Mark Coles Smith is a proud Nyikina man. With a gift for storytelling, he works across several performing arts genres as an actor, writer, producer and sound designer. You may recognise Mark for his award-winning performance as Detective Jay Swan in ABC’s Mystery Road: Origin, his featured role in Netflix’s mini-series Apple Cider Vinegar, or his performance alongside Star Wars’ Daisy Ridley in feature film We Bury The Dead.

When Mark was in his early twenties his best friend tragically died by suicide. Mark created the Keeping Hope documentary to address the alarming Indigenous suicide crisis in Australia, specifically in his home region of the Kimberley. We look forward to Mark sharing his story with us at this year’s Winter Solstice.