First Nations Hub

In a previous life Dave Key followed his passion for music by performing in small bands and working as a music sales rep for BMG Music. Then other passions took over, and a love of people, history and the natural environment led Dave to teaching history and geography at a performing arts high school, wading through mangrove mud teaching students how to assess the health of estuaries in Homebush Bay and demonstrating responsible and sustainable fishing practices by teaching children how to fish in his capacity as Community Education Officer for NSW Fisheries. He joined our team (then Historic Houses Trust of NSW) in 2010, and as the visitor services coordinator for the Meroogal and Western Sydney Portfolio since 2012 Dave brings all of his experiences to sharing his passion for history, land and culture with audiences old and new.

Gulwanyang Moran is a proud Birrbay and Dhanggati woman of the Gathang language group and Manager of the First Nations Community Access to Archives team at MHNSW. Gulwanyang is a power-conscious and experienced leader with over 20 years’ experience in Cultural Capability education and praxis. A passionate advocate of cultures and languages, Gulwanyang brings a wealth of knowledge working on the ground in her own peoples’ language and cultural reclamation work. Truth-telling, rematriation, anti-colonialism and supporting First Nations archivists centres the work she does within the galleries, libraries, archives and museums (GLAM) sector. Through facilitating statewide language education and cultural programs, she maintains her understanding of the aspirations and needs of language revitalisation communities. Gulwanyang holds a Master of Indigenous Languages Education and informs national policy through the National Language Policy Partnership group as an independent community representative.

Photo © Marley Morgan Photography

Jasmyn is a proud Wotjobaluk woman of the Wergaia language group and is accepted by the Wiradjuri and Dharug communities. Jasmyn is the Senior Advisor in the First Nations Community Access to Archives team and joins us from the NSW Premier’s Department where she was the project lead working on the delivery of three community-based programs supporting social cohesion in NSW. She also founded and chaired the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff–led network for the department. Jasmyn’s educational background is in psychology, criminology and Aboriginal studies and she is passionate about working with community and prioritising truth-telling. She hopes to use her experience and knowledge to support the delivery of this project and to build trust between community and government.

Jordan is a descendant of the Djirringanj people of the Yuin Nation of the far south coast of NSW. Growing up, when Jordan wasn’t out surfing he developed a keen interest in studying the law and how it disproportionately affects Aboriginal communities. With this guiding his future career, Jordan moved off Country and onto Dharug land in Sydney to study. He has gained invaluable insights from his career, working on projects in digital media, legal reform and mentorship of Aboriginal high school students. Jordan is passionately inspired by how young mob are changing the narrative in the workforce and hopes to bring that drive to his work with the First Nations Community Access to Archives project for language revitalisation.

Beth Thornber was born in Corowa, a small town on the banks of the Milawa/Murray River in NSW. A First Nations curator, educator and artist of the Wiradjuri people, she is currently based in Sydney on Gadigal land. Her multidisciplinary practice uses colour and a visual alphabet of animal, plant and human motifs to question themes of impact: historical, environmental and human impact in so-called Australia. Her work considers existing structures cemented in everyday life and applies this lens to reimagine ideas of sacredness, boundaries, common ownership and shared responsibility.

As the new Project Assistant in the team, Beth brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will really lend itself to the truth-telling aspects of the First Nations Community Access to Archives project.

Amie is a proud Gamilaraay woman born into Dharug Country. Amie began her work in graphic design and photography, which enabled her to pursue a career in digitisation. Amie started in the Digitisation team in Commercial Services at the former State Archives and Records Authority of NSW in 2018, specialising in reprographic photography and digitisation practices, and brings significant working knowledge and experience to the project digitisation lead role. Amie joined the team excited and passionate about the First Nations Community Access to Archives project and reconnecting with community. She is passionate about the importance of enabling community to gain access to language and culture.

Tess Allas is a Wiradjuri curator and has strong links to Tharawal country in Wollongong. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Arts from the University of Wollongong and a Masters of Curation from the University of Sydney. For the past three decades Tess has curated many exhibitions of First Nations contemporary art in both Australia and Internationally for organisations including Wollongong Art Gallery, Carriageworks, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney Opera House, Art Gallery of South Australia, Murray Art Museum Albury, Gorman Museum (University of California), the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection (University of Virginia). In 2021 Tess wrote the Museum of Sydney’s Indigenous Contemporary Art Acquisition Strategy. Tess firmly believes in the power of contemporary art in having the ability to correct history and uncover hidden truths.

Sebastian Goldspink is a First Nations curator at Museums of History NSW. A proud Burramattagal man, he founded ALASKA Projects, an influential space fostering artistic projects with a commitment to amplifying First Nations, queer and emerging voices. In 2022 he curated the Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art, entitled Free/State, at the Art Gallery of South Australia. He is interested in the intersection of First Nations and colonial histories and the ongoing struggle for decolonisation. In 2025, he graduated from the Dhiraamalang: Wesfarmers First Nations Arts Leadership Program at the National Gallery of Australia. He sits on the advisory committee for Western Sydney University’s creative strategy, and is a council member of the University of Sydney’s Power Institute, a foundation dedicated to arts and visual culture. He regularly writes and speaks about Australian art.

Liam Keenan is a Gamilaroi man from north-west NSW and has spent close to a decade working in some of Australia’s most significant cultural institutions to champion First Nations projects and programs.

He is interested in supporting the growth of Indigenous creative practices in regional NSW, as well as exploring the growing potential of new-media and performance projects in museums.

Dennis Taylor is a Bundjalung, Gumbaynggirr, Koko Berra and Kuku-yalanji man with over 20 years’ experience across the education sector. He currently works as Manager, First Nations Employment and Engagement at Museums of History NSW, where he leads strategic initiatives that strengthen First Nations employment outcomes, cultural capability and organisational accountability.

With a background that includes senior roles at Charles Sturt University and TAFE NSW, Dennis brings strong expertise in workforce development, change leadership and stakeholder engagement. His work is grounded in a belief in the power of education and employment to create meaningful opportunity, enhance lived experience and support positive futures for First Nations peoples.

Peter White is a Gamilaroi Murri from north-west NSW who has held a number of senior positions and advisory roles in major cultural institutions and government arts agencies. After completing an applied sciences degree in cultural heritage management, he intended to train for a National Parks and Wildlife Service position so that he could care for country and work to protect sites of Aboriginal significance, but his destiny changed during an excursion to the Australian Museum in Sydney. Peter has since worked with a number of museums on a broad range of projects and initiatives. He sees his role as navigating change and developing a new consciousness in management, staff and audiences to value Aboriginal culture and people, and their communities’ perspectives.