The Board of Directors 

John (he/him) is a Meriam/Gu-Gu Yulangi man, born and bred in Melbourne. John has written in theatre, television series, documentaries, dramas, films, and poetry for over 35 years. John has won several State and National awards, including the Human Rights Drama Award. He specialises in creative writing and has held positions on Indigenous Advisory committees for the Melbourne Arts Festival and Australian Arts Law Centre. John is a founding member of Ilbijerri Aboriginal/TSI Theatre Company, and the First Nations Writers Network (FNAWN).

John's previous roles include; a National consultant for the Australian Red Cross in Diversity and Inclusion and the Chief Executive Officer of Barmal Bijiril. He is currently the First Nations Practice Lead at Social Ventures Australia and is a board member at the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP).

John is also completing his doctorate of philosophy at the University of Melbourne, where he is a guest lecturer.

Marla (she/her) is a proud descendant of the Warlpiri nation. Marla has over 20 years of experience working with First Nations communities in South Australia as a Project officer in community engagement and managerial roles.

Marla has extensive experience as a researcher for the South Australian Department of Health before moving to the Nunkuwarrin Yunti in South Australia to lead the fleet and administration team. Marla also worked in the corporate sector in the Cooper Basin as a Land Access Co-ordinator and currently holds the position of Community Engagement Officer at the Fay Fuller Foundation.

Marla brings years of administrative and logistics/freight experience to the Books n Boots executive team, and her connection to First Nations rural and remote communities is highly regarded.

Clayton Murray-Mitchell (he/him) is a proud Ngandjon-jji, Yorta Yorta, Wemba Wemba man. He hasbeen widely known for establishing the Three Rivers Festival; an annual gathering celebrating First Nations arts, culture and sport on Yorta-Yorta
country, Moama NSW. Clayton has held roles in mentorship, Community engagement
and mental health for organisations such as AFL Sports Ready and Njernda
Aboriginal Co-op. In 2015, Clayton coordinated the Specky Dreaming on Galiwinku Elcho Island, Northern Territory, an AFL football program that aims
to promote health and participation. In 2013, Clayton received the Fellowship
for Indigenous Leadership Emerging Leaders Award. Clayton currently works at the
Jamukurnu Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation, as a Community Development worker and is based in Western Australia.

Andrew brings 30 years of experience at the senior level at the national and international levels. He was the UN Representative and Head of the New York Office for Save the Children (USA), Director of Public Policy and Advocacy on Children in Crisis and Emergency (Washington DC), Lead on Save the Children’s global strategic plan on child protection (Sweden), Head of Programs Effectiveness, Policy and Advocacy for Plan International (UK); Deputy Secretary General and Secretary General for ChildFund Alliance (USA). Here in Australia, he held the position of CEO in the Australian Republican Movement, Australia Council of Social Service, the Reichstein Foundation and the inaugural NSW Advocate for Children and Young People.

In developing global strategic plans and their accompanying business plans for Save the Children, ChildFund Alliance and Plan International, through consultation and inclusion, he orchestrated plans agreed upon and then implemented. These plans and approaches were based on strategic analysis of the sector, competitive and gaps analysis, political scanning, and targeting of funding environments. as well as drawing upon participatory mythologies and human rights approaches.

As a trainer and mentor, Andrew has worked across the globe and conducted training in advocacy, campaigns, human rights approaches, child rights, and child safety. He was an adjunct Professor at New York University, developing and teaching courses on child rights, Human Rights, and the history and development of NGOs. The course he developed and trained on children's rights was accredited in Australia by NSW NESA. 

Uncle Tommy Smith is a highly respected Wiradjuri man and experienced community development strategist from Cowra. He has lived in Redfern, Fitzroy, and Canberra most of his life. Uncle Tommy has spent his career pioneering self-determination for First Nations peoples in many areas. A qualified school teacher, in 1983 Uncle Tommy was an adviser to the Victorian Education Department and the Victorian Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Secretariat in the establishment of VAEAI.

Uncle Tommy also established the first Koorie Housing Construction (KHC) companies in Australia, based in Collingwood, Naarm. Recently retired, Uncle Tommy’s last post was to manage the National Indigenous Ranger Program for the National Department of Environment and Heritage, under three Prime Ministers, looking after over 200 First Nations rangers across the country, treating caretakers with cultural respect and acknowledgment.

Uncle Tommy's life experience, knowledge, and extensive connections with communities across Australia are highly appreciated at Books n Boots.