Welcome to Our Country: Ceremony

Ellie Laing (nee Southwood) is a communications professional, and former political advisor and journalist, who lives on the lands of the Gammeraygal people on the northern beaches of Sydney with her husband and two sons. When Ellie's eldest son Harvey came home from preschool reciting Acknowledgements of Country and singing Aboriginal lullabies, she was inspired to collaborate with Adam Goodes on a series of books aimed at helping families with young children to talk about Australia's First Nations history. She is currently completing studies in Traditional Aboriginal Cultures.

Adam Goodes is an Adnyamathanha and Narungga man and community leader. He is a former Australian Rules footballer, having achieved the greatest heights in the game, and was named Australian of the Year in 2014 for his public work in the fight against racism and his advocacy in First Nations affairs. Together with his cousin Michael O'Loughlin, Adam founded the GO Foundation, which supports and inspires the next generation of First Nations leaders. With a diploma in Aboriginal Studies and his own daughter approaching preschool age, Adam was motivated to publish a series of books for young children and families about Australia's First Nations history.

David Hardy is an Indigenous artist, with over 8 years of feature film animation experience with Walt Disney Animation Studios. David is also an author and illustrator of his own book series with Magabala Books, Alfie’s Search for Destiny and Alfie’s Big Wish. David has also illustrated other book titles such as On the Way to Nanas, Beatbox Brothers and The Proud Foots, Shaka Shaka Hawaii. He lives in Sydney with his wife May and two kids Caden and Summer.