Jennifer Bates
- KOORIE HERITAGE TRUST, KOORIE FAMILY HISTORY SERVICE - MANAGER
- MINUTES OF EVIDENCE PROJECT - PARTNER INVESTIGATOR
Jennifer Bates is the Manager of the Koorie Heritage Trust’s Koorie Family History Service, which provides a confidential genealogical research service for the Stolen Generations and the Victorian Koorie Community.
Jennifer graduated from Deakin University with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology in 1995 and a PhD (Psychology) in 2001. While she was studying, she worked for 10 years at Deakin University’s Institute of Koorie Education (IKE), as a Tutor, Psychology Lecturer and then Research Fellow. Jennifer was part of the IKE project team involved in the review of the Koorie Early Childhood Education Program (KECEP), which involved State-wide consultations with Indigenous and non-Indigenous Stakeholders.
As a Partner Investigator on the Minutes of Evidence project, Jennifer's role has primarily been to assist facilitating the Community Engagement aspect of the project, liaising with Elders, Koorie and non-Koorie Community Groups, and descendants of Coranderrk residents, especially surrounding the on-Country performances of Coranderrk: We Will Show The Country, and the more recent performances of CORANDERRK.
Erin Birch
- PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS - MANAGER, ECONOMICS AND POLICY
- MINUTES OF EVIDENCE PROJECT - PARTNER INVESTIGATOR AND CONSULTANT (2011-2013)
Erin Birch is a Koorie woman who has contributed strongly to Government policies and programs that affect Aboriginal communities. In 2011 she was awarded the Young Indigenous Leader Scholarship by the Institute of Public Administration Australia.
Erin commenced her career as a teacher where she implemented Aboriginal history education programs before becoming a Koorie Engagement Support Officer with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development where she led a culturally inclusive curriculum project and was responsible for building the capacity of schools and affiliate organisations to effectively engage with Aboriginal families and service providers. Erin then went on to coordinate a state-wide parenting program and led the Victorian Aboriginal kindergarten portfolio. This role involved the facilitation of training to large groups, delivery of lectures and presentations in Australia and internationally.
Erin is currently working with PwC UK advising the government on education strategy development and implementation.
Liz Jones
- LA MAMA THEATRE - CEO AND ARTISIC DIRECTOR
- MINUTES OF EVIDENCE PROJECT - PARTNER INVESTIGATOR
Liz Jones is the CEO and Artistic Director of Melbourne’s famous La Mama Theatre. She is widely recognised as a leader in the arts in Australia, and particularly in experimental theatre, which has been a major focus of her passion and energy for more than thirty years.
Liz graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1965 and obtained her Diploma of Education at Sydney University in 1966. She taught English, History, Drama and Politics for twenty years in NSW, Victoria, the United Kingdom and worked as a Volunteer Graduate in Indonesia. In 1996, she received a Doctorate of Laws (honoris causa) from the Australian National University for her work in theatre. In 2006 she completed her Graduate Diploma of Civil Celebrancy at Monash.
In 1973, Liz commenced working as both an artist and staff member at La Mama Theatre in Carlton. At the end of 1976 she became Artistic Director and has held this position ever since.
As a performing artist, Liz has worked with the experimental ensemble led by Lloyd Jones continuously since 1973. In more recent times she has worked with Ariette Taylor, Suzanne Chaundy, Humphrey Bower, Mammad Aidani, Lynne Ellis, David Pledger, Margaret Cameron, Emma Valente and Bagriana Popov.
Liz Jones has played a crucial role in the Minutes of Evidence project by brokering the relationship between the academic and theatre worlds upon which the project is primarily established. In 2009 she was approached by Giordano Nanni with his ideas for a verbatim theatre production based on the minutes of evidence of the 1881 Parliamentary Coranderrk Inquiry. Her involvement in this project led to Rachael Maza casting her as Anne Bon in the initial exploration of Coranderrk: We Will Show The Country. She then went on to work on the production with director Isaac Drandic in 2011 and 2012.
Liz was awarded the 1994 Kenneth Myer Medallion for the Performing Arts.In February 2000 she was awarded the Sidney Myer “Facilitator’s” Award, in February 2001 the Green Room Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2002 her name was placed on the Victorian Women’s Honour Roll. In 2012 she awarded an AO, the citation specifically mentioning her work with the indigenous theatre community.
She is married to Lloyd Jones and has two children of her own, three step- children and has ten grandchildren.
Rachael Maza
- ILBIJERRI THEATRE COMPANY - ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
- MINUTES OF EVIDENCE PROJECT - PARTNER INVESTIGATOR
Rachael Maza is Artistic Director of ILBIJERRI Theatre Company, Australia’s leading and longest running Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Theatre Company. Rachael is also one of Australia’s most recognisable faces of the Australian film, television and theatre industry with performance credits including the AFI award winning Radiance, Cosi and Lillian’s Story.
A WAAPA graduate, Rachael’s outstanding performances have been acknowledged with a Green Room Award and a Sydney Theatre Critics Circle award. Rachael has also worked as a narrator for ABC Radio National and as Indigenous Liaison Advisor on films such as the multi-award winning Rabbit Proof Fence.
Rachael’s first taste for direction was for directing STOLEN (1992) for ILBIJERRI Theatre Company; however, it wasn’t until 2009 that she rejoined the company as Artistic Director. Since then she has directed SISTERS OF GELAM (2009), JACK CHARLES V THE CROWN (2010), FOLEY (2011) and BEAUTIFUL ONE DAY (2012).
Within the Minutes of Evidence project, Rachael directed the early pilot performances of Coranderrk: We Will Show The Country (2010-11) and played a central role in facilitating the consultation and engagement with local community members in Healesville and Melbourne.