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Chair Person, SharingStories Foundation
Gina is a descendant of the Kamilaroi Nation in north western New South Wales on her mother's side and the Wiradjuri Nation in western New South Wales on her fathers' side. Gina has highly developed expertise and hands-on skills across academia, research, education, stakeholder engagement, leadership, public sector policy, professional learning, and human rights. With a career spanning 20 years, her work has been invited, respected, and shared across Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, United States of America, Canada, and Europe. The wisdom Gina shares from community through to board level is measured, reflective, and relational to diverse and deep contexts.
Gina's academic background in strategic management, marketing, and organisational behaviour provides a solid grounding for her to lead confidently and competently from self through to the system. Her past work has influenced people, policy, practice, and processes. Gina's work is anchored in rights-based, strengths-based, and place-based approaches and balanced with values of relationships, integrity, empowering others, wisdom, and new ways. Gina is committed to enabling learners to feel a sense of belonging and ensuring they have agency in their learning journey. The strategies she uses to support First Nations and western learning approaches demonstrates how cultures can collaborate effectively in the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and reconciliation.
Gina was awarded the University of New England Alumni Achiever of Year for her practical contributions to education and wellbeing in Indigenous communities across Australia. She was nominated for the Department of Education and Training Employee Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to leadership and as a driver of innovative change.
Board Member, SharingStories Foundation
Liz Thompson is deeply involved in guiding the work of the foundation within Indigenous communities and is the organisation's Executive Officer. She also works alongside senior knowledge authorities and partner communities implementing community-based cultural mapping programs.
A producer of media with over three decades experience creating stories for radio, television and print. Her work includes the series, Sharing Our Stories books created through a collaboration with 14 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities. The series won the 2009 Australian Awards for Excellence in Educational Publishing and was voted the best resource produced across primary, secondary and tertiary publishing in the country.
She has directed documentary films for ABC/BBC including Breaking Bows and Arrows, an exploration of reconciliation in Bougainville after the civil war. The film won the United Nations Media Peace Award for Best Television and The AIBD World Award for the Promotion of Conflict Resolution and the Grand Jury Prize at the 3rd International Festival of Oceania Documentary Film. Liz has produced numerous feature-length programs for ABC Radio National, online content, stories for international print media, and has published of over 30 books. Liz possesses a PhD from La Trobe University, focusing on self-representational digital media practices in remote Indigenous communities.
Board Member, SharingStories Foundation
Daniel Browning is an Aboriginal journalist, radio broadcaster, documentary maker, sound artist and writer. Currently, he produces and presents Awaye!, the Indigenous art and culture program on ABC RN, a specialist radio network of Australia's national broadcaster. Awaye! surveys contemporary Indigenous cultural practice across the arts spectrum.
With a degree in visual arts from the Queensland University of Technology, Daniel is also a widely published freelance arts writer. He is a former guest editor of Artlink Indigenous, an occasional series of the quarterly Australian contemporary arts journal. In addition, Daniel is the curator of Blak Box, an immersive sound installation in the newly redeveloped Barangaroo precinct on the western foreshore of Sydney Harbour. Daniel is a descendant of the Bundjalung and Kullilli peoples of far northern New South Wales and south western Queensland.
Board Member, SharingStories Foundation
Dr Caroline Aebersold has worked in leadership positions in the not-for-profit sector for over 20 years. She was the CEO of The Song Room, successfully leading the organisation for 12 years, providing face-to-face education programs to over 10,000 children weekly in high need communities, including new arrival refugees, Indigenous children, those with special needs and other young people at risk. Prior to this, Caroline worked as a Psychologist, specialising in suicide prevention in a range of roles including managing mental health services, teaching and consulting to government, community and corporate clients. Caroline is passionate about addressing social disadvantage, particularly with a focus on evidence-based programs and systemic reform to transform marginalised communities.
She holds a degree and postgraduate qualifications in Sociology and Psychology, as well as a Doctor of Human Rights Law from Monash University. Aside from her executive experience, Caroline is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has served on several not-for-profit Boards, including the Diplomacy Training Program, Suicide Prevention Australia and the Australian Psychological Society, and has developed deep expertise in corporate governance and strategy.
Board Member, SharingStories Foundation
Rhea Dhillon is a senior litigation lawyer at Phi Finney McDonald with extensive experience in class actions and mass tort litigation and a developing practice in discrimination. She represents workers claiming underpayment, people who've been misled about their investments and individuals who have suffered racial discrimination. Rhea also has experience in public affairs and communications, having worked with an agency delivering campaigns and strategic advice to not for profit organisations and unions. In 2005, Rhea graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Australian Indigenous Studies. Rhea is honoured to be able to serve the Board of this wonderful organisation.
Board Member, SharingStories Foundation
Shane is a Gunnai man of the Mongta and Thorpe Families, a descendant of apical ancestors Charles Gluingkong and Kitty Rivers and Dan Bungyl Tambo and Kitty Wangung and of the Brabralung and Krauatunalung clans of the Gunaikurnai Nation.
Shane is a Business Operations leader with extensive experience across Corporate, Not for Profit and Tertiary sectors.
Shane has a strong passion for amplifying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and culture and finds himself thriving in roles where he can mix this passion of advocating for community and cultural heritage with his business strategy, operations and people skills to drive better outcomes for our people into the future.
Shane is the Chief Operating Officer for the entirely Indigenous-led Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures, administered by The University of Queensland.
With the aim of transforming the lives of Indigenous Australians, the Centre undertakes innovative research focusing on the most critical and enduring social, cultural and economic challenges and opportunities for Indigenous communities.
Shane leads the Centre’s national operations, and is responsible for the Centre’s high-level strategic, operational and performance planning to enable the Centre to achieve impact across its research goals, objectives, and translation programs.
Board Member, SharingStories Foundation
Tim Goodwin is a member of the Yuin people of the south east coast of New South Wales. Tim is currently a barrister in Melbourne. He graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws with Honours in 2007 and from Harvard Law School with a Master of Laws in 2012. Tim served as Associate to Justice North of the Federal Court of Australia from 2008-09, and as Associate to Justice Bromberg from 2009-10.
Tim is a Board Member of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth and the National Apology Foundation. Further, he is a Trustee of the Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation.
CEO
Sharon identifies as a Pitta Pitta woman. She was born and lives on Yaggera and Turrabul Country (Brisbane). Sharon has a Bachelor of Education with a major in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies.
She has worked for the Queensland Department of Education for 27 years and has developed and implemented a range of initiatives that have supported and improved educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
In her role as CEO, Sharon is overseeing the strategic direction of the organisation. She is also responsible for developing strategic partnerships with like-minded organisations, as well as overseeing the development of SharingStories education strategy.
Special Projects
Liz Thompson is deeply involved in guiding the work of the foundation within Indigenous communities and is the organisation’s Founder. She also works alongside senior knowledge authorities and partner communities implementing community-based cultural mapping programs.
A producer of media with over three decades experience creating stories for radio, television and print. Her work includes the series, Sharing Our Stories books created through a collaboration with 14 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities. The series won the 2009 Australian Awards for Excellence in Educational Publishing and was voted the best resource produced across primary, secondary and tertiary publishing in the country.
She has directed documentary films for ABC/BBC including Breaking Bows and Arrows, an exploration of reconciliation in Bougainville after the civil war. The film won the United Nations Media Peace Award for Best Television and The AIBD World Award for the Promotion of Conflict Resolution and the Grand Jury Prize at the 3rd International Festival of Oceania Documentary Film. Liz has produced numerous feature-length programs for ABC Radio National, online content, stories for international print media, and has published of over 30 books. Liz possesses a PhD from La Trobe University, focusing on self-representational digital media practices in remote Indigenous communities.
Education and Senior Program Manager
Harmony Domaille is a Taribelang Bunda woman living and working on Yaggera/Jagera and Turrabul Land. She has a Bachelor Degree in Education (Secondary) and Creative Industries (Drama) and has additionally completed her Masters of Educational Leadership in Indigenous Leadership.
Harmony has worked in various educational settings including state schools in regional Queensland, Montessori schools, Flexible Learning Centres and Arts programs for both primary and secondary school-aged students.
With over 15 years experience in education in Australia and overseas, Harmony has a diverse range of skills in both curriculum and pedagogy, with a passion for trauma-informed practice, storytelling, project-based learning and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education.
In her role as Education and Senior Program Manager, Harmony is working in collaboration with cultural Custodians to develop educational resources for Jajoo Warrngara: The Culture Classroom.
Senior Program Manager
Brooke grew up on the Far South Coast of NSW and has lived and worked around Australia. She has a Bachelor of Contemporary Music from Southern Cross University, a Diploma of Music from Box Hill Institute, and a Postgraduate in Arts Management from Deakin University. She was also awarded a 12 month Creative Producing Mentorship through Creative Australia (Australia Council for the Arts) with the Artistic Director of Ten Days on the Island.
With extensive experience in creative producing, program design and management, and event management, Brooke has a passion for producing creative projects that educate and inspire us to explore our shared sense of place and identity. She has managed a diversity of visual arts and performing arts programs and festival events including Program Manager of Community Engagement on the year-long Centenary of Canberra festival. Brooke's other passion has been working cross-culturally, collaborating with First Nations communities across Australia for nearly 12 years on community and cultural development projects.
In her role as Senior Program Manager, Brooke leads the co-design process and management of a range of digital storytelling, skills development, and mentoring programs in the CREATE stream and the project management of multi-touch books, interactive display panels, animated films, and a digital keeping place in the SHARE stream. In 2022, she managed the national launch of Jajoo Warrngara: The Culture Classroom at Federation Square in Melbourne.
Branding and Communications Specialist
Sheree is a Torres Strait Islander woman, born in Cairns, Far North Queensland with family and ancestral links to Erub Island in the Torres Strait. Sheree has worked for a number of regional and international not-for-profit organisations delivering programs, in both grantmaking and fundraising to support social impact and outcomes.
From 2008-2011, Sheree worked for The Christensen Fund as an In Region Consultant and obtained postgraduate qualifications in Communications, from Griffith University. Commencing in early 2019, her role encompasses the creation of communication platforms for SharingStories to share the work of Indigenous people with all communities.
Program Manager
Georgia Boe is a Meanjin (Brisbane) based art consultant, curator and project manager. She has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Queensland and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Photography) (Honours) from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
Within her past roles, she has worked on Hawai'i Triennial, Honolulu, 2025; documenta fifteen, Germany (2022); Gwangju Biennial, South Korea, (2022), Sharjah Biennial, UAE (2023), Biennale of Sydney (2020); and presentations at the Sydney Opera House, (2023) Tate Modern, London (2023), Castello di Rivoli, Italy (2022), Museum of Contemporary Art, Australia (2021) and exhibitions at Australian and international institutions.
Business Administrator
Mawana Cora is a proud young Gangulu and Ngalakan woman who was born on Turrbal and Yuggera Country (Brisbane, Australia).
Mawana possesses a Certificate III in Business and was awarded runner up Trainee of the Year at the Queensland Training Awards. Mawana volunteers at the Yourtown Youth Advisory Group, collaborating with many organisations including the Kids Helpline to advocate for young people of all cultural backgrounds and representations.
Mawana is currently studying a Bachelor in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith College which she is due to complete in 2023.
Finance and Administration Manager
Madhu commenced work as the Finance and Administration Manager in 2016. In the past, Madhu has worked as an Accountant in various commercial practices across New South Wales. She possesses a Bachelor of Mathematics from University of the South Pacific, and obtained her Masters in Accounting in 2009 from University of New England. She is a current CPA and supports the foundation through high level administrative and financial management.
Digital Development Lead
Van Sowerwine is a media artist who work with stop-motion animation to create interactive installations and short films. Her work, often created in collaboration with Isobel Knowles, has been shown at film at art festivals across the world including at Cannes and Sundance. Van also works with motion graphics, video editing and digital and interaction design and has extensive experience in education in the corporate, vocational and higher education sector.
Van has worked designing and creating interactive digital multi-touch books with SharingStories communities and mentored SharingStories digital designers. She is passionate about helping communities find the most effective ways to maintain and share language and stories using digital technologies.
Design and Animation Lead
Isobel Knowles is an award-winning artist and animator. Her multidisciplinary practice spans short film, interactive installation, cross-platform performance, music, painting, photography and illustration. Her most recent achievements include winning the 2010 Premier of QLD'S National New Media Art Award, being given an Award of Distinction at the 2012 Arts Electronica Festival and publishing a children's book with Thames and Hudson.
Isobel has worked across many facets of SharingStories programs including animation facilitation, co-curation, design and mentoring new facilitators. Her extensive experience has brought new and exciting skills to all visual projects.
Evaluation Officer
Lakshmi was born in India and raised in the United Arab Emirates and Australia. She earned a Bachelor of Health Science from the University of Queensland, gaining extensive experience in consulting and research.
Lakshmi assisted in the co-design of a population health dashboard, completed an analytics internship at HIMSS, and is a co-author in multiple papers. As a passionate advocate, she has provided strategic advice to social enterprises and non-profits through 180 Degrees Consulting and supported students as a representative of the Public Health Association at UQ.
In her role as an Evaluations Officer, she aids the foundation by monitoring progress, contributing to strategy, and evaluating the impact of projects across the organsation.
Outside of work, she enjoys dancing and spending time outdoors.
Ocean has a long history as a philanthropic fundraiser. He brings over 20 years of grant writing and not-for-profit fundraising experience to support SharingStories financial and strategic growth.
He has degrees in music and arts from the University of London and the Royal Academy of Music. Ocean also played in the London Symphony Orchestra while building a career in arts administration and fundraising through the directorship of a classical music festival in Australia. He won the 2011 NSW AbaF Giving Award as an individual nominee.
In recent years, Ocean has focused on community causes and is particularly passionate about working with SharingStories to deepen his understanding of the diversity of First Nations peoples, histories and cultures.
Videographer
Cian is an experienced videographer and photographer who has worked in Meanjin’s commercial and art industries for the previous decade.
His passion for creating engaging and purposeful multimedia content has led him to work alongside Meanjin’s leading arts organisations and for prominent First Nations artists. His productions have been featured in regional and national print publications, online media outlets and his documentation of Megan Cope’s Kinyingarra Guwinyanba was featured in ABC’s Art Works.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Photography from the Queensland College of Art and Design, Griffith University, in 2018.