First Nations Team

Tina Baum

Senior Curator
First Nations Art
Gulumirrgin (Larrakia)/Wardaman/Karajarri peoples

Tina Baum is from the Gulumirrgin (Larrakia)/Wardaman/Karajarri peoples of the Northern Territory and Western Australia with Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Scottish, and German heritage. She has over 35 years’ experience working in Museums and Galleries throughout Australia and is the Senior Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art at the National Gallery of Australia. Tina curated the Defying Empire: 3rd National Indigenous Art Triennial, 2017, the Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia, 2021–25 national and international major exhibitions, Single Channel multimedia touring exhibition 2023–2025, the Of this Earth ceramics touring exhibition 2025, and the Emerging Elders, 2009 exhibition.

She is a recipient of the Nguluway Dhuluyarra Fellowship to the Netherlands 2024, Australia Council for the Arts 2022–23 International Curators Program Asia Pacific Triennial x TarraWarra Biennial, the 2021–22 Art Monthly Australasia, Indigenous Voices Program (writing mentor), the Australia Council for the Arts, Arts Leaders Program, 2020–22, the Australian Institute of Management Rebecca Gregory Indigenous Scholarship in 2011, and the inaugural British Council Accelerate Programme to the UK, 2009. She is a mentor to alumni, presenter and organiser of the National Gallery now named Dhiraamalang: Wesfarmers Arts First Nations Leadership and Fellowship Programs since 2010.

Tina has a passion for learning and sharing First Peoples cultural knowledge and representation through the arts, culture, histories and Indigenising/de-colonising voices, perspectives and truth telling. Tina has a focussed passion to Indigenise best practice museum methodologies through appropriate cultural-care, identification, documentation, and Community engagement/co-management of Indigenous collections by reasserting traditional language, cultural authority and agency within Museum and Galleries throughout Australia and internationally. She is also passionate about increasing First Nations employment and representation within the arts and culture sector.

Adam Ford

Associate Curator
First Nations Art
Nyoongar (Menang/Goreng) peoples

Adam Ford is a Nyoongar curator, writer, and researcher whose Menang/Goreng lineage is drawn through the Keen(/Knapp) and Farmer(/Coyne) families. He is the great-great grandson of matriarchs Minnie Knapp (once Keen and Hayward) and Emily Farmer (née Coyne) and is also of Anglo-European heritage.

Though his connections lie across the Great Southern region of Western Australia, Adam was born and raised off his ancestral boodja (Country) in Magandjin/Meeanjin/Brisbane and now lives in Kamberri/Canberra where he works as Associate Curator, First Nations Art, at the National Gallery of Australia. He has held professional positions across state, university, independent, and commercial institutions (collecting & non-collecting) and regularly contributes to Australian arts publications. Adam has worked previously as Assistant Curator, Indigenous Australian Art, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art; Curatorial Research Assistant, Blaklash; Public Programs Assistant, Institute of Modern Art; and was a 2021 Kinnane Endowment Fund Intern (Curation/Registration/Engagement) at the University of Queensland Art Museum.

Adam is deeply engaged by the history, sociology, and politics of First Nations art and culture. His research interests span First Nations religio-cultural heritage, genealogy, language, and critical theory.

Shane Nelson

First Nations Arts Leadership Coordinator
Wiradjuri/Walgalu/Gumbaynggirr peoples

Shane is a Wiradjuri & Walgalu man with deep connections to Gumbaynggirr Country and people. He has a passion for cultural education and Community development and is inspired by diverse and creative forms of cultural expression. Shane is a National Reference Group member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia and is currently studying a Masters of Indigenous Research and Engagement through Charles Darwin University.

Summer Sorensen

Darumbal/Torres Strait Islander peoples
Wesfarmers First Nations Arts Leadership Coordinator

Summer is a proud Darumbal and Torres Strait Islander from Northeast Queensland who is the Gallery’s Wesfarmers First Nations Arts Leadership Coordinator for the Dhiraamalang: Wesfarmers First Nations Arts Leadership Program. She would like to continue growing, learning and upskilling herself as she progresses through her career. Summer supports and believes this type of leadership development program will help her grow and continue her career in the Arts sector.

Summer has worked in government for the past six years after completing the Indigenous Australian Government Development Program (IAGDP), were she completed a diploma in Human Resources.

Summer has worked as the Secretariat for the Indigenous Employee Network at Parliament House, assisted the Working Exposure in Government program (WEX) hosted by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet for First Nations students and has also assisted in the development and delivery of RAP initiatives across multiple departments.

Moving into the First Nations Arts Leadership Program Summer will deliver the Dhiraamalang: Wesfarmers First Nations Arts Leadership Program for First Nations Arts professionals.