Connie Rovina’s traditional homelands on her grandmother’s side are Musgrave Station and Laura area, being the Kuku-Thaypan people of Far North Queensland, and the Bowen Basin district Birriah and Widi people of Central Queensland, of her grandfather. Connie played a crucial role in the establishment of UMI Arts and has worked in First Nations arts consultancy positions, project management, curation, public art, and advocacy for the Aboriginal Arts Industry and artists.

Priscilla Major, also known as Ma Cheltrulalie, is an elder from the Kokoberra peoples on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula. The Kokoberra people are the Traditional Owners of the Mitchell River area, which includes the Aboriginal community of Kowanyama. Priscilla is a founding member of UMI Arts and has dedicated her life to living and working in the community. She focuses on passing down traditional language, stories, and art to younger generations.

Marilyn Kepple is a WIK Mungkan woman based in Coen in Cape York, with ancestral ties to the Winchanum, Ayapathu, and Lama Lama Clans. Her strong connection to Country—shaped by childhood experiences of camping, fishing, hunting, and gathering natural materials with her family—continues to guide her artistic practice. Since commencing printmaking in 1998 and completing a Diploma in ATSI Visual Arts at TAFE Cairns, Marilyn has worked on Country in community, drawing ongoing inspiration from the stories, traditions, and landscapes of her homelands. She has served on various Boards and has been an active member of UMI Arts for several years, participating in its Side by Side workshops and exhibitions. Marilyn brings deep cultural knowledge, community insight, and extensive experience, making her a highly valued member of our Board.

Kassandra Savage is an accomplished Teacher with over 35 years of teaching experience across primary schools and Aboriginal communities, and Mossman. Alongside her educational career, her background is deeply rooted in Cloncurry, where she was born, and her family history connects her directly to Mapoon. Grounded in this professional and cultural background, she serves as a UMI Arts Board Director, utilizing her leadership to bring First Nations stories to wider global audiences. Through UMI Arts programming, she actively develops her creative practice, anchors her work in First Nations-led community spaces, and showcases at prominent regional events like Savanna in the Round. As a visual artist and printmaker since 1990, she has mastered mediums such as acrylics, black ink, etching, linocut, and lithography, creating vibrant works inspired by family, Country, and ancestral connections.