Kaz Therese is an interdisciplinary artist working across theatre, visual arts and dance, with a practice grounded in performance, activism and community building. They are an award-winning theatre director, programmer and cultural leader.
Kaz’s work has often involved the activation of new spaces, connecting communities and artists to broaden the experience of contemporary art and its audience. They founded FUNPARK in Mount Druitt in 2014. FUNPARK has repeated its success as part of the Sydney Biennale in 2020 and Sydney Festival in 2022.
Working with major arts organisations in Australia and around the world, Kaz’s art explores urgent topics including Australia’s refugee and First Nations policies, gender and intersectional feminism and youth issues.
Kaz grew up on Chestnut Crescent in Bidwill and spent their childhood exploring what was once farmland and is now suburbs.
Leanne Redpath is a Dharug artist, educator and book illustrator. She is also connected to the Burubiranggal, Warmuli and many other family groups across Sydney and NSW. Leanne started painting with her mother as a young child. She is the author of Cooee Mittigar and Sharing, children’s books created to share Dharug knowledge and culture. Leanne is a long-serving director of the Dharug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation. She is a mother and grandmother, and she loves spending time with her family and on Country.
Mayor Chagai is the founder and head coach of Savannah Pride, a basketball club that mentors and connects young people through sport. Savannah Pride is a grassroots youth organisation that draws on the South Sudanese community’s passion for basketball to foster community harmony. At six years old, war forced Mayor to leave his South Sudanese village. He made his way via Ethiopia to a Kenyan refugee camp, where he discovered he had a gift for basketball. A true community leader, Mayor’s work with Savannah Pride creates a supportive place where young people in the Blacktown LGA can channel their energy and grow.
Kim Loo is a doctor who has worked in the Blacktown LGA for 35 years. She is committed to highlighting the evidence around social, environmental and commercial determinants of health. She is a tireless advocate for climate justice.
Kim is a fourth-generation Australian with a Malaysian Chinese cultural background. She is the mother of two adult children.
Kim is passionate about permaculture and cooking and she uses these activities and values to grow her community.
She contributes to many public health and wellbeing organisations including NSW Doctors for the Environment, Asian Australians for Climate Solutions, the Australian Medical Association, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Hills Doctors Association and the Western Sydney Primary Health Network.