OUR TEAM
TOBY FINLAYSON - Creative Director
Co-founder of Desert Pea Media, Toby has been working in remote Indigenous communities around Australia and the world since 2003.
Toby trained in Thailand with acclaimed CCD organization The Makhampom Foundation in 2003 and completed a BA Communications in Theatre & Media in 2004. Toby co-ordinated art programs in Sri Lankan tsunami refugee camps in 2005.
Toby's commitment to the cause has seen him dedicate his adult working life to Desert Pea Media, delivering a host of Indigenous media programs, effecting real lasting change for young Original Nations' peoples, touching the lives of a generation of disenfranchised Indigenous youth and giving them a voice... a bridge to a positive future.
He continues to direct and facilitate programs today.
MATTHEW PRIESTLEY -Cultural Consultant
Co-founder of Desert Pea Media, Matt is a proud Mehi Murri man from Moree, NSW, a member of the Terry Hie Hie clan of the Gomilaroi Nation.
Matt has a long history of working with contemporary and traditional Indigenous media.Matt was principal artist of CCD organisation BigHart (1989-99) and AFI Laureat for his short film Hurt in 1991.
Acclaimed in both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous arts industry as a traditional and visual artist, Matt works across media platforms to communicate a powerful message of Indigenous cultural sustainability and development. He sees education as an important tool for empowerment and self-determination.
Matt is a visual artist, film maker, traditional dancer, song writer and theatre-maker.
SCOTT LARGE - General Manager
Over 15+ years Scott has worked in the Cultural / Creative Industries space, mostly in Central Australia, Arnhem Land and North Queensland.
During this time, he has worked with many Original Nations people and communities running organisations, producing projects and cultural events. The experience spent alongside the inspiring leaders, artists and communities has provided him with a lived understanding of cultural protocols and the aspirations of First Nations peoples, whilst also providing first-hand experience with the opportunities and systemic roadblocks.
This experience drives him to work towards a country where the voices and culture of First Nations are celebrated, and the struggles are embraced as shared struggles.
JANNALI DONCASTER - Lead Facilitator
Wise at 27yrs of age - Bundjalung/Yaegl man Jannali Doncaster is from the Northern Rivers of NSW, Jannali is an accomplished creative and community arts worker.
Performing under the name ‘NARLI’ he is a hip hop artist, songwriter, and passionate creative & cultural practitioner.
Jannali has been supported and mentored by the DPM team since 2018. He now leads DPM Projects as a Lead Facilitator/Songwriter and works in the DPM Office part-time as a Social Media Coordinator.
Narli is now learning the craft of Project Design and Management and brings his cultural knowledge and unique Indigenous perspectives to our work. Over the years, he has become a key component to the constantly evolving Desert Pea Media process.
DANIEL GLOSSOP - Audio Engineer/ Producer/ Mentor
Daniel (‘Chippy’) has been connected to the DPM family for many years, as a volunteer sound engineer and strong supporter of DPM’s work. Since 2018 he has been an important part of the DPM Project Team, working in communities around Australia as a sound engineer/ music producer and mentor for participants.
From Bermagui in the South Coast of NSW, Daniel has supported and learnt from DPM’s Music Producers over almost two decades and is now a fundamental component to the creative direction of DPM’s work.
His drive and passions are all about education - passing down tools to the next generation of creators and watching them grow. Being inspired by the places and country they come from. Being able to make an impact and change in the world around them through art.
LORRAINE DUTTON - Community Creative
Lorraine is a proud Paakantji/Wangkumara woman from Broken Hill/Bourke in Western NSW. At just 21 yrs old – she is a talented Creative, Songwriter, Performer and passionate Community Artist – Lor first connected with DPM back in 2016 as a participant in a DPM Project at Bourke High School.
The project became an instant DPM classic (B-Town Warriors – ‘People of the Red Sunset) and the B-Town Warriors went on to write five songs with Desert Pea Media and win a National Indigenous Music Award.
Lor stayed connected to the DPM family and participated in a DPM mentoring program in Bourke (2023/24) called ‘Crossroads’. She is now a key creative on the DPM Team – working both in her own community, and in other communities around Australia as a songwriter/mentor and community artist.
JUMAN AL-RAMAHI - Songwriter / Mentor
Palestinian/ Turkish/ Australian Singer/song writer & Music Producer JUMAN, originally from Naarm/ Melbourne Australia, now residing on Bundjalung country in northern NSW. Her music is a textural amalgamation of lo fi, electronic, R&B and neo/future soul, leading with her powerful vocals.
Her ancestry informs her advocacy for marginalized people, and she has a background and ongoing passion and commitment to youth work. She has worked with marginalised young people for over 10 years, this includes facilitating music programs, radio program, running youth music events running a drop-in centre, outdoor programs, case management, outreach programs.
Juman brings her incredible musical frequencies, cultural knowledge and logistical/production management skills to the DPM process. It’s an honour to have her involved.
JOSH NICHOLAS - Mentor/Music Producer
Josh is a full-time Mentor/Music producer for Desert Pea Media. Josh writes/produces compositions for songs and film projects for DPM for the past 8 years. His beats and production have formed the basis of an impressive catalogue of music videos filmed and recorded on country.
Of Maori blood himself, Josh has a keen interest in Indigenous rights. His beats and production have formed the basis of an impressive catalogue of music video filmed and recorded on country. His work with DPM is a testament to his empathy with young Indigenous kids and reflects his deep desire to empower and inspire them through music, reinforcing pride in themselves and their culture.
Josh has establishing himself as an artist in his own right collaborating with artists from a diverse range of genres from electronic, to Hip Hop/Rap, EDM and Dub fusion under the name HAZY.
ROY WEILAND - Film-maker & Facilitator
Roy Weiland is a filmmaker, hip hop artist and more recently a DPM Lead Facilitator - based in Sydney, NSW and part of the Desert Pea Media family since 2014. He has been a valuable contributor to our projects for almost a decade and has now taken a lead role in Directing and Facilitating a series of DPM projects.
Roy is of Maori descent and is a proud Ngati Porou and Tuhoe man, who loves rugby, music but most of all stories.
Several of the Film Projects worked on by Roy have won National Indigenous Music Awards, and his contributions to DPM’s work continue our pursuit of excellence and creative innovation.
OUR BOARD
MATTHEW PRIESTLEY - Chair
Co-founder of Desert Pea Media, Matt is a proud Mehi Murri man from Moree, NSW, a member of the Terry Hie Hie clan of the Gomilaroi Nation.
Matt has a long history of working with contemporary and traditional Indigenous media.Matt was principal artist of CCD organisation BigHart (1989-99) and AFI Laureat for his short film Hurt in 1991.
Acclaimed in both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous arts industry as a traditional and visual artist, Matt works across media platforms to communicate a powerful message of Indigenous cultural sustainability and development. He sees education as an important tool for empowerment and self-determination.
Matt is a visual artist, film maker, traditional dancer, song writer and theatre-maker.
BEN BARDON - Deputy Chair
Ben has 29 years experience in the Vocational Education and Training industry.
He has held positions on the Skills Board in NSW, the Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board and as a founding Governor of the London Apprenticeship Company.
Ben has 17 years experience as a CEO with training and employment organisations in NSW and is currently the CEO of the National Australian Apprenticeships Association – a lobbying and advocacy role.
Ben re-joined the Board in 2020 after a couple of years away and we are glad to have his expertise and business acumen on our team.
SUE PAMMENT - Secretary
Sue’s professional life was in the education sector. Her tertiary education began at UNSW with a BA DipEd leading to secondary school teaching qualifications.
She subsequently trained as a school counsellor and was a registered psychologist. Sue worked in a number of rural and metropolitan schools as a school counsellor and in various senior management positions within the NSW Department of Education.
She retired as the regional manager of the school counselling service, based in Bathurst. Sue’s membership of the DPM Board has spanned a decade. Sue is a seasoned supporter of Desert Pea Media’s work and has proudly watched its evolution.
Sue is also the mother of the founding member/creative director, and grandmother to a bevy of redheaded children (not his).
JON WILLIS - Treasurer
Jon is a medical anthropologist who has served on a range of not-for-profit boards for more than thirty years.
He currently works as senior Research Officer for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service in Brisbane, as well as in Project Officer position in the office of the Pro Vice Chancellor (Indigenous) at Griffith University.
Jon has worked with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in urban, rural and remote areas across Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory, Victoria and Queensland.