Nicola Gracie is a high school dropout turned lifelong student who recently completed her second Master’s degree in Therapeutic Arts Practice at the MIECAT Institute. Her thesis and final year of studio time explored how therapeutic arts practices can support the integration of expanded states of consciousness, particularly those accessed through ceremonial plant medicine. Her work sits at the intersection of creativity, emotional intelligence, and community healing, with a deep commitment to arts-based research.

Sarah Hunnisett is the artist behind Empress Moth, a botanical textile studio rooted in a love of plants, colour, and quiet magic. For over a decade she has explored eco-printing, refining ways to capture the delicate imprints of leaves on natural fibres. Her work celebrates sustainability and slow craft, but also a deeper calling – to live creatively and in harmony with nature, and to share that sense of freedom and wonder through wearable art and hands-on workshops.

I first met mushrooms in art class, when my teacher brought a collection of wild specimens for still-life drawing. That quiet fascination grew over the years and, after a personal health crisis, led me to take my medical needs into my own hands. With a background in working with plants and fungi, I turned to the medicinal properties of mushrooms.

Leia Wren, Ph.D., MaLT(Sec), is an educator with a background in medical research and a strong interest in environmental science. She currently teaches Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science, combining scientific understanding with a hands-on appreciation for the natural world. At EGA, Leia will be running nature-based workshops for children that encourage curiosity, creativity, and connection to the living environment through playful, science-informed exploration.

Fahim is a collector and parent of some the worlds’ most prized San Pedro clones. Fahim’s work Trichocereus program emphasises habitat plants, unique mutations, T. terscheckii and other ‘giant’ cacti, as well as of course medicinal cultivars.

Dafna Kronental is a qualified psychotherapist, yoga and meditation instructor, and lecturer in counselling. Over the past six years, she has worked both privately and with clients at The Indigo Project, a psychology practice known for its innovative approach to wellbeing. With a background in community mental health, Dafna is also certified in psychedelic-assisted therapy and regularly supports clients with psychedelic integration.

I am a member of the British Stolen Generations. Since the nineteenth century, Britain has been trafficking children — racially categorised as “Good British Stock” — to its occupied colonies. Innocent children were forcibly recruited as tools of colonial policy. It is now acknowledged that many of us were misled to believe our parents had died. I can personally attest to the falsehood of the official claim that all child migrants were orphans. We were taken directly from our parents in 1949. I was ten, my sister was eight, and my brother was six. We became wards of the Victorian State. My brother never recovered.

Annaliese Hordern is a facilitator, ceremonialist and plant lover dedicated to cultivating relationships with plants through propagation, conservation and everyday meaningful connection. Inspired by practical visionaries such as Vandana Shiva, the Seed Savers Network and Dan Schreiber at Star Seed Gardens, who she presented ‘Sacred Plant Propagation’ with at Somara, Annaliese weaves practical ecological skills with ethnobotanical traditions that honour the deep bond between plants and people.

Olivia is a Brazilian artist and teacher, based in Melbourne since 2024. Bachelor in Environmental Management, she is very multidisciplinary in her interests, with almost 10 years of experience with Hatha Yoga and Yogatherapy, acting in self knowledge retreats, with groups or one-on-one sessions.

Niki is a multiform artist working with dance, words, images, voice and plant lore. A seasoned performer (including as a core member of Ungus Ungus Ungus), she is fascinated by the charge that can be generated in fusing dance, music and community space. She also works as a creative arts therapist/dance movement therapist in clinical mental health and trauma settings.