Blak Minds Angelina Hurley & Dr Leda Barnett

Dylan Sarra is a Gooreng Gooreng artist from a well-known family.  Hear Dylan share childhood memories, his connection to country, the important roles women have played in his life and his profound experiences of working with the Burnett River rocks.  Dylan is a passionate artist with an impressive portfolio and an exciting future. Dylan graduated from the Bachelor of Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art (CAIA) at Griffith University and has twice been a finalist in the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards during his studies at Griffith.
CAIA has established the careers of many leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, including Vernon Ah Kee, Dale Harding and Tony Albert. Dylan said he had found a community of collaborators within the program.

Gordon Hookey was born in Cloncurry, Queensland in 1961. He currently lives and works in Brisbane. and is a Griffith University graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (1991).  Gordon belongs to the Waanyi people and locates his art at the interface where Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultures converge. Gordon's work is informed by domestic and international events and policies that affect Indigenous communities globally, with his lived experience as a Murri and Aboriginal person at the forefront of his work. His style and approach is distinctive in its vibrancy and best known for its biting satire of Australia’s political landscape, its leaders and representatives.  Gordon spoke to Leda and Angelina for a wonderful discussion on art and culture.

For more than 20 years, Lesley Richardson has dedicated herself to closing the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. When you speak to her about this enduring belief in building a brighter future—it comes across as both pragmatic and inevitable. It is also born out of her hard-won lived experiences, as a child of The Stolen Generation and devoted public servant. She embodies the maxim on empathy, about walking a mile in someone else’s shoes. "Every child should be supported to reach their full potential no matter where they come from."

We recently caught up with Kerry Kennell from Kennell&Co Impact Consulting + Strategy to talk about her career from Griffith to Kennell&Co. Kerry is a Zenadth Kes woman with connection to Ugar and Erub islands in the Eastern Torres Strait. Kerry is a business owner, mentor, artist manager, facilitator and board director, and you can check out more information about Kerry on her website www.kennell.com.au or on Instagram and Facebook @kennellandco

Dr Troy Meston is a Gamilleroi Senior Research Fellow in the Griffith Centre for Social and Culture Research. His work employs critical Indigenous studies and decolonial praxis to investigate the intersections between education, technology & Indigenous studies. He has amassed a diversified body of work, constructed curriculum, and industry outputs across the areas of Indigenous sport, financial literacy, cognitive science, Indigenous health, and education. Troy applies national research acumen from roles with peak bodies, such as the Australian Sports Commission and Australian Institute of Sport, where he developed the 'Yulunga: Indigenous Games' publication, and managed Indigenous athletes in a program which led toward the Bejing and London Olympic games. He is a former Research Fellow with the Australian Council for Educational Research, where as part of an Indigenous team, he produced outputs for the Prime Minister and Cabinet, ASIC, and the ARC Science of Learning Research Centre. Troy is currently the Indigenous pedagogy leader on the 'Digitising the deep past: Machine learning, rock art and Indigenous engagements with 21st century technology' project, working with Indigenous learners in remote communities.

With a Walkley and a Miles Franklin Award to her credit, Melissa has an impressive list of writing accolades and academic achievements.  In our latest Blak Minds podcast Melissa gives us a preview of her much antipicated latest novel titled 'Edenglassie', provides an update on the non-fiction characters featured in 'Sinking blow sight: Down and out in Brisbane and Logan' and tells us about her impressive past athletic achievements.  Melissa's experience informs the advice she gives to up-and-coming writers - but there is something in her advice for everyone.  Don't pass this one by.