Words to Sing the World Alive

Anita Heiss is an internationally published, award-winning author of 23 books ranging across non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial women’s fiction and children’s novels. She is a proud member of the Wiradyuri Nation of central New South Wales, an Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and the GO Foundation, and Professor of Communications at the University of Queensland. Her latest historical novel is Dirrayawadha. 

Cheryl Leavy is from the Kooma and Nguri nations in western and central Queensland. She is an award-winning poet and writer who loves to tell stories that celebrate First Nations culture, history and Country. Yanga Mother is her first picture book. Her second, For You Country, will be published in 2025. 

Thomas Mayo is a Kaurareg Aboriginal and Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander man. He lives on Larrakia land in Darwin and is the elected Assistant National Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia. He has more than 20 years’ experience in leadership and advocacy, including the development of the Uluru Statement from the Heart in May 2017. Thomas has also authored seven books, including Always Was, Always Will Be, on creating a fairer Australia. 

Jared Thomas is a Nukunu person of the southern Flinders Ranges; a William and Margaret Geary Research Fellow, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Material Culture and Art at the South Australian Museum and the University of South Australia; and an Indigenous Literacy Foundation Ambassador. He is the highly regarded author of critically acclaimed books for young adults, including Sweet Guy and Songs that Sound Like Blood, and is the co-author of the Patty Mills series Game Day.