Aileen Moreton-Robinson
Aileen is an Indigenous Australian academic, Indigenous feminist, author, and activist for Indigenous rights. A Goenpul woman of the Quandamooka people, she is from Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) in Queensland. She previously served as Director of the National Indigenous Research and Knowledges Network and as President of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Consortium (NATSIHEC). She is currently Professor of Indigenous Research at the University of Queensland and at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures, Australia’s first Indigenous-led Centre of Excellence.
Ann-Marie Louie
Ann-Marie’s traditional name is Sulsulxumaat and her english name is Ann-Marie Louie. She was born and raised in the Cowichan Valley, on Vancouver Island. She was fortunate enough to be raised by her late Great Grandma - who both her traditional and english names come from. She grew up learning the culture. She watched the dedication her great grandma had, to keep it alive. These last several years she worked in the childcare/service field. She went to University for her Early Childhood Educator certificate. She then worked with moms and babies. In June of 2024 she was hired by Cowichan Tribes to work at Ts'ewulhtun Health Centre as a Family Spirit home visitor. Since then she has been working in her community, with families - sharing the family spirit curriculum with families and the community.
Cassie Kitcheyan & Baby Wambli
Chief Darcy Paul
Chief Darcy Paul is Chief of Skowkale First Nation.
Guy Penny
Dr. Guy Penny (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa/Tāmaki Makaurau) is a geographer, scientist and engineer with an interest in human-environment systems and the application of values, knowledge and processes to support healthy communities, organisations and environments. He has worked with business, government, Crown Research Institutes, universities and Māori organisations on a wide range of sustainable development, wellbeing and environmental management projects across Aotearoa/NZ, since the mid-1990s, as a researcher, project manager and advisor. He has also collaborated on international projects on several occasions. Much of his work is framed by Māori approaches to wellbeing in the areas of sustainable resource use, building science and healthy housing, community renewable energy systems, climate change and equity.
Jeena Pasacreta
Jeena Pasacreta, is a Splatsin woman, traditionally named Nkw’estsu’t, by her late Kia7a. Jeena is a Home Visitor and Emergent Leader for the Family Spirit Project in the Splatsin and surrounding Secwépemc territory in the interior of BC, in Canada. Her knowledge was extracted by the elders in the community, with an initial focus on language preservation, cultural practices and education on the land, of the land. Jeena went to college and has completed her Early Childhood Education. Currently working at the Splatsin Tsm7aksaltn for the Aboriginal Infant Development Department. She aims to focus on plant medicine and language in her community, as well as traditional upbringing from knowledge gathered by Elders and knowledge keepers of Splatsin. These teachings flow to the families of the Spirit Project through the home visiting sessions.
Kim Belone
Kimberly is Diné, Kiyaa’áanii (Towering House Clan), born for Dziłtł’ahnii (Mountain Cove Clan). She is a Program Coordinator with the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health in Fort Defiance, supporting the implementation and evaluation of the Family Spirit program. Her background includes community health outreach and youth mentorship, which sparked her commitment to serving Indigenous communities. Kimberly is also a home visitor, an Indigenous Full-Spectrum Doula, and a Breastfeeding Counselor, and she contributes her expertise as a member of the SPIRIT Global Advisory Council. She is currently completing an Associate of Science in Behavioral Science and plans to continue her studies in Global Health at Arizona State University. Outside of work, she loves hiking, camping, kayaking, and fishing with her family.
Linda Tuhiwai Smith
Linda Tuhiwai Smith (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Porou) is Distinguished Professor at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi and a leading scholar in Indigenous studies, Indigenous education, and kaupapa Māori research. She has authored numerous influential publications, including Decolonizing Methodologies, and was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2013 for her services to Māori and education.
Lois Andrews
Lois Andrews is a Lil'wat woman who works within Maternal and Child Health at the Lil'wat Nation.
Lyle Harvey
Lyle Harvey is a traditional Navajo cultural educator and practitioner.
Odette Best
Dr. Odette Best is a woman of the Wakun clan of the Gorreng Gorreng, Boonthamurra, and Yugameh Nation. She is Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Southern Queensland. After training as a general nurse at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Odette undertook clinical practice, then policy work and later moved into academia. One of Odette’s main research areas is Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who completed recognised training in nursing and/or midwifery before 1950.
Pat Anderson
Pat Anderson is an Alyawarre woman known nationally and internationally as a powerful advocate for the health of Australia’s First Peoples. She has extensive experience in Aboriginal health, including community development, policy formation and research ethics.
Sarah Pihema
Sarah Pihema (Ngāti Kahu), 24yrs, is a Rangatahi Research Lead & Kaimahi Rangatahi at Toi Matarua based in the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. She recently completed her Master’s in Rangatahi Development Policy, with the hope of embedding Māori principles and values into national and local youth policy. Sarah leads the Tū Tārake Leadership Development Programme. She also oversees Pakaru Pānui, an expert rangatahi communications team. She is Aotearoa’s rangatahi (youth) representative on the Global Advisory Council for the Family SPIRIT project.
Tamara Littlesalt-Butler
Tamara Littlesalt-Butler has been the Healthy Families Program Manager for the Coconino County Health & Human Services Department in Flagstaff, AZ since October, 2021. She is Bitahnii (Folded Arms) and born for the Todichinii (Bitter Water) people of the Navajo Nation. Her family is from an area locals call, “Where the Horses Roam” near Kayenta, AZ, where Tamara’s early childhood experiences were nurtured. Before coming to the Healthy Families Program, Tamara spent nearly 18 years in the youth development field supporting youth development professionals as they provided services to youth ages 6 to 18 in after-school and summer camp settings. In her free time, you’ll find her exploring the forest with her family of 4, reading a book for an indigenous book club she co-founded with a childhood friend, or listening to podcasts. Tamara has a bachelor’s in American Studies with a minor in History from Stanford University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Te Rika Temara-Benfell
Te Rika is a proud descendant of Tūhoe, Ngāti Manawa, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao, and Waikato. Based in the centre of Aotearoa-New Zealand’s North Island, he is the Kaihautū (Chief Executive) of a Māori Community Trust, a City Councillor in Rotorua, and a professional board member and trustee across research trusts, non-profits, Iwi/Māori entities and the public sector. He is a passionate political activist and advocate for tino rangatiratanga (Māori sovereignty), mana motuhake (Māori self-determination), intergenerational equity, and the continued growth of te reo rangatira.
Tracey Bunda
Tracey Bunda is a Ngugi/Wakka Wakka woman and Professor of Indigenous Education at The University of Queensland. She grew up on the lands of the Jagera/Jugera/Yuggerapul peoples.