As the son of a country veterinarian, I spent much of my early life visiting rural communities. While I didn’t have the scientific smarts to follow my father’s footsteps, I discovered another way to connect with Country, through storytelling. Sitting around farm tables and campfires, it was through listening to the stories of graziers, stockmen and farmers that I developed a deep connection with the land and an abiding respect for those who work it, walk it, and care for it. I have have illustrated, designed and written across numerous industries throughout my varied career, including publishing. In 2012 my best-selling non-fiction novel, Riding The Black Cockatoo, was chosen as a set text for Britain’s GCSE students, sitting it alongside classics like Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. In 2021 I led a 500km walk from Brisbane to Taroom, repatriating a 160kg Iman marker stone my father removed from a cattle property over 40 years ago. This journey taught me that the most powerful stories are those told through action, and by community. As one of the founders of Growing Country, my teammates and I have a vision to elevate the incredible stories of those who simultaneously work and heal the land, safeguarding it for future generations.www.growingcountry.com