Suzanne Thompson

Suzanne was born and raised in Barcaldine. Her custodial connection to country has been continuous and carries on the work of her father the late David Thompson, Great Grandparents David and Clara, all of which had traditional custodial links to the lands of the Kunngeri/Iningai & Bidjera peoples. 
Suzanne has returned to country after two decades of working within Government agencies and private business enterprises. For the most part she worked in the areas of: Youth and policy Development, Community Development, Indigenous Business Advisor; Volunteering commitments - Board Member of the Queensland Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Services Board, Noosa Bio Sphere Board, Committee Member for the Desert Uplands Committee (Landholders), founding member of Yumbangku Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and Tourism Development Aboriginal Corporation. 
Suzanne is the National Co-Chair for the Statement from the Heart Working Group. 
She owns and manages her own gallery and also runs with her husband a very successful 'Wood Fired Pizza' business called the 'Lounging Emu' in Barcaldine. Suzanne sees these enterprises as a key opportunity to share the stories of her ancestral knowledge and practices to the tourist and locals. 
Suzanne has also teamed up with land owners of the district to work in partnership to further develop relationships with both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous. She is passionate about the opportunities that both cultures can create into the future as new industries for outback communities. Her passions have seen her embrace the sharing of local Native food & medicine plants throughout the Region.