KPMG’s lead partner for the Federal Government and Chair of the KPMG Canberra Office Cath Ingram, spends much of her time dealing with the machinations emanating from the House on the Hill. But she is also a loyal local with a passion for the arts, live music and rugby union.

Nothing could have prepared Georgeina Whelan for the professional and personal challenges that came in 2020. As the first female Commissioner of the ACT’s Emergency Service Agency, she was prepared to take over the position at the start what was going to be a busy summer. Was she prepared for an apocalyptic summer? Not quite.

Sasa Sestic has helped put Canberra on the map internationally — showing the world that the best coffee can, and does, come from the nation’s capital — by winning the World Barista Competition in 2015. Be prepared to be inspired by Sasa’s enthusiasm for coffee, for Canberra, and for working with a singular focus to achieve his goals.

Dr Sophie Lewis is the ACT’s newly Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment. She was the 2019 ACT Scientist of the Year. Sophie previously worked in academia where she used climate models to provide a long-term perspective on recent climate change— her research has never been more relevant than this year.

Stephanie Males is the first Canberra woman appointed to manage PricewaterhouseCoopers in the capital. She is now responsible for overseeing a workforce of 500 and providing high level advice to federal government departments.

This NAIDOC week we are celebrating the contribution that Wiradjuri woman Dhani Gilbert is making to her city and her culture. At just 18, Dhani has already dedicated her considerable energies to promoting the rights and recognition of Indigenous Australians.

Dan Bourchier holds an esteemed place in the city’s landscape. He is responsible for delivering the nightly news bulletin for the national broadcaster, a position he undertakes as a proud Indigenous gay man.

A former Army brat who spent some time in Canberra as a child, Catherine agreed to relocate to the national capital when she married a Canberra man—the proviso being it would be for a maximum of two years. Twenty years on, she has no plans to leave.

If there is a party or event taking place in Canberra, chances are, Dave Caffrey either organised it or got an invite. Dave is a cultural philosopher, the Director of Dionysus, Art Not Apart Festival Director, events coordinator for the NewActon precinct, Music ACT President, and on the Board of the Australian Dance Party.

Sophia Hamblin Wang is a young Canberra woman who has found herself thrust into global environmental leadership positions.

Chief Executive of Canberra Airport Stephen Byron has watched his normally bustling terminals empty of people as travel all but froze under COVID this year.

Nik Bulum is the creative force behind the hustle and bustle of Lonsdale St Braddon. In this first episode of The Canberrans, Emma quizzes Nik on how he rates Braddon now, and where to next for Canberra.