Her research led her to co-author the book Songspirals, which shares Aboriginal women’s wisdom of Country through songlines, and was longlisted for the Stella Prize this year. The book was also featured at the NT Writers’ Festival last month, where four generations Aboriginal women came together to read from the book.

1) In a nutshell, my job is to…
Work with amazing people and places, be inspired by them, and do my best to pass some of that inspiration along.

2) A person at Macquarie that inspires me is…
My wonderful colleague Kate Lloyd who is always there with a massive smile and who can walk the walk like no one else.

3) This year I want to…
Rewind the clock and start all over again in a world which is based on love, care and kindness.

4) The scariest thing I’ve ever done is…
Quad biking off the wrong side of a sand dune in Namibia.

5) As a kid, I was…
Very easily stirred (but not shaken).

6) My guilty pleasure is…
Definitely chocolate and cake, preferably a fabulous big chocolate cake with lovely rich icing!

7) I’m scared of…
Human beings not looking after each other and our amazing world.

8) The most important thing I’ve learned this year is…
Never take for granted being able to give someone a hug.

9) I’m happiest when…
I’m camping in Australia and southern Africa with my amazing family.

10) If I had the day off today, you would find me…
In my garden desperately trying to grow something.

Yanama Budyari Gumada (‘Go/walk with good spirit’) brings together staff and students under the guidance of senior Darug custodian Uncle Lex Dadd to heal Darug Country at Yellomundee/Yarramundi Regional Park in Western Sydney.

The program was a winner in the ‘Benefiting Society’ category at the Australasian Green Gown Awards last year (see Awards and Recognition, December 2019) and will now compete on the world stage against 12 other outstanding international sustainability initiatives.

Program coordinators Associate Professor Sandie Suchet-Pearson and Dr Marnie Graham, a Formas Fellow hosted by the Department of Geography and Planning,  say this international recognition comes at a fitting time, with National Reconciliation Week’s 2020 theme being ‘In This Together’.

“Reconciliation is at the heart of our work, bringing together many different people with diverse knowledges to heal Country and prioritising learning from the old ways in order to do something new.

“We are so proud of our work together and of Uncle Lex’s commitment to yanama budyari gumada. Through our regular culture camps on Darug Ngurra (Darug Country) we have enabled more than 700 people to connect with Darug Ngurra culture and knowledges, and we’re excited to share our work with the world through this nomination.”

The International Green Gown Award winners will be announced on 8 July as part of the United Nations High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.

Yanama Budyari Gumada acknowledges the generous support of NSW Environmental Trust in funding this project.

I’ve been at Macquarie for…
Just over 24 years (I started on May Day 1992!)

In a nutshell, my job is to…
Make the world (and the University) a better place.

In slightly more detail I’m Director of the Macquarie-Ryde Futures Project in the COO’s portfolio, which means I look after the University’s engagement with local government other than statutory planning issues (which sits with Property).

I’m also a Professor in the Department of Geography and Planning and an elected academic member of University Council. I’m also a Justice of the Peace – so I do a bit of signing for lost receipts at Concur reporting time!

The question I hear most often in my work is…
Which hat are you wearing today?

The top three things on my to-do list today are…
1) Get my computer working properly again after some password issues on eduroam (grrrrrr!).
2) Organise the Chinese Culture Festival that we will host on 27 August.
3) Finalise two new PhD scholarships co-funded by Ryde Council.

If I could do any other job at Macquarie, it would be…
I love what I’m doing and feel that if I just had more time for each of the roles it would be perfect.

Name a Macquarie staff member that impressed you last week…
Ruth Tregale (Director of Widening Participation) did a fantastic job in celebrating Refugee Week. Deputy Chancellor Elizabeth Crouch also gave me some sage and timely advice.

I get my campus coffee fix from …
A thermos or Wally’s Café – the last place on campus to offer lactose free milk.

My favourite subject at school was…
Geography (what a surprise!).

Outside work, you’ll often find me…
Playing a guitar or mandolin.

The most amazing place I’ve ever visited is…
Kyoto, Japan – the best city in the world to write.

In 10 years from now, I hope to be…
Happy and optimistic.