Elevating new voices
FROM REGIONAL AUSTRALIA
ABOUT
I’ve always marvelled at the way a single story, experienced by enough people, can lead to big change.
Over the last two decades, I’ve worked as a writer, producer and project manager in areas as broad as community cultural development, participatory journalism, social research and program evaluation.
I’ve worked with artists and communities in all kinds of places – prisons, schools, libraries, archives, museums, Aboriginal communities, art centres, government departments and festivals – and everywhere, I’ve been buoyed by the ways stories connect us.
I’ve also created my own stories – mostly picture books and poetry – and I’m currently working on my first verse novel.
Awards
2020 Prime Minister’s Literary Award - shortlisted
2020 Podcast of the Year / Australian Podcast Awards
2020 Documentary of the Year / Australian Podcast Awards
2020 New York Radio Award / Social Justice Category
2020 Northern Territory Human Rights Award
2020 Walkley Freelance Journalist of the Year - shortlisted
2020 Walkley Award for Diversity in Media - shortlisted
2020 Northern Territory Media Awards - shortlisted
2016 / 2018 / 2019 Northern Territory Literary Awards
2017 CBCA Children’s Picture Book of the Year
2016 The Overland Story Wine Prize - runner up
2016 Churchill Fellowship
I’ve worked on countless projects with lots of creatives and clients. Here are some of my favourites.
Collaborators
Dion Beasley / Erica Wagner / Cinnamon Nippard / Celia Neilson / Caddie Brain / Jess Ong / Hamish Robertson / Leah Sanderson / Huni Bolliger / Emma Long / Laura Stitzel / Lori Uden / Alyson Evans / Jo Hunt / Ruth Gruener / Amelia Luscombe / Mel Mununggurr / Richie Fejo / Kuya James / Caiti Baker / Jennifer Pinkerton / Sarah Mackie / Nichole Taylor / Aaron Burton / Jett Street / Kylie Stevenson / Tamara Howie / Tarzan / Gaia Osborne / Rosa Ellen / Sarah Reuben / Caro McDonald / Jackson Browne / Liz Trevaskis / Oscar Schwartz / Rachael Chisolm / Alex Edmondson / Jocelyn Tribe / Amelia Luscombe / Ben Andrews / Jenelle Saunders / Paul Sedan / Ben Tyler / Di Lucas / Mandy Tootell / Darren McCallum / Robyn Frances / John Scrutton / Ray Mudjandi / Katie Hagebols
Clients
Wheeler Centre / Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory / The Biennale of Sydney / Creative Australia / Australian Film, Television & Radio School / Australian Broadcasting Commission / Children’s Book Council of Australia / WA Museum / Perth Festival / Darwin Festival / Darwin Correctional Centre / Art Processors / NT Writers’ Centre / Library & Archives NT / UTS Impact Studios / NT Human Rights Commission / StudyNT / Darwin / Audiocraft / International Airport / University of Technology Sydney / University of Sydney / University of NSW / Melbourne University / City of Darwin / City of Palmerston / Roper Gulf Regional Council / Katherine Regional Arts / Ngukurr Arts / Tracks Dance / Outstation Arts / Salon Arts / Darwin Community Arts / The Smith Family / Fred Hollows
“Johanna is one of those visionary, prolific individuals who is entirely effervescent and who leaves every space she inhabits markedly changed, more connected, and better expressed. In everything she does, she takes other creatives with her, making new opportunities for emerging and diverse artists to make new work, be published, be employed, and be inspiring.”
Fiona Dorrell, NT Writers’ Centre