John Maynard is a Worimi man from the Port Stephens region of New South Wales in Australia. He is an ARC Australian Research Fellow (Indigenous) and Deputy Chairperson of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS). He was, until taking up his ARC Fellowship in 2011, Professor of Indigenous Studies and Director of the Wollotuka Institute of Aboriginal Studies at the University of Newcastle. He was the recipient of the Australian National University Aboriginal History Stanner Fellowship 1996, the New South Wales Premiers Indigenous History Fellow 2003, the Australian Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow 2004, University of Newcastle Researcher of the Year 2008 and Australian National University Allan Martin History Lecturer 2010. He gained his PhD in 2003, examining the rise of early Aboriginal political activism. John has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Australian Historical Association, the New South Wales History Council and the Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council and has worked with and within many Aboriginal communities -- urban, rural and remote.