Michelle Blanchard is a descendant of the people of North Stradbroke Island (Minjeeribah) in Queensland. She has served as the Deputy Director of the Koori Centre at the University of Sydney and taught within the broader area of Aboriginal Studies. Blanchard holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts (Creative Writing) and is well known as in the areas of radio, stage, film, and print. Blanchard's PhD research, undertaken with the University of Technology Sydney, explores the relationships between Western theatre practice and the role of Indigenous performance. Blanchard participates in many internal and external community committees, both in Australia and abroad.