Reviving Culture

Desmond Crump is the Indigenous Languages Coordinator at the State Library of Queensland. His family origins are from South-West Queensland. As well as Indigenous Languages, Des also has an interest in Queensland history as well as boriginal soldiers in WW1.

Cheryl Leavy is the Deputy Commissioner and joined the Commission in June 2017. She is passionate about promoting and advocating for safe, caring and connected communities and reducing the over-representation of First Australian Children in the child protection system. Cheryl has enjoyed a notable career working with both the private sector and across state and federal governments in the health, taxation, education and transport portfolios. She has served on several boards including as a representative of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Cheryl has deep experience and expertise engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations. A Kooma Traditional Owner, Cheryl’s country is in southern inland Queensland between Cunnamulla and St George.

Alec Doomadgee is an Aboriginal activist, respected leader and advocate for Aboriginal rights. He is highly regarded amongst his people and peers as a Tribal Lore man and Warrior for the “Knowledge Keepers”. He began his career in radio, later breaking into television presenting and acting, and more recently became a much sort after motivational speaker, Emcee and mentor. Alec was recently seen in the ABC series Cleverman, and starred in the award winning TV series Redfern Now (2012) and co-presented the ABC3 series On the Edge (2010). He hosted music TV show Volumz for NITV and has become a well-respected and much loved TV personality among Aboriginal people. In 2015, Alec performed Street Theatre at the famous Venice Biennale, Italy. Later that year, one of Alec’s career highlights was giving a TEDx talk to a packed out concert hall at the Sydney Opera House and a global audience via a live internet stream. His feature film Zach's Ceremony, which he created and co-produced, is currently receiving critical acclaim around the world.
 

Amanda Hayman grew up in Logan city, Queensland and has Aboriginal cultural connections to Kalkadoon and Wakka Wakka Country. She has a Bachelor of Arts with a major in contemporary art.  Amanda is also a part of the BlakLash Collective, a small business that provides innovative curatorial approaches to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and artist engagement.  Amanda has over 12 years’ experience of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, particularly in the field of storytelling through art and technology. She is currently the Manager of kuril dhagun, the Indigenous space and public programming unit at the State Library of Queensland.

Cheryl Leavy is a senior executive in the Queensland Public Service. Cheryl is passionate about working in partnership with First Nations Peoples to care for country. She has enjoyed a notable career working with both the private sector and across state and federal governments in the health, taxation, education, transport and environment portfolios. Cheryl has served on several boards across the arts sector including the Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees, Queensland Music Festival, the Institute of Modern Art and several other Canberra-based positions. Cheryl is currently the secretary of the BWF Board and Chair of the Angel’s Palace Advisory Committee. A Kooma Traditional Owner, Cheryl’s country is in southern inland Queensland between Cunnamulla and St George.

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.