risk and adults. She is an Educational Designer within the Learning and Teaching team, and specialises in Indigenous education. She holds a Bachelor of Adult Education from University of Technology, Sydney.

Dr Dennis Foley

Dr Dennis Foley is Gai-mariagal man from the Cammeraigal and associated clans. His father’s heritage is Wiradjuri from the Turon River / Capertee clans.

He is a professor of aboriginal studies specialising in Indigenous entrepreneurship. He is a Fulbright writer and twice awarded an endeavour fellowship amping his many academic achievements.

Wendy Somerville

Wendy Somerville is a Jerrinja woman from the South Coast of New South Wales, but was born and grew up in Ngiyampaa Country in north west NSW. She is a lecturer and tutor at UC in Cultural Heritage and the Indigenous minor breadth. She is currently writing her PhD thesis.

Aunty Roslyn Brown

Aunty Roslyn Brown is a Ngunnawal Elder and is a founding member of both the United Ngunnawal Elders Council and the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm. She is also the Elder in Residence at University of Canberra, where she works with students and the University to ensure equitable participation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in the higher education environment.

Professor Peter Radoll

Professor Peter Radoll is a descendant of the Anaiwan people of northern New South Wales. He is currently the Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous and Director of the Ngunnawal Centre at the University of Canberra. He has as strong involvement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education and research. He has conducted research over many years on a range of matters of importance to the Aboriginal community, with a particular emphasis on Information and Communication Technology and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics issues and the digital divide. Professor Radoll is a Director and Deputy Chair of the Board of the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre (AILC), Director and Deputy Chair of the Capital Health Network (CHN), Director of The Smith Family and member of the Advisory Group for the CSIRO Indigenous Young Women’s STEM Academy.

Christian de Cos

Christian de Cos is of Arrernte descent and is currently in his 2nd year of study in the Bachelor of Physiotherapy.

Sally Nicholls

Sally Nicholls is a Wiradjuri woman who is currently studying Nursing at the University of Canberra.

Adina Brown

Adina Brown is a proud Gumbaynggirr, Yuin and Biripi woman. She is a current student at the University of Canberra studying a Bachelor in Communications and Media (Sports Media), Majoring in Business Management.

Keisha Preston

Keisha Preston is a proud Gamilaroi woman. She is the SRC President at the University of Canberra, where she has just completed a Bachelor of Communication and Media.

Stirling Sharpe

Stirling Sharpe is an Awabakal man from the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. He is a Lecturer (Sports Management) with the Faculty of Health at University of Canberra and a PhD candidate in Sport Officiating.

Aunty Jenni Kemarre Martiniello

Aunty Jenni Kemarre Martiniello is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist of Aboriginal (Arrernte), Chinese and Anglo-Celtic descent. She has received many awards including the Canberra Critics Awards for both Literature and Visual Arts and received Creative Arts Fellowships. Her poetry, short stories, and essays have been widely published in journals and anthologies in Australia and overseas. Jenni is an Australian Design Award Honouree, and has been recognised for her community arts and cultural development work with an ACT International Womens Day Award, inclusion on the ACT Centenary Honour Role, ACT Womens Honour Role and ACT Senior Australian of the Year nomination in 2018.