Tamati Smith

he/him
Contributor
Yamaji (Wajarri/Badimaya) and Māori (Ngapuhi)

Tamati is a Yama(t)ji (Badimaya/Wajarri) and Maori (Ngapuhi) man living in Jambinu (Geraldton). He is an emerging visual storyteller, photographer and videographer with a passion for regional storytelling, especially in the midwest region of Western Australia. In the last ten years Tamati has worked in many different fields, starting off as a trainee at the Geraldton Aboriginal Medical Service. He worked in the Royal Australian Navy for almost seven years and has lived in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. 

Today Tamati works as a professional photographer and videographer, providing First Nations people with culturally safe spaces to engage in storytelling. He is a contributor for Blak Lens, Common Ground, Getty Images and the AFL.

More People

Name Surname
she/her
Communications Lead
Wiradjuri, Ngemba & Paakantji

Rona is a proud Kaytetye woman from Central Australia who works with high impact organisations to create systems that centre First Nations people, knowledge and solutions.

Rona is the founder of Common Ground and brings 7 years 
of professional experience working across First Nations organisations and not for profits. Rona was previously the Director of First Nations at YLab, a social enterprise that puts young people with diverse lived experiences at the centre of designing and developing innovative and impactful solutions 
to complex social issues. Over her career, Rona has worked in policy at the Central Land Council, the Research Unit for Indigenous Languages at the University of Melbourne, Reconciliation Victoria, and the Foundation for Young Australians.In 2020, Rona was a finalist for the Victorian Young Achiever awards, was awarded a Westpac Social Change Fellowship. In 2019 Rona won a Diana Award and was named a 'Woman of the Future'  by Women's Weekly.Through her work with First Nations communities across Australia, Rona aims to create future systems that centre First Nations people, knowledge and cultures.Rona currently resides in Mpartnwe on Arrernte Country.