Kate Gradwell

Emeritus Professor Michael McDaniel AO FRSN is a member of the Kalari clan of the Wiradjuri nation of central New South Wales with a distinguished career in Indigenous higher education and record of service to the arts, culture and the community spanning more than three decades.

Yindyamarra - Portrait of Michael McDaniel was a finalist in the 2019 Archibald Prize and exhibited at the AGNSW in the Archibald Prize exhibition.

In the artist’s statement about her choice of subject and title, Kate Gradwell said:

‘Yindyamarra is both a Wiradjuri word and a philosophy. As a word, it means honour and respect. As a philosophy, it’s the basis of being a mature, balanced human being. It encourages living life honourably, respectfully and generously. It requires mindfulness of behaviour. Those who know Michael understand that Yindyamarra is at the heart of his gracious, considered, yet determined approach to leadership’

Emeritus Professor McDaniel is a Special Advisor (Indigenous Priorities) to the Vice- Chancellor, University of Technology Sydney. Prior to this he was the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Leadership and Engagement) and Director of Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Technology Sydney.

Emeritus Professor McDaniel has held several Federal and State Government appointments and considerable record of leadership and service in relation to arts and culture. In 2019 he was National NAIDOC Scholar of the Year, and in 2021 was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). The award was “for distinguished service to Indigenous tertiary education, to the advancement of social cohesion through reconciliation, to the performing arts, and to the community”.

In 2023, Emeritus Professor McDaniel was conferred an Honorary Doctor of the University to acknowledge and honour the significant contributions he has made to UTS, its staff and students, and to its reputation as a leader in Indigenous higher education and research.