Sophia Pearce is a Barkandji woman and mother living in Gol Gol, on the Milli (Murray River) in south-west New South Wales. She is interested in preserving and growing culture and heritage by engaging in partnerships built on mutual trust, respect and integrity towards achieving common goals, as focused through current PhD research and co-leadership of RMIT University’s Yulendj Weelam Lab. Through her consulting business Kulpa Mardita, Sophia undertakes partnered community engagement and consultancy services with Aboriginal organisations, government departments, universities and design practitioners to deliver culturally appropriate projects and outcomes.