Emeritus Prof. Michael McDaniel AO is a

Wiradjuri The Wiradjuri people (; ) are a group of Aboriginal Australian people from central New South Wales, united by common descent through kinship and shared traditions. They survived as skilled hunter-fisher-gatherers, in family groups or clans, a ...

man who has significantly contributed to the

Australian Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Aus ...

cultural and education sectors and community over more than three decades. McDaniel is the former chair of

Bangarra Dance Theatre Bangarra Dance Theatre is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance company focused on contemporary dance. It was founded by African American dancer and choreographer Carole Y. Johnson, Gumbaynggirr man Rob Bryant, and South African-bor ...

, current Special Advisor (Indigenous Priorities) at the

University of Technology Sydney The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is a public university, public research university located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The university was founded in its current form in 1988, though its origins as a Institute of technology, ...

, and chair of the Museum of Contemporary Art's Indigenous Advisory Group.

Early life and education

McDaniel grew up in the town of Forbes as a member of the Kalari Clan in the

Nation in Central

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

. McDaniel attended Darlinghurst Public School in

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

. After being in the army between ages 16 and 20, McDaniel enrolled in

Western Sydney University Western Sydney University, formerly the University of Western Sydney, is an Australian multi-campus public research university in the Greater Western region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The university in its current form was founde ...

and graduated with the

University Medal A University Medal is one of several types of award conferred by university, universities upon outstanding students or members of staff. The usage and status of university medals differ between countries and between universities. As award on grad ...

Career

McDaniel Served as Dean of Indigenous Studies at Western Sydney University, Director of Indigenous Studies at Macquarie University, Director of the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, Chairman of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AITSIS), and Pro Vice-Chancellor in Indigenous Leadership and Education at the University of Technology Sydney. In January 2024, McDaniel was named the first First Nations person to lead the custodianship of the Opera House as chair appointed to the Opera House Trust. In 2024, the University of Technology Sydney released the winning design for the bespoke from scratch new National First Nations 250-bed College that will be located on the university's Ultimo campus and was created as part of McDaniel's vision while Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Leadership and Engagement). McDaniel makes badhang wilay (possum-skin cloaks) to continue the practice of his ancestors.

Awards and honours

* 2019 NAIDOC Scholar of the Year Award * 2021

Officer of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

, for his "distinguished service to Indigenous tertiary education, to the advancement of social cohesion through reconciliation, to the performing arts, and to the community"

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McDaniel, Michael Living people Western Sydney University alumni Year of birth missing (living people) Officers of the Order of Australia