An accomplished writer across multiple genres including non-fiction, poetry, and children's literature, Cheryl’s first children’s book, Yanga – Mother, was published by UQP last year. Written in her Kooma language and translated to English, Yanga – Mother is a gently told yet powerful story that honours the Stolen Generations, First Nations matriarchs, and the unbreakable bonds of blak family.

Cheryl’s diverse commissions as a writer and consultant highlight her as a respected voice in First Nations policy, strategy, arts and culture. Cheryl was the 2022 winner of the Oodgeroo Noonuccal Prize for Indigenous Poetry, an inaugural recipient of a fellowship at Varuna – The National Writers House in collaboration with the First Nations Australian Writers Network, and is currently a Queensland Museum Fellow.

Cheryl has served on many Boards including the Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees, Brisbane Music Festival, Canberra Museum and Gallery, ACT Cultural Council, Brisbane Writers Festival and as Deputy Chair for the Institute of Modern Art (the IMA). Amongst Cheryl’s proudest contributions is establishing and chairing First Nations Advisory Councils for the Brisbane Writers Festival and the IMA.

She's passionate about using the power of language and culture to drive positive change and advance cultural rights, with a focus on family, climate and land justice.