Kirli Saunders is a proud Gunai Woman and  award-winning international Children’s Author and Poet as well as a Teacher, and emerging Artist. She leads Poetry in First Languages, delivered by Red Room Poetry. Her debut picture book The Incredible Freedom Machines was shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and CBCA notables. Her poetry collection, Kindred was shortlisted for the ABIA 2020 Book Awards and FAB Booktopia Awards. She is the inaugural winner of the Daisy Utemorrah Award and University of Canberra ATSI Poetry prize (2019). Kirli is an esteemed judge for the 2020 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and Val Vallis Award. Kirli is the 2020 NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year.

I pay my respects and acknowledge and the Traditional Custodians, past present and emerging of the lands, seas and skies.