Welcoming New Policy Officer Bibi Barba to the ACHAA Team
01-10-2026
ACHAA Board and Staff extend a warm welcome to our newest team member, Bibi Barba, who joins us as Policy Officer.
Bibi is a distinguished Aboriginal artist, cultural consultant, and educator based in Sydney. A proud Darumbal, Darkinjung, Cammeraygal, Gadigal, and Yuin woman, Bibi brings more than 35 years of experience in the arts, language and cultural advocacy.
Bibi’s artistic journey is deeply rooted in her cultural heritage, with her grandmother inspiring her to express ancestral narratives through art. Her works are known for their vibrant fusion of ancient motifs and modern techniques, often exploring themes of femininity, nature, and spirituality.
She has collaborated with organisations such as Arts Law and Create NSW to educate Aboriginal artists about their rights and the significance of ICIP. Her dedication to protecting Indigenous heritage led her to serve as a member of the First Nations Expert Working Group on ICIP and as a representative in the Indigenous Caucus for the United Nations’ World Intellectual Property Organization.
Bibi’s advocacy gained international attention when her Desert Flower series was used without permission by a Polish hotel, highlighting the challenges First Nations artists face with cultural misappropriation. This experience propelled her to pursue legal studies at the University of Technology Sydney, aiming to strengthen protections for Indigenous artists.
Through her multifaceted career, Bibi continues to be a formidable voice for Indigenous rights, using her art and consultancy to educate, inspire, and effect meaningful change both nationally and internationally.
Bibi’s role as ACHAA Policy Officer will focus on our Closing The Gap work as part of our membership of the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO) in support of the culture, arts and heritage Aboriginal community-controlled sector.
ACHAA is thrilled to have Bibi on board and look forward to our advocacy work benefiting from her expertise.
