About Adam Ford

Adam Ford is a Nyoongar curator, writer, and researcher whose Menang/Goreng lineage is drawn through the Keen(/Knapp) and Farmer(/Coyne) families. He is the great-great grandson of matriarchs Minnie Knapp (once Keen and Hayward) and Emily Farmer (née Coyne) and is also of Anglo-European heritage.

Though his connections lie across the Great Southern region of Western Australia, Adam was born and raised off his ancestral boodja (Country) in Magandjin/Meeanjin/Brisbane and now lives in Kamberri/Canberra where he works as Associate Curator, First Nations Art, at the National Gallery of Australia. He has held professional positions across state, university, independent, and commercial institutions (collecting & non-collecting) and regularly contributes to Australian arts publications. Adam has worked previously as Assistant Curator, Indigenous Australian Art, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art; Curatorial Research Assistant, Blaklash; Public Programs Assistant, Institute of Modern Art; and was a 2021 Kinnane Endowment Fund Intern (Curation/Registration/Engagement) at the University of Queensland Art Museum.

Adam is deeply engaged by the history, sociology, and politics of First Nations art and culture. His research interests span First Nations religio-cultural heritage, genealogy, language, and critical theory.

About Jilda Andrews

Dr Jilda Andrews is a Yuwaalaraay cultural practitioner and was recently appointed Deputy Director, First Nations at the National Museum of Australia. She has more than 25 years’ experience as a leading scholar of museums, anthropology and cultural futures.

Jilda has worked extensively in the galleries, libraries, archives and museums sector in public-facing audience, learning and exhibition roles as well as exhibition design and gallery development – including the Museum’s Great Southern Land gallery and the Australia Pavilion for Expo 2025 in Osaka.

She is a leading voice in the sector, actively contributing through advisory and board positions. With affiliations to the ANU through the Research School of Humanities and the School of Cybernetics, Jilda has a strong record of research and publication in the field.

As an active member of her Yuwaalaraay community, Jilda has represented Country nationally and globally through her work as a researcher, cultural practitioner and performer.

Jilda is extending continuities from Australia’s deep cultural roots to inform dynamic, culturally strong and inclusive communities and future societies.

About Lucy Hannan

Lucy Hannan is an Assistant Director at the Office for the Arts. The Office for the Arts leads on work within the Commonwealth relating to Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property.