About YIRRAMBOI

Sherene Stewart is a Taungurung/Filipino curator, artist, and director living and working on Boon Wurrung and Woi Wurrung Country. As Co-Lead and Artistic Lead of YIRRAMBOI, the internationally renowned First Nations biennial, Sherene has shaped a bold and expansive curatorial vision since her appointment in 2022, championing ambitious new work, world premieres, and multidisciplinary practices that centre First Nations voices on local and global stages. Her critically acclaimed work includes Table for 6 at Arts Centre Melbourne, a powerful and intimate curatorial project that brought together leading First Nations artists in a work of deep cultural resonance and critical dialogue. Across her practice, Sherene is known for creating rigorous, community-led platforms that privilege cultural authority, storytelling, and experimentation. Working both nationally and internationally, Sherene has developed and led projects in collaboration with First Nations and Indigenous communities across Canada, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and the Asia-Pacific. Her international practice is grounded in reciprocal exchange rather than extraction, prioritising relationship-building, cultural protocol, and shared knowledge systems. Through this, she has fostered meaningful global networks that connect Indigenous artists and communities in ways that are accountable, future-focused, and self-determined. At the core of Sherene’s practice is a deep commitment to First Nations creatives and community. She prioritises cultural safety, knowledge exchange, and intergenerational development, creating spaces that are inclusive, intersectional, and grounded in sovereignty. Her work continues to expand the possibilities of First Nations arts practice, both within Australia and across international contexts.

Emily Wells is a proud Kamilaroi producer and playwright currently working with YIRRAMBOI Festival. Emily is passionate about using performance to drive social change, and supporting artists to thrive in the creative process. As a Producer, Emily has produced small to large scale performances, gatherings and creative developments with emerging to established First Nations creatives across Australia. Since being awarded the Emerging Female Arts Leader at the Matilda Awards 2020, Emily has worked closely with leading independents and companies such as ILBIJERRI Theatre Company, Karul Projects, Digi Youth Arts, Queensland Theatre, La Boite Theatre Company, and Walt Disney World. As a Playwright, Emily’s debut play Face to Face premiered at Metro Arts (Brisbane) as part of Playlab Theatre’s 2022 Season. Emily was selected for Playlab Theatre’s year-long script development programs Alpha Processing and the inaugural Sparks program, delivered in partnership with QPAC and Moogahlin Performing Arts.

Rosie Kalina is a proud Wemba Wemba and Gunditjmara woman, and is Creative Associate for YIRRAMBOI Festival. Rosie’s background is in visual arts and curating, she specialises in makeup artistry, community arts work and producing. Rosie has engaged in multiple First Nations youth-led projects, such as curating ‘Blak to the future’ series at Footscray Community Arts (2018, 2019, 2020). Rosie has been featured in VOGUE Australia (2020 & 2022) addressing representation and the experience of being a First Nations artist. Through these platforms Rosie strives to challenge the notion of what it means to be Aboriginal through fierce & beautiful decolonial imagery and by asserting herself as a sovereign woman. Rosie aims to ensure First Nations autonomy and excellence be at the forefront of every project she is part of, with the guidance of her elders and community.

As the former Associate Producer of Indigenous Theatre at Canada’s National Arts Centre, Sage contributed to a rich tapestry of historical Indigenous performances and innovative creations. Her tenure there stands as a testament to her dedication to preserving cultural heritage while fostering new narratives. Through visionary co-production and co-curation as Managing Producer of Indigenous Contemporary Scene, Sage proudly spotlighted the richness of First Nations excellence on an International stage by assembling a diverse line-up of First Nations artists within the Edinburgh Festival Trifecta in 2019 (Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, and Edinburgh Fringe Festival), the Festival Trans Amériques (2018) and OFFTA (Montreal, 2018). Her creative journey across non-profit creative networks reflects her commitment to catalysing the social evolution of young ones through artistic endeavours, including 'Versions', a documentary series amplifying the stories of global youth through musical storytelling, and 'Four Directions,' a compelling exploration of pop culture's role in societal transformation among Indigenous youth. Her influence extends beyond production, encompassing directorial roles in music videos, performance, editorial and consultation. Sage's curation of 'Slut Island' (Montreal, 2019) and 'Nuit Rouge' (Montreal, 2019) manifests her commitment to cultivating spaces for marginalised artists and resisting tokenisation within cultural spheres. Serving the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres board, she has steered the International Relations portfolio, fostering world-wide artistic connections. In her unwavering conviction about the future of her communities, she is dedicated to championing the evolutionary trajectory of artists, seeing beyond the present, and harnessing the brilliance inherently woven into our collective global existence as First Nations people.

Matthew is a marketing, creative, and digital specialist with a background in brand partnerships and youth culture marketing. Now with YIRRAMBOI, he channels his experience into creative campaign development and partnerships strategy.