First Nation Reference Group

Hague Best is a Traditional Owner of the Yugambeh Language Region, with extensive knowledge and experience across all aspects of Cultural Heritage, including local language and family connections associated with the Gold Coast. As a community leader and Elder, Best has supported a number of arts sector initiatives aligned to the Arts and Culture Strategy and led by the City’s Arts and Culture team, including the inaugural Indigenous Arts and Culture Forum, South Stradbroke Island Indigenous Artist Camp and Public Art initiatives.

Djon Mundine OAM is a proud Bandjalung from the Northern Rivers of New South Wales. Mundine is a curator, writer, artist and activist and is celebrated as a foundational figure in the criticism and exhibition of contemporary Aboriginal Art.

Mundine has held many senior curatorial positions in both national and international institutions, some of which include the National Museum of Australia, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Art Gallery of New South Wales and Campbelltown Art Centre.

Between the years 1979 and 1995, Mundine was the Art Advisor at Millingimbi and curator at Bula-bula Arts in Ramingining, Arnhem Land, for 16 years. Mundine was also the concept artist/producer of the ‘Aboriginal Memorial’, comprising 200 painted poles by 43 artists form Ramingining, each symbolising a year since the 1788 British invasion. The Memorial was central to the 1988 Biennale of Sydney and remains on permanent display at the National Gallery of Australia in the main entrance hall. Inducted into the Australian Humanities Academy - FAHA fellow of the Australian Humanities Academy.

Stephanie Parkin belongs to the Quandamooka of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). After practising as an intellectual property lawyer at McCullough Robertson Lawyers, Stephanie went on to complete a Masters of Philosophy at the Queensland University of Technology in 2020. The Masters thesis addresses the drivers and impacts of fake Aboriginal art in the souvenir market, and in doing so, gives priority to the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

In the various roles Stephanie undertakes, her work focuses on promoting and addressing Indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights, and ethical and transparent trading between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and those who wish to sell or license their work. Stephanie is the current Chairperson of the Indigenous Art Code Ltd, board member of the North Stradbroke Island Museum on Minjerribah and is employed by the Copyright Agency as the Indigenous Engagement Manager.

Rhianna Patrick is a freelance Torres Strait Islander media professional and journalist with family connections to the Zagareb (Mer) and Wagadagem (Mabuyag) clans of Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait). Rhianna spent nearly two decades at the ABC before leaving to pursue other opportunities in 2020. For the last few years, Rhianna has curated Spotify's 'Original Storytellers' playlist.