Skills and expertise of PHA Qld members

Barbara Webster undertakes historical research and writing about people, places, organisations, institutions, events and environments. Her particular interest is Central Queensland history.

Bianka Vidonja Balanzategui is an historian, historical consultant, and Adjunct Lecturer at James Cook University, Townsville. She researches the global sugar industry and Australian migration history and her first book, published by JCU, Gentlemen of the Flashing Blade married those two themes. She also has a keen interest in the history of the Herbert River district where she lives. At present she is researching the role of women in various episodes of North Queensland history, while also researching and writing about Welsh born John Naish, author and playwright.

I am a Brisbane-based professional historian with extensive experience in Public History. This work includes tours, books and articles, public talks, exhibitions, heritage advocacy, newspaper columns, and organising community groups and heritage projects.

I am a historian and cultural heritage management professional with more than two decades experience operating in frontline management of Indigenous and historic cultural heritage and community relations matters associated with mining, exploration, infrastructure and land development, forestry and natural resource management.
Having successfully performed a variety of heritage management roles in both the public and private sectors over the last twenty years I have developed high order expertise, technical skills and experience in all aspects of historic and Indigenous cultural heritage management.
I have experienced first-hand, and understand, the many challenges encountered by businesses when dealing with often complex cultural heritage management and related community relations issues.