Who we are
Led by Associate Professor Kirsten Thorpe, the Indigenous Archives and Data Stewardship Hub research team has extensive experience engaging in research, professional practice and connecting with industry to support Indigenous self-determination in archives.
Associate Professor Kirsten Thorpe
Associate Professor Kirsten Thorpe (Worimi, Port Stephens), Associate Professor, is a Chancellor's Indigenous Research Fellow at Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education & Research, UTS. Since 2018, Kirsten has led the Indigenous Archives and Data Stewardship Hub at Jumbunna.
Kirsten’s research has broad interests in research and engagement with Indigenous protocols and decolonising practices in the library and archive fields, and the broader GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) sector. A focus of her research has been on the 'right of reply' to records, and capacity building and support for the development of Living Indigenous Archives on Country. Kirsten’s award-winning PhD Unclasping the White Hand: Reclaiming and Refiguring the Archives to Support Indigenous Wellbeing and Sovereignty, was awarded in March 2022; it explored Indigenous self-determination and sovereignty over the management of Indigenous knowledges in archives. Her current research is examining the relevance of the international Indigenous Data Sovereignty movement and principles in an archival context. This project continues her research on support for Aboriginal community-controlled archives drawing from findings from her PhD.
- National Archives of Australia Advisory Council (2023-2027)
- Invited member of the International Council on Archives Expert Group on Indigenous Matters
- Co-founder of the Indigenous Archives Collective
- Elected member of the International Federation of Libraries (IFLA) Indigenous Matters Section (2023-2027).
- Honorary Associate at Museums Victoria (2021).
- Co-Chair, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Expert Advisory Group, Australian Library and Information Association
- Member, National Library of Australia Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research and Education Reference Group
- Professional Pathways Advisory Board, Australian Library and Information Association.
Dr Lauren Booker
Dr Lauren Booker (Garigal) is a Research Fellow at Jumbunna Research and has worked across the museums and archives sector on projects supporting Aboriginal communities to access their cultural and intellectual property held in collecting institutions. This includes working in consultation with the public library network in regard to language documentation identification and use of archival records in language revitalisation.
Lauren’s works also focuses on planning and facilitating the digitisation of cultural heritage and photographic collections, and the organisation of digital community archives that meet community priorities. Lauren completed her PhD though UTS in 2024, her thesis titled Hair Samples as Ancestors and Futures of Community-led Collection Care investigated the 19th and 20th century pseudoscientific practice of hair sampling for ‘race science’ and the ongoing archival and ethical issues regarding collections and records related to hair sampling.
Lauren is an advocate for the Right to Know and the Right of Reply in archives, repatriation, Indigenous Data Governance, community archives, and increased institutional transparency and ethical practice across the GLAM sector. Lauren is also a member of the Indigenous Archives Collective.
- Co-Convenor: Australian Society of Archivists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Special Interest Group
- Contributor: Indigenous Archives Collective
- Committee member: Nyingarn Steering Committee
- Committee member: UTS/Powerhouse Research Committee
Monica Galassi
Monica Galassi is a Research Associate at Jumbunna Research. She is an Italian anthropologist who has worked on several projects and initiatives to support Aboriginal self-determination and sovereignty in collecting institutions. Monica’s work and research interests focus on the importance of people having the right to access and manage their cultural heritage materials as a key driver for social justice.
In her previous roles in the Indigenous Services team at the State Library of NSW and at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Data Archive (ATSIDA), Monica has collaborated with several local organisations, public libraries and Australian and international institutions to facilitate access to collections related to the histories and experiences of NSW Aboriginal peoples and communities. These collaborations included the development of digital projects, physical and digital archives and the progression of best practices and guidelines to inform participatory and sustainable partnerships. Monica’s work currently focuses on supporting Aboriginal priorities in digital community archiving on Country.
Monica was awarded a UTS Research Excellence Scholarship to undertake doctoral studies in the field of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander archival records that have been misplaced in Italy and in the Vatican at the School of International Studies and Education, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FAAS). Her PhD thesis ‘Archivi Aborigeni in Italia/Aboriginal Archives in Italy. The translation of knowledge at the cultural interface is currently under examination.
Monica is also a member of the Indigenous Archives Collective.
- Member: Australian Society of Archivists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Special Interest Group
- Contributor: Indigenous Archives Collective
- Founder: Aboriginal Archives in Italy project working group
- Documenting Australian Society Steering Committee, UNESCO Australian Memory of the Program
Representation
As a team we are also represented on a number of advisory groups and committees including:
- Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Expert Working Group (Co-Chair Kirsten Thorpe)
- ALIA Professional Pathways Advisory Board (Kirsten Thorpe)
- International Council on Archives Indigenous Expert Group (Kirsten Thorpe)
- Australian Society of Archivists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Special Interest Group (Lauren Booker and Monica Galassi)
- Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Research Advisory Committee (Kirsten Thorpe)
- Indigenous Archives Collective Contributors (Lauren Booker, Monica Galassi, Kirsten Thorpe)
- Nyingarn Steering Committee (Lauren Booker)
- National Library of Australia Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research & Education Reference Group (Kirsten Thorpe)