A Gamilaraay man - the First Nation peoples of North Western NSW and Western Qld and of Irish heritage Glenn studied Contemporary

Australian Indigenous Arts, Fine Arts and Digital Media with Honours at the Queensland College of Art. His research paper was

titled Return to Sender: How can an urban First Nation Australian reveal their lived experiences within Contemporary Art Practices? 

He is starting his PhD research (as part of the National ARC funded grant) “The health determinants of First Nation Music” at the Qld Conservatorium Griffith University. He has been a respected community member of the Murri Court for 7 years (Qld. Magistrates Court) and also Deputy Chair of Griffith University’s Council of Elders. In 2018, he started with the Swell Festival as a Board Director. He was part of Festival 2018 Gold Coast with the Indigenous Wearable Arts Festival at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Glenn's art works are in many private and public collections across Australia, Japan, Indonesia, South Africa, South Pacific, USA, Canada and Europe.

Competent in providing leadership and administration services, Barry has over 15 years’ experience in the secondary and tertiary sector (TAFE and University). He has had numerous self-led, community and university outputs including the Indigenous Liaison and Student Support Officer at TAFE Qld Gold Coast since 2017, where he has delivered Promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Cultural Diversity. These programs are embedded in the Health courses (Nursing, Early Childcare, Education Support, Community Services etc.), as well as nearly 20 years’ experience as an artist (and 15 years as a Chef).

He has had appointments and delivered cultural workshops across many regions of QLD, Torres Strait Islands, Bamaga and Moree NSW, as well as Japan, USA, remote Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands. He is proud to be recognised as someone who contributes to local, national and international communities.

Glenn structures his own identity through reclaiming his ancestral voice with music and art and acknowledges his rich heritage and offers expanded notions of urban Aboriginal experiences. Regarding leadership, concepts of my Gamilaraay tribes (as Fresh Water people) include the people who say no (Gamil = no and Array = people). This translates to everything we need is inside of us – saying no to outside influence and checking with self first.

Growing up on the Gold Coast, his focus has been the specialised educational arena of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and services. He is aware of the wide-ranging circumstances that affect, challenge and also benefit society with First Nation tried and tested concepts.

Glenn's goal is clear communication through bridging values of both traditional and contemporary worlds: a “trademptorary” world in this 21st century. His passions include cultural learning through tactile connections. Various forms of health-giving formats have come naturally including Art Therapy, Shiatsu bodywork, Branch Master in Shorinji Kempo, (Martial Arts), Intuitive and Sound Healing with the Yidaki/didgeridoo and facilitator of Indigenous Culture at Peace for Hearts and is the Yidaki/didgeridoo player of the groups Sacred Sound Journey and Soundscapes.

Glenn is well known and respected across many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services and is passionate about the development and delivery of Cultural Mindfulness programs that a new way of being to allow the integration of new customs, taking into account the barriers, as a way of moving forward. His methodology incorporates process, perspective and narratives as research that enquires into notions of self-description and self-determination.

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