Rhoda Roberts

Bundjalung woman (Widjabul Wiyabal clan) from northern NSW who has dedicated her life to ensuring Indigenous stories, knowledge, and culture are passed to future generations. As former Head of Indigenous Programming at Sydney Opera House, founder of the Festival of the Dreaming, and creative director of major cultural events including the Sydney 2000 Olympics Opening Ceremony, Roberts doesn’t create for immediate applause—she creates for descendants. Her father walked with Martin Luther King Jr. and fought at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in 1972. Her work continues that legacy, understanding that every creative decision about how Indigenous culture is presented shapes what future generations will inherit. Roberts embodies the principle that cultural custodianship means creating not for today’s audience, but for the grandchildren seven generations forward who will need these stories, songs, and connections to Country. Her approach to creative work asks: What knowledge are we preserving? What wisdom are we passing on? What will this teach those who come after us?