Kirli Saunders (OAM), is a proud Gunai Woman with Dharawal, Biripi, Yuin & Gundungurra ties. She is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist and consultant. Kirli was the NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year (2020). In 2022, she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her contribution to the arts, particularly literature.

Her celebrated books include The Incredible Freedom Machines (Scholastic, 2018), Kindred (Magabala, 2019), Bindi (Magabala, 2020), Our Dreaming (Scholastic, 2022), Returning (Magabala, 2023) and The Land Recalls You (Scholastic, 2024). Among other awards, her books have been widely recognised in the Prime Minister’s & Premier’s literary awards in NSW, QLD, VIC & WA.

Kirli's writing features in magazines and journals, including Vogue, Overland, Kill Your Darlings and as public art with AESOP and The Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria. Her debut play, directed by Shari Sebbens, Going Home was supported by Playwriting Australia (2022) and is under a second development."