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.
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.
ROB SHERWOOD - Filmmaker
Rob is an award winning cinematographer, born in the Northern Rivers of NSW, Australia.
Rob enjoys the perspective that comes from being an observer, and for him, observation without judgement is true feeling. This is what Rob aims to convey through his visuals – a feeling of truth.
Rob’s bond with nature and the sea are a huge catalyst for his style of cinematography.
CIOLLA RILEY - DPM FUTURES Trainee
Ciolla Riley is a Djabugay woman from Kuranda, QLD who has been involved in a long-term mentoring and training program with Desert Pea Media.
Ciolla’s journey started as a participant in a community songwriting program in her community in 2019, a vocalist in the the NIMA Award-winning production by KDA Crew - ‘Djabuganydji Bama’
Ciolla is a deadly writer and rapper. She started as a participant at a DPM project in Kuranda in 2019, and quickly moved into our creative team to learn the art of facilitation and forge a career pathway.
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.