Carpentaria: In Conversation

Alexis Wright is a member of the Waanyi nation of the southern highlands of the Gulf of Carpentaria. She is renowned as the author of the prize-winning novels Carpentaria and The Swan Book, and of a previous work of non-fiction Grog War, a study of alcohol abuse in the Northern Territory. Her books have been published widely overseas, including in China, the US, the UK, Italy, India, and France. She is a Distinguished Fellow in Western Sydney University's Writing and Society Research Centre. Her new book of non-fiction is Tracker Tilmouth, a collective memoir of the charismatic Aboriginal leader, political thinker and entrepreneur who died in Darwin in 2015.

Associate Professor Sandra Phillips is an engaged academic with research interests in Indigenous story and voice in a range of creative and media forms. Descended from the First Nations of Wakka Wakka and Gooreng Gooreng (QLD), Sandra co-ordinates university-wide Indigenous higher degree by research at UTS through the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research. Before a full-time career in the academy Sandra worked in publishing and freelanced in writing, editing, research, evaluation, speaking, and facilitation. Sandra has three adult sons and one granddaughter.