Charles Massy gained a Bachelor of Science (Zoology, Human Ecology) at ANU (1976) before going farming for 35 years and developing the prominent Merino sheep stud ‘Severn Park’. Concern at ongoing land degradation and humanity’s sustainability challenge led him to return to ANU in 2009 to undertake a PhD in Human Ecology. His current book Call of the Reed Warbler came from this work. Charles was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his service as Chair and Director of a number of research organisations and statutory wool boards. He has also served on national and international review panels in sheep and wool research and development and genomics. Charles has authored several books on the Australian sheep industry, the most recent being the widely acclaimed Breaking the Sheep’s Back (UQP, 2011) – short-listed for the Prime Minister’s Australian History Award.
 

Amanda graduated with a PhD in global investigative journalism from Queensland University of Technology in 2016. This year she released an updated book The Torrent: A true story of heroism and survival, published by the University of Queensland Press.  As a reporter, Amanda has covered state and national stories for The Courier-Mail, The Australian and ABC Radio National. Her coverage of the deadly flash flood disaster in Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley in 2011 led to a Master of Arts Research project exploring why traumatised news sources speak to reporters. Her research into the disaster led to the Grantham Floods Commission of Inquiry in 2015.  Amanda’s investigative reporting has resulted in a new hospital and new highways being built; and has called various business and government authorities to account. Amanda has won many awards for her print and broadcast journalism, including a Walkley Award in 2012 for her radio documentary The day that changed Grantham.