Josie Douglas is a descendant of the Wardaman people, her grandmother's country, which is just south-west of Katherine. She has a BA in Australian Studies from the University of South Australia and has worked as the Marketing and Promotions Officer with IAD (Institute for Aboriginal Development) Press.
Douglas has been an Indigenous Research Fellow, Regional Development - Bush Harvest and Linking Bush Schools Project based at the Charles Darwin University campus in Alice Springs. Her research interests include the social and cultural aspects of regional and remote education, community based micro-enterprises and natural and cultural resource management.