EMERGING LEADERS - PANELLISTS

At Giiyong Festival this year we are excited to welcome a panel of remarkable young Koori leaders from Eden and Bega - Will Herbert-Scott, Falyn Scott-Stewart, Kayne Thomas-Woods and Shakaya Aldridge - who have all been part of the transformative My Voice, My Journey program delivered by Campbell Page.

Our young people play a critical role in the future wellbeing of our Culture, Communities, and Country.

These young trailblazers are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are making waves today by addressing issues that matter to young Koori people and charting their own paths toward fulfilling their life goals and dreams.

The panellists will be joined by our special guest, NOOKY, a talented hip hop artist, radio host, and entrepreneur from Nowra. As the founder of We Are Warriors, NOOKY is dedicated to celebrating Blak excellence and empowering Indigenous youth, making him a powerful voice in our conversation.  

Facilitating our discussion will be Juanita Scott-Funaki, a proud Bega local and now a Social Media Producer with ABC Indigenous in Sydney. Juanita’s passion for storytelling and her commitment to amplifying Indigenous voices will guide our panel in exploring the important themes of resilience, identity, and cultural pride.

Join us at the Aunty Elaine Thomas Stage venue for what promises to be an inspiring and enlightening conversation directly from these Young People. Their insights and experiences are sure to inspire us all.

Will Herbert-Scott - Yuin/Kamilaroi - lives in Bega.

I would like to see a youth-lead space in Bega, somewhere safe for youth to do programs and connect wth each other and services that can support them.

Shakaya Aldridge -

Yuin/Kamilaroi - from Eden.

I would like to see more cultural programs and workshops for young indigenous kids in the community.

Falyn Scott-Stewart - Yuin/Kamilaroi/Bunjalung - lives in Bega.

I’d like to see more opportunities for young indigenous youth like jobs, programs etc. to showcase the amount of talent & creativity the young people in our area have, which can then help keep young people engaged & connected to their community & out of trouble.

Kayne Thomas-Woods - Yuin/Djirringanj/Ngunnawal - lives in Eden.

I would like to be able to help my community engage in more cultural practices and share a better understanding of my culture to educate.