37. When Two Heads are Better than One

47. Close Encounters

Thomas Mayo

Thomas Mayo is a Kaurareg Aboriginal and Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander man. He lives on Larrakia land in Darwin and is the elected Assistant National Secretary of the MUA.

Thomas has more than twenty years of experience in leadership and advocacy, including the development of the Uluru Statement from the Heart in May 2017. He is a signatory to the Uluru Statement and has been a leading campaigner for its proposals for a Voice to Parliament and a Makarrata Commission.

Thomas has been a board director at Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition since 2019, and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation since January 2024. He is also on the steering group for the First Nations Clean Energy Network, influencing clean energy policy and supporting the Indigenous peoples and their communities in policy development, energy access and negotiations.   

Thomas is the author of seven books and has many articles and essays published across the major media providers. In 2024, Thomas will be publishing two new books; a children’s book about the Torres Strait Islands flag will be published in May and a book about how the campaign for peace and justice for Indigenous people continues after the referendum was lost in 2023.