Shellie Smith is a proud Awabakal woman and an 8th generation Novocastrian. She uses a combination of research and creative practice to reconnect to her Aboriginal heritage. A current Associate Lecturer at the University of Newcastle and PhD student, her research and teaching is focused on the traditional architectures of the Awabakal people and how a better understanding of their practices can inform contemporary design that is responsive to Country. A graduate of architecture, Shellie specialised in heritage conservation, working extensively on projects around Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Lower Hunter before moving to Canberra to join the Commonwealth Heritage Branch. Shellie has a love for living history and uses a combination of historical research, personal story and the interpretation of archived objects to rebuild culture and make the traditional relatable to today.