Dr Shardlow is a senior lecturer in journalism and
the coordinator of Communications and Media at
the University of Notre Dame Australia. Dr Shardlow
is a journalist turned academic with experience in
newsrooms from the Republic of Palau in Micronesia
to Kununurra in Western Australia, and a few points in
between. She has written stories about everything from
unexploded bombs to native title claims and knows
what it is like to be a fresh journalist looking for work
and an editor responsible for hiring journalists.

Daniel Garlett is a Noongar man from Ballardong
Whadjuk and Yued heartlands with cultural connections
to all 14 clans of the Noongar nation. He covers WA
and the NT as a cultural advisor for his family and as
a spokesperson on cultural knowledge and caring for
country.
Self-employed for 35 years as cultural performer and
manager of his own company, Daniel speaks nationally
and internationally on dreaming tracks, cultural heritage
and the history of Aboriginal social issues. He is a strong
advocate of education through cultural awareness
and knowledge of country. He runs school-based
programs with the Education Department through
Aboriginal and Noongar dance workshops, programs on
caring for country and programs on natural resources
management. He worked with Native Title as Regional
Development Manager (6 years) throughout Noongar
Boodja, promoting cultural awareness and knowledge
from remote areas to the cities.

Carole is an educator, writer, researcher and facilitator
with special interests in social science and qualitative
research, childhood and adult education, gifted and
talented education, critical and creative thinking, social
justice and the environment. Her PhD thesis (2005)
and associated publications investigate leadership,
management styles, organisational culture, power
dynamics, hierarchies, workplace politics and change.

Kuruma Marthedunera woman Josie Alec is the First
Nations Lead for Australian Conservation Foundation.
“I have been blessed with an extraordinary life journey,
from stolen generation to growing up with a wonderful
foster family, to making my way back home to my
amazing family and culture. Spiritualism runs strong
in both of my families and was the grounding I needed
upon my return home. My Mum was a traditional healer
and held many sacred gifts and knowledge about our
country. Through that knowledge I was taught about
our native ecology and the traditional use of native
plants, their purpose and the connection to everything
around them. Fire has played a big part in the
rejuvenation and longevity for centuries in my country.”
I am pleased to share my journey about learning the
importance of our connection with country, and my
learning about our ‘caring for country’ practices.

Lynette Knapp is a Merningar Barduk Noongar Elder
and Adjunct Research Associate at UWA Albany. She
was raised and lives in Albany and adjacent regions
of the south coast of Western Australia. She escaped
institutionalisation, and was taught culture by her
father, aunties and other Elders. She is a gifted speaker,
cultural heritage advisor, and author of Mirnang
Waangkaniny (Batchelor Press 2011).
Ursula Rodrigues is a PhD student at the University
of Western Australia, Albany Campus. An affinity with
southwest Australian landscapes and an interest in
how humans interact with them led Ursula to crosscultural research.
Her PhD focusses on the outcomes
for people and Country of contemporary Noongar fire
stewardship, and collaboration between land managers
and Noongar peoples in fire management.