ABOUT US

Sharon Brindley is a proud Yamatji/Noongar woman, mother of three adult children, and grandmother of six. Sharon is the founder of Jala Jala, and co-founder of Timberscope Feral Management and TrapEase. She also holds leadership roles with the First Nations Bushfood and Botanicals Alliance Australia, Kinaway Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, and the Mornington Peninsula Indigenous Business Group.

An award-winning entrepreneur, recipient of the inaugural First Nations Exporter Award at the 2025 Governor of Victoria Export Awards, mentor, and global public speaker, Sharon is deeply passionate about supporting First Nations women and businesses. She advocates for greater representation of First Nations enterprises within the native food sector and works to educate others about Indigenous business ownership and culture. Inspired by her grandmother, a member of the Stolen Generation, Sharon’s work celebrates Indigenous ingredients and the power of food to connect communities.

Aunty Deb Mellett is a proud Gurindji Woman from the Northern Territory. Raised on Larrakeyah Country, she was deeply immersed in her culture from a young age through her Grandmother’s teachings. She has spent the past three decades on the Mornington Peninsula advocating for Aboriginal rights and supporting her community.

With over 30 years of managerial experience, Aunty Deb played a key role in establishing the Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association and is now the CEO of Nairm Marr Djambana Aboriginal Gathering Place, an organisation which provides a culturally welcoming, safe, and accessible space for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Frankston. In 2025, she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her outstanding service to Victoria’s Indigenous community.

Aunty Patsy Smith is a Taungurung Elder and artist whose work explores themes of displacement, reconnection, community, identity and cultural pride. Her art draws on her personal history as a member of the Stolen Generation and reflects both the joy and responsibility of coming onto Country. Her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and installations, including at the
Melbourne Centre for Contemporary Photography, Frankston Art Centre, and Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery. Most recently, her artwork Parliament Forest was selected for the First Peoples Melbourne Art Trams project as part of RISING Festival in 2025.

A committed advocate for First Nations rights, Aunty Patsy is a founding board member of Baluk Arts and a long-standing board member of the Taungurung Land and Water Council, where she provides cultural leadership and guidance to her community.

Kayla Cartledge is a proud Gurrindji woman and founder of Our Songlines, an educational platform connecting people with Indigenous businesses and culturally significant sites. Born on Larrakia Country and now living on Bunurong/Boon Wurrung Country, she blends her heritage with innovative technology to share Indigenous stories, songlines, and cultural knowledge across
Australia.

An experienced business analyst, Kayla is dedicated to fostering understanding of First Nations culture and advancing reconciliation through engagement with Indigenous products, services, and knowledge. In recognition of her leadership, Kayla was awarded the 2025 Emerging First Peoples Leader Scholarship from the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) Victoria.

Hudson Fraser is a proud Torres Strait Islander from Thursday Island and a passionate advocate for First Nations culture, dedicated to sharing his knowledge of traditional plants, bush tucker, and medicines. He currently works as a Cultural Guide for Living Culture, an organisation committed to educating people about the importance of keeping Aboriginal culture alive.

Hudson has completed Certificate II in Horticulture and Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management with the Warren Beek Rangers, working closely with Traditional Owners to deepen his understanding of plants and their care. His dedication has been recognised through several awards, including runner-up for the Holmesglen First Nations Student of the Year Award (2023) and the Frankston/Mornington Peninsula NAIDOC Youth Award (2024).

Heidi Duell is the Co-founder and Creative Director of Living Culture, an organisation dedicated to fostering understanding and respect for First Nations culture and supporting its continuation through education and community engagement.

She has a diverse professional background spanning the disability sector, the surf industry, and a range of community-led and not-for-profit initiatives. Her work and volunteer roles focus on grassroots collaboration, contributing to projects that enhance services and infrastructure, protect and rehabilitate public land, and support the health of coastal and ocean environments.

Nelly Shaw is a tourism and marketing professional with more than twenty-five years of experience working with public, private and not-for-profit organisations. She is the founder of The Submission Writer, a specialist service supporting tourism, arts and cultural organisations to develop strong submissions for awards, grants and tenders.

Nelly’s work has contributed to successful outcomes across major programs, including the Telstra Business Awards, the Australian Tourism Awards and competitive government grant schemes. Through her involvement with the Yannabil First Peoples Tourism Council, she is committed to supporting First Nations tourism businesses to access the funding and recognition they need to grow and thrive.