M&G NSW and ACHAA, the Aboriginal Culture Heritage and Arts Association, are deeply saddened to learn of Donna Biles Fernando’s recent passing.

A Muruwari and Ngemba woman from Brewarrina, NSW, Donna was a leading curator and cultural worker, strongly advocating and championing best practice for working with First Nations communities during her career spanning more than 20 years.

Donna was instrumental in building strategies for engaging with First Nations communities for several organisations, including leading the project that embedded Terri Janke and Company’s First Peoples: A Roadmap for Enhancing Indigenous Engagement in Museums and Galleries into the National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries 2.0.

Along with other members of the Aboriginal Reference Group working with the Museum of Art and Culture in Lake Macquarie, yapang, Donna’s ground-breaking work included the development of a much respected First Nations framework providing ongoing consultative and governance processes within the institution. This was backed up by numerous landmark exhibitions including: yapang marruma: making our way (stories of the stolen) in 2009; we. wiyelliko (2019-2020) and Lore & Order (2015-2016) and at Newcastle Art Gallery INSTRUMENTAL CAUSE, (2021) and miyarnuwimanha: NICOLE MONKS at The Lock-Up, (2020).

Most recently, M&G NSW and ACHAA commissioned Donna to curate an exhibition bringing together significant works from artists connected to ACHAA Aboriginal Cultural Centre members. During this time, Donna visited many ACHAA member centres, working with staff to complete audits of their collections and seeking potential works for the exhibition.

We remember Donna for her warmth and enthusiastic sharing of knowledge, particularly the nuanced way she ensured non-First Nations people gained enhanced insight into challenging and complex parts of Australia’s history.