Keynote Speakers

Professor Stan Grant

Stan Grant is a Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi and Dharrawal man who has blazed a trail for First Nations journalists in a four-decade career reporting from more than 80 countries. Stan is a three-time winner of Australia’s highest journalism honour the Walkley Award, four-time winner of the prestigious Asia TV awards and twice winner of the US Peabody Award.

 

His latest book, Murriyang: Song of Time, offers a path to peace and forgiveness, grounded in the Wiradjuri spiritual practice of deep silence and respect.

 

 

 

 

Kelly Humphrey

Kelly Humphrey is a proud Gomeroi woman and the inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) at Australian Catholic University (ACU). With degrees in Education and Theology, she brings extensive experience in teaching, Aboriginal education, educational policy, and leadership within both Catholic and public school systems. Her prior roles include senior positions in the NSW Department of Education, where she contributed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Education and Care and K–12 Aboriginal Education strategy, including Closing the Gap initiatives.

 

Kelly is currently pursuing a PhD focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school leadership, underscoring her commitment to advancing Indigenous educational leadership. With extensive experience in rural and regional communities, she is dedicated to strengthening connections and addressing diverse community needs. In her role at ACU, Kelly leads initiatives supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, students, and communities, furthering the university's commitment to Indigenous education and research.

 

Toby Whaleboat

Toby Whaleboat is a senior land service officer (Aboriginal communities) for Hunter Local Land Services in Newcastle, NSW, where he is a member of the eastern Torres Strait Islander community. He is a knowledge-holder, a singer-songwriter and a driving force in Torres Strait Islander sacred music in Newcastle, including a director of music workshops for composers from Indigenous communities in the Hunter Region. As a young boy growing up in Townsville, Toby Whaleboat learned Christian songs with texts in Meriam Mir, Torres Strait Creole and English. Whilst embracing his Christian values and beliefs, Toby instigates cultural maintenance programs with an emphasis on language and song revitalisation. In his role as the land service officer, he assists and supports Aboriginal communities to build and develop their capacity in land management relating to natural resource management, emergency management, biosecurity and agricultural extension.

 

Bishop Tim Norton

Tim was born in 1958. He completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy at the Cumberland College of Health Sciences and subsequently worked in various hospitals. At age 25, Tim joined the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), a.k.a. the Divine Word Missionaries. He did his theological studies at Yarra Theological Union in Melbourne, and worked part-time as a physiotherapist at the Aboriginal Medical Health Centre and at what was then Pentridge Prison.

 

Chair of the Bishops Commission for Relations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Tim finds great meaning in being with and learning from groups of culturally diverse people. He is looking forward enormously to engaging with the diverse people of the Broome diocese and encountering the Spirit of God among them.

 

Maureen Yanawana and Madelaine Jadai

 

In 2024 Bidyadanga's Maureen Yanawana and Madelaine Jadai asked the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference to recommend to the Vatican the official use of The Missa Terra Spiritus Sancti, also known as the Mass of the Land of the Holy Spirit.

 

They will share the journey that was undertaken to gain approval from the Australian Catholic Bishops to recognise the profound significance and over half a century use of the Mass - previously known as the Missa Kimberley.