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Meet our Steering Committee

Des Crump

DES CRUMP is a Gamilaroi man and his language journey began when he used language in the eulogy for his mother, sparking interest in his family and community about language. His background was already in education, but from that time he focussed increasingly on language, and he has supported language programs in Western Queensland for many years. He undertook the MILE (Masters in Indigenous Languages Education) course and later worked as the Indigenous Languages Coordinator at the State Library of Queensland. Des was appointed Indigenous Industry Fellow in September 2021 with the School of Languages and Cultures, UQ

Robert McLellan, Co-Chair

ROBERT MCLELLAN is a proud Gooreng Gooreng descendant of the Wide Bay region, QLD, community researcher and an experienced Director, governance and engagement practitioner. He is an Industry Fellow with expertise in language revitalisation, data sovereignty and data governance. A strong advocate for truth-telling and speaking up for Aboriginal people’s rights and justice, economic advancement, and to ensure First Nations voices are authentically valued and embraced across all levels of society, Robert is passionate about Indigenous methodologies and building culturally inclusive, honourable, and cohesive communities. Robert was appointed Indigenous Industry Fellow in September 2021 with the School of Languages and Cultures, UQ. Robert co-chairs the Project Steering Committee.

Tahlia Burchill-O'Brien, Co-Chair

TAHLIA BURCHILL-O’BRIEN also known as Kukubaka (talk alot or language speaker) and Jukara (many sands) is a Kuku Yalanji woman from the Julay (Daintree) and Buru (China Camp) areas in the Far North Queensland region. She has trained and applies her skills as a dancer and as an educator. She is passionate about language and ensuring that languages are taught widely and well. Tahlia co-chairs the Project Steering Committee.

Faith Baisden

FAITH BAISDEN is a Yugambeh woman whose Elders Pat O'Connor and Ysola Best set up the Yugambeh Museum at Beenleigh in the 1980s. In 1995 Faith began working with the Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages (FATSIL), and then helped the establishment of QILAC (Queensland Indigenous Languages Advisory Committee) and the Eastern States Aboriginal Language Group. Faith was instrumental in setting up First Languages Australia (FLA), in 2013 to support the network and raise the profile of languages in public and the media – to get languages out there and give support to all languages and language groups. In November 2021, Faith retired as FLA CEO, but continues to consult on some projects, including the National Indigenous Languages Teaching Strategy, and a project with the media to ensure the right messaging. For many years, Faith has produced books, resources and songs in Yugambeh and she will continue this work.

Leonora Adidi

LEONORA ADIDI is from Saibai Island and is a speaker of Kalaw Kawaw Ya, Yumplatok and English. She lives at Bamaga in Far North Queensland. She moved ‘down south’ for high school and stayed for many years. When she returned, she would notice how fewer people spoke language and so took up study at Batchelor in Linguistics to understand and address this. At the time, the majority of students were from Queensland, completing the Advanced Diploma and Degree courses, who were keen to start and keep revitalisation work going on their languages. There were no study opportunities in Queensland, forcing them to travel to the NT. Leonora is a member of QILAC and FLA, as well as a NAATI interpreter, consultant trainer and examiner. She is working on her own program in Bamaga, with support from Pama Language Centre. Her work has received publicity through the ABC, particularly to songs in language. On a trip to Taiwan with Joy Bonner, meeting others who have experienced language oppression, she used song to share and promote language. Leonora is interested in the committee as she believes that language needs to be supported in the tertiary education sector.

Uncle Michael Williams

UNCLE MICHAEL WILLIAMS is a senior Gooreng Gooreng man who was ‘put into lore’ (is a fully initiated man), sharing intrinsic connections to Warlmanpa, Yankunytjatjara, Pitjantjatjara, Eastern Aranda and Central Aranda peoples, and is senior kin ŋadja-m for Robert. His connection to universities began when he co-ordinated and taught a program in 1982 at Macquarie University, in Sydney, presenting a history of the human occupation of this country from an Aboriginal perspective, a national first. He grew up on country just north of Bundaberg, where he was born. He is a long-term resident of Brisbane from the 1960s and has had a long career in Indigenous affairs and higher education as Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies at the University of Queensland. He is already actively engaged with the School of Languages and Culture providing leadership on Indigenous knowledges; how and with whom it can be shared, who can appreciate the knowledge of others; and about the risk of information being circulated that is inauthentic or incorrect. He seeks to ensure that senior members are involved to prevent the repeat of past mistakes

Paul Williams

PAUL WILLIAMS is a Gamilaraayman from Tamworth. Paul studied languages and linguistics at the University of Queensland and have been teaching at the University and working on research and publication projects since 2020. His is a co-author of the forthcoming book Bina: First Nations Languages Old and New (Tudor-Smith, Williams and Meakins, in press).

Paul teaches linguistics, technology use and archival research as a Research Associate in the Program. He is also a researcher with the Language Data Commons of Australia (LDaCA) project in the school, (hyperlink to https://www.ldaca.edu.au/)

Al Harvey

Bio to come

Natasha Best

NATASHA BEST is a proud Wakaman woman with deep connections to her Country. Her Country extends from the Chillagoe area at the base of Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland. Although born in Mareeba, a small town on the Atherton Tablelands, Natasha has called Canberra, Ngunnawal Country, her home for over 20 years. Currently working as a Senior Assistant Curator at AIATSIS, Natasha feels honoured to work with a diverse range of significant material in the institute's collections. In addition to her work as a curator, Natasha is a passionate Aboriginal artist with over 30 years of experience. She began her artistic journey at a young age, learning from her mother.

Natasha understands the significance of First Nations Languages and why it is essential to meet the needs of First Nations communities through the importance of language revitalisation and preservation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To support her passion of reawakening Wakaman language. In early 2022 Natasha enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts focussing on linguistics and anthropology. In completing her studies, she aims to assist in preserving and protecting the diverse historical, cultural, and linguistic heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Natasha is currently focusing on language revitalisation for her mob, the Wakaman people and understands the importance of keeping culture alive, particularly First Nations Languages. Recently, she has had the fantastic opportunity to participate in the Language Revitalisation Summer program and has now become a student representative on the Indigenous Language Revitalisation Project Steering Committee.

Jillian Bowie

JILLIAN BOWIE is a Samsep and Zagareb woman from the islands of Erub and Mer in the Kemer Kemer Meriam Nation of Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait). Jillian delivers a wealth of experience in the employment and training sector, mentoring and coaching, and community projects development. Jillian is a Senior Program Officer, First Nations Languages Education Program, First Languages Australia. Jillian is a writer, published author, and influencer who uses her craft and creativity to inspire and empower First Nations people.

Ella Woods

ELLA WOODS works with First Languages Australia on the First Nations Languages Education Program. She brings with her career experience in leadership, business management and finance, and is passionate about supporting language communities to design and deliver projects that support their aspirations. Ella’s family are Kombumerri and Mununjali people from the Yugambeh language region.

Committee Support

Samantha Disbray

SAMANTHA DISBRAY is a non-Indigenous lecturer and researcher at the School of Languages. She started out as an ESL teacher, and moved to Alice Springs in the late 1990s and began working as an adult educator. She has worked as a community and research linguist, working with Warumungu people on language projects , and an education linguist, supporting language and culture and bilingual education programs across Central Australia. She moved to UQ in 2019 and since 2021 has worked with Des and Robert on the ILR program development. She is the Program Convenor.

Sofia Kudlak

Bio to come

Previous Committee Members

Sandra Phillips

SANDRA PHILLIPS is a Goorang Goorang and Wakka Wakka woman. Her first degree, in sociology and arts governance, was from UQ. Her second degree was her PhD at QUT in Creative Industries. She returned to work at UQ from 2020-2022 as Associate Dean, Indigenous Engagement with the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science. In her research she focusses on Indigenous publishing, literature and storytelling. Her interest in the Steering Committee stems from her interest in language work, as she was on the State Library of Queensland board for 5 years, and her interest in Indigenous governance processes.

Gari Tudor-Smith

GARI TUDOR-SMITH is a linguist of Gureng Gureng, Baradha, Yiman and Gangulu descent who earned a Bachelor of Arts in linguistics and languages from the University of Queensland and have been actively involved in teaching, research, and publications since 2019. Gari is a co-author of the upcoming book "Bina: First Nations Languages Old and New" and co-taught in the Indigenous Language Revitalization intensives in 2022 and 2023, focusing on language description, research, technology, and evolving language ecosystems.

Clint Bracknell

Clint is from the south coast Noongar region of Western Australia. He started out as an ESL and music teacher, then moved into university teaching. He established the major in Indigenous Knowledge at the University of Western Australia, where he also completed his PhD in Noongar song traditions. He worked for the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, establishing a major in contemporary music, before returning to Western Australia as Associate Professor at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and Kurongkurl Katitjin at Edith Cowan University. His recent arts-language projects include performances of Shakespeare in Noongar, dubbing a Bruce Lee film in Noongar, and staging of Noongar performance ‘Noongar Wonderland’ in this year’s Perth Festival. He is deputy Chair of AIATSIS and was Professor of Linguistics in the School of Languages and Cultures, UQ 2021-2023.

Chris Day

CHRIS DAY is a Ngugi man, living on Minjerribah. With a professional background as a secondary teacher, Chris has experience of the challenges of establishing a language program in a Queensland school, showing that change is required at a systemic level to support the incorporation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages as a curriculum offering in schools. After working as a classroom teacher, Chris has moved to corporate roles within the Department of Education, hoping to make a greater impact. He has managed the Languages and Cultures team and is currently Manager for the Pathways team. Chris has also undertaken the MILE course, which he praises but can see a demand that it cannot meet, particularly for those without a teaching degree.

Brent Leavy

BRETT LEAVY is a Kooma Mardi (man). His work is in the technology field, in the research and development of a First Nations decentralised Metaverse using internet communication technology to represent the cultural heritage, arts, knowledge, and language. Brett heard language from his great grandmother and grandmother, and this learning plays an important role and inspiration for this work. Brett is keen to see language expanded and spoken, especially embedded into the vernacular of young people.

Preston Parter

Annalee Pope

PRESTON PARTER was Principal at Eidsvold P-12 State School. Preston grew up in Bowen and spent the majority of his teenage years on the Sunshine Coast. He completed his teacher trainer and travelled around Queensland working in different locations. His first principalship was on a small cattle station school in Central QLD. Eidsvold School then requested Preston as Deputy Principal to support the establishment of a language revitalisation program in 2016. Preston and the school community have worked on the language reclamation program for the last 5 and a half years, and have learned a lot through the process. Although it was a steep learning curve, the program has been buzzing along nicely with full-school engagement. To support this work, Preston undertook the MILE course last year, and was appointed language teacher, as well as curriculum and admin leader for the program – on top of school principal duties. Preston is particularly interested in the Steering Committee as he would like to see better training, preparation and a willingness to engage from beginning teachers. He is now Principal at Nullu Badi Ngudyubay Academy in the Rockhampton and Livingstone Region.

ANNALEE POPE is a Wakka Wakka woman, who currently lives in Townsville. She began working at the Central Queensland Language Centre in Bundaberg in 2013, and now works as a project officer with First Languages Australia. Her work involves supporting communities to document their languages. She has gained a high-level of understanding of Aboriginal languages, developing policies, language revival plans, language documentation tools and their benefits. She is very skilled in language documentation, resource production, and creating learning resources. Annalee has since become a mentor for young language champions and is using her skills and experience to guide and support young language workers with their language aspirations. Her interest in the committee is the need she sees for language work qualifications.