Aunty Dr Anne Pattel-Gray is a descendant of the Bidjara Nation in Queensland and a renowned Aboriginal leader within Australia – nationally and internationally.

Aunty Dr Anne Pattel-Gray was the former Head of the School of Indigenous Studies at the University of Divinity, Melbourne, Australia. She has an earned Ph.D. from the University of Sydney awarded in 1995 in the Studies of Religion with the major focus on Aboriginal Religion and Spirituality plus a Doctor of Divinity form India awarded in 1997.

Recognised as an expert in de-colonising biblical narratives and developing Indigenous theology, reinterpreting biblical narratives through an Indigenous cultural lens, she brings significant insights into the cultural knowledge and religious life of Aboriginal people and Blak women’s perspective, exposing historical truth of colonisation and missionation and its impact on First Nations peoples of Australia.

Michael Frost is an internationally recognised Australian missiologist and one of the leading voices in the missional church movement. His books are required reading in colleges and seminaries around the world and he is much sought after as an international conference speaker.

Since 1999, Dr Frost has been the founding director of the Tinsley Institute, a mission study centre located at Morling College in Sydney, Australia. He has also been an adjunct lecturer at various seminaries in the United States.

He was one of the founders of the Forge Mission Training Network and the founder of the missional Christian community, smallboatbigsea, based in Manly in Sydney’s north. He is also well known for his protests against Australia’s treatment of refugees, some of which have resulted in his arrest by the NSW police, as well as his advocacy for racial reconciliation, foreign aid, and gender equality.

Jonathan has Ph.Ds in Political Economy and Theology, and an Honours Degree in Australian History. Jonathan has a background in international development, working for a decade as an advocacy coordinator for Oxfam Australia, focussing on natural resource management and international financial institutions in the Mekong region. Jonathan and Kim also lived and worked for three years as misison coordinators for Urban Seed in the heart of Melbourne.

Brooke Prentis is a nationally recognised Aboriginal Christian Leader and Wakka Wakka woman.  Brooke is a writer, speaker, educator, poet, theologian and pastor.  Brooke is Coordinator of the Grasstree Gathering, a network of over 200 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian Leaders, and producer of  #ChangeTheHeart www.changetheheart.com.au, an annual call to prayer before January 26.  Brooke has appeared on national and international TV and radio broadcasts, podcasts, and print including on Channel 9’s Helping Hands, ABC's the Drum, NITV's The Point, and ABC Radio National programs Soul Search, God Forbid, and the Religion & Ethics Report, Christianity Today, The Bible for Normal People, and Sojourners, as well as a guest host of Soul Search.  Brooke works in schools providing professional development, cultural awareness training, Reconciliation Action Plans, providing curriculum advice, planning, and audits, and sharing in the classroom and in chapel services. Brooke is currently publishing a book, "Listen, Learn, Love: Walking with Your Aboriginal Neighbour". Brooke works ecumenically sharing a message of Reconciliation as friendship and dreams of building "an Australia built on truth, justice, love, and hope."  www.brookeprentis.com @brookeprentis.official 

David D W Kim is the Multicultural Ministries co-ordinator for the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania. David’s experience has seen him serving in many areas, including as a church planter, church revitalised/ rebuilder, lead minister, mission advocate, and a certified educator for training organisations. These roles have been across different denominations and organisations in South Korea, the USA, China, and Australia. Beginning church ministry as a children’s ministry pastor in South Korea, David then moved to the USA for study, seeing his ministry grow in focus toward next- generation ministries and inner-city homeless and domestic violence ministries, in Maryland and California. Upon returning to Australia, David grew a local church specifically for Korean migrant communities in Brisbane, where he found himself as part of the Uniting Church.

Tony Rinaudo is an Australian agronomist, who is widely known as the “forest maker.” Having lived and worked in African countries for several decades, he has discovered and put into practice a solution to the extreme deforestation and desertification of the Sahel region. With a simple set of management practices, farmers can regenerate and protect existing local vegetation, which has helped to improve the livelihoods of millions.

Rinaudo has pioneered a technique that involves growing up trees from existing root systems, which are often still intact and which Rinaudo refers to as an “underground forest.” By choosing the right plants and pruning and protecting them in a certain way, farmers can help them grow into trees. Changing attitudes has been key to Rinaudo’s successful work. He realised that if people had reduced the forest to a barren landscape, it would require people to restore it.

Aunty Dr Jean Phillips is one of Australia's most senior Aboriginal Christian Leaders.  Aunty Jean works ecumenically and has been doing full-time ministry for over 70 years, a ministry which continues today.  In 2024, Aunty Jean was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Divinity in recognition of her ministry and work. Aunty Jean says, "Let's work together to build a better Australia for all Australians."

Robyn Whitaker teaches New Testament at Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity, and leads The Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy. Robyn specialises in the Book of Revelation and the Synoptic Gospels. Robyn holds a PhD in Biblical Studies (New Testament) from the University of Chicago Divinity School where she received the Jewett Prize for NT studies, a Doolittle-Harrison fellowship, and was awarded one of the competitive Martin Marty Junior Fellowships in her final year. In 2009 Robyn was appointed as Lily Teaching Fellow at the University of Chicago Divinity School. Robyn has also taught at Princeton Theological Seminary, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and Union Theological Seminary in New York where she was a post- doctoral fellow. Robyn is author of Even the Devil Quotes Scripture and Revelation for Normal People. You can read her work at robynwhitaker.com

Stephen Barrington is the founder of Foothills Community Care, where he leads a team dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive community, inspired by the subversive teachings of Jesus, especially for those who feel left behind. Under his leadership, Foothills has significantly expanded its impact, providing vital services such as free meals, outreach support, and practical assistance to vulnerable residents in outer eastern Melbourne. With over 30 years of experience in community development, engagement, and nonprofit leadership, Stephen is passionate about fostering connections, advocating for those in need, and ensuring that everyone has access to the support they deserve. Outside of his professional life, Stephen is a proud 30+ year member of God's Squad Christian Motorcycle Club, a husband, father, and pappa, and enjoys hosting experimental meals and parties for anyone interested in joining his culinary adventures.

Kaylene and Simon Reeves, along with their three children, have spent over 20 years living out their faith and pursuing radical discipleship. This journey has led them to live in some of Melbourne's, Alice Springs', and Geelong's most disadvantaged neighbourhoods. They now serve as founders and managing directors of The Good Neighbourhood Project in Norlane (Geelong), which helps neighbourhoods flourish through the transformative power of relationships (https://www.thegoodneighbourhoodproject.org). They are passionate leaders of neighbourhood-based faith communities, bringing deep experience in community development, social enterprise, place-based theology, and nonviolent direct activism. Simon holds a Degree in Social Work, a Graduate Diploma in Theology, and a Master's in Social Change and Sustainability, while Kaylene has a Degree in Public Health and Nutrition.

essica Morthorpe is the Founder and Director of the Five Leaf Eco-Awards & Uniting Earth Ministry Consultant with the Uniting Church in Australia Synod of NSW/ACT. She is passionate about advocating for the reconciliation and renewal of all creation, and supporting churches to get involved in this exciting missional work. She has travelled all around Australia visiting churches to see their environmental actions, talking and preaching about the environment and eco-theology, as well as being part of multiple international conferences around climate change, eco-justice and multi-faith climate action. Her background is in environmental science, marketing and theology.

David is passionate about the rescue and long-term wellbeing of children. In January 2010 David and his wife Andrea, along with their children, moved to Thailand where David served with ZOE for over 11 years. During this time David worked with the Thailand team on programs to prevent the trafficking and exploitation of children. David assisted ZOE’s efforts in the rescue of children (alongside Government and Law Enforcement) and journeyed alongside children and the ZOE Thailand staff to help restore the lives of child trafficking survivors.

In 2021, David and his family returned to Australia where he currently serves as theZOE Foundation Australia CEO.

Prior to joining ZOE, David owned and managed a business in Melbourne, Australia. For 16 years, he used his position in business to practically and financially support Australian children, through specialised children’s camps and foster care. He is a foster carer for children in need of respite, emergency care and short-term placements.

Aimee works for Amos Australia to engage, encourage and challenge Australian Christians to a whole-of-gospel approach to the realities of injustice and poverty. Her role entails facilitating events, engaging with schools and churches, curating newsletters and social media, and applying her gifts of writing and photography. She enjoys the enriching conversations she has with people at events, young folk at schools and Amos Australia’s partner organisations overseas.  She is hopeful about the work that God is doing in His kingdom.

Dr Mark Zirnsak, Senior Social Justice Advocate, Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania
Mark joined The Uniting Church in 1999 as a Social Justice Officer and became the director of the social justice area in 2004. In 2019, Mark became the Senior Social Justice Advocate. Mark is a active in seeking social justice in the areas of climate change, refugees, modern slavery, regulation of the online world, tax reform, poverty, democracy and alcohol reform. Mark is a member of several advisory bodies to the Commonwealth and Victorian governments in these areas.

Lyndal Sherwin is a bi-racial woman living on Gayamaygal Country. Lyndal is committed to pursuing justice and working towards the flourishing of all creation. Lyndal is an Occupational Therapist, working within the mental health sector for over 21 years across many clinical, service development and leadership roles. Lyndal is also a ministry leader within a local church context, and leads the local church's Aboriginal and Torres Islander justice team. These intersections focus on amplifying the voices of those most impacted - those with a lived experience - making their leadership integral to walking and working together. Lyndal is committed to learning from Indigenous wisdoms and perspectives in understanding wellbeing, community flourishing and theology. This learning inspires Lyndal in the ongoing process of decolonisation personally, in the church, and in broader society. Lyndal has facilitated local Aboriginal solidarity actions based on being relational, counter cultural and transformative.

Scott Hawkins loves strong coffee, political t-shirts, and lemon meringue pie. He does not like Vegemite. Currently the Senior Pastor at Urban Life, Ringwood. With 35+ years of ministry experience, working across many denominations and Christian organisations - once referred to as a ‘mongrel pastor’ - Scott is clear on what kind of church he will commit to: one where the church is highly involved in the community. Having been involved in both larger and smaller churches Scott’s perspective is unique and refreshing. If he isn’t running Sunday morning services and community connections, you can usually find Scott in a cafe in Ringwood, sipping a skinny magic.

Ben Howes currently works for Tearfund Australia as the Advocacy and Influencing Lead. Ben is a passionate environmental educator, field-based geographer and community leader. Ben lives out his calling by inspiring and mentoring youth in community-centred conservation, always looking for opportunities to combine their geographical fieldwork experience in climate change adaptation and mitigation across the Asia Pacific, with educational research. Ben says, ‘I see climate change as a challenge to the full kingdom life: the full, thriving picture of what it means to live as God's people in his creation.’ Quoted from Tearfund’s delegation to the Pacific Australian Emerging Leaders Summit.