Michele Torres
Entrepreneur & Ambassador
Maganda Makers Business Club
Mitch began her career in the Media Industry more than 35 years ago. A lover of dance she studied at the AIDT (Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre in Sydney where she landed her first acting role in Fringedwellers before going onto act in the seminal docudrama Babaqueria. She was SBS’s first Indigenous Presenter in 1988 and went on to do her cadetship with ABC TV based out of Perth TV news. Mitch was the first presenter and field journalist for GWN’s long running magazine program Millbindi. Mitch then turned to a successful period as a Broadcaster for both Indigenous radio stations: Goolarri in Broome and WAAMA 6NR in Perth before settling back with ABC Kimberley as the morning show’s presenter and producer. In the mid 1990’s mitch turned her talents to visual storytelling and made her first short drama ‘Promise’ for the Shifting Sands Short Drama Initiative (SBS TV) she then began making documentaries – many award winning like Jandamarra’s War, and the heartbreaking ‘Whispering in our hearts’ a historical documentary about the Mowla Bluff Massacre in the West Kimberley, Case 442, Saltwater Bluesman, The Healing Sounds of the Bungarun Orchestra and many documentaries for the Ngamapa series with CAAMA. A highly successful award-winning Writer and Director mitch has directed and written a range of dramas and documentaries and theatrical plays: ‘One Day in 67’ and ‘Mutta Car Sorry Business’ with Yirra Yaakin. Mitch continues to write in collaboration with other First Nations and non-First Nations film makers. In 2021 the Australian Film & Television School presented mitch with an Honorary Doctorate for her contribution to the Creative Industries: film and television.
Mitch and her sister Ali are well known for the very successful cooking show ‘Kriol Kitchen’ commissioned by NITV and SBS.
Mitch is an entrepreneur developing her on range of Native Home Candle and Soap Products under the name Mijinalii Candle Studio. She is a Maganda Makers Business Club member and continues to work in the space of nurturing the growth of Kimberley Women in business.
Sessions
2.40
Yarning Circles and Connection Activities
Yarning Circle A: Strongbala Woomin’ Yarning Business: Making an impact in your community as First Nations women leaders through self-employment and entrepreneurship
(Female-Identifying Only Session)