Dr Anita Heiss is a member of the Wiradjuri nation of central New South Wales and is one of Australia’s most prolific and well known Indigenous authors.

Her published works include the historical novel Who Am I? The Diary of Mary Talence, Sydney 1937, the poetry collection Token Koori, satirical social commentary Sacred Cows, non-fiction text Dhuuluu-Yala (To Talk Straight) – Publishing Aboriginal Literature, and a children’s book entitled Me and My Mum. Anita has also edited editions of Southerly, Five Bells and the anthology Life in Gadigal Country.

Anita has performed her works nationally (Sydney Writers’ Festival, Perth International Arts Festival, Message Sticks, Brisbane Writers Festival, Melbourne Poetry Festival, Brisbane Poetry Festival, among others) and internationally in Spain, Austria, the USA, Canada, Fiji, Japan and New Caledonia. She has also been published widely in journals, anthologies and on-line.

Anita was Communications Adviser for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board (2001-2003), was a member of the Australian Society of Authors (ASA) Committee of Management from 1998-2004 and was Deputy Director of Warawara Department of Indigenous Studies at Macquarie University from 2005-2006.

In 2003 in recognition of her literary achievements Anita was awarded the ASA Medal for Under 35s for her contribution to Australian community and public life. In 2004 Anita was awarded the NSW Indigenous Arts Fellowship and was listed in The Bulletin magazine’s “Smart 100”. She was also nominated for a 2004 Deadly Award for Outstanding Achievement in Literature.

In 2004, wrote and directed her first short-film “Checkerboard Love” as part of the Lester Bostock mentorship program through Metro Screen, Sydney. She was also writer in residence at Macquarie University.

Anita has made guest appearances on the Einstein Factor, Message Stick, Vulture and Critical Mass.

Her latest works include Not Meeting Mr Right (Random House, February 2007), I’m not racist, but… (Salt Publishing, April 2007) and Yirra and her deadly dog Demon (ABC Books, May 2007).