Nadia Arrighi
Cultural Heritage Consultant &
Office Manager
M: 0419 726 268
E: narrighi@turnstone.com.au
Nadia joined Turnstone in 2020, initially as researcher and office manager, managing accounts, client relationships and company logistics. Since then, she completed her BA (Hons 1) in History/Sociology and Indigenous studies and has undertaken fieldwork in her specialist field of sensory archaeology and cultural landscapes, focusing specifically on rock shelters and rock art. In 2024, Nadia undertook archaeological fieldwork at the Bronze Age site of Shimal in the United Arab Emirates as part of her Master of Archaeology at the University of New England. Her research focused on marine shell analysis from midden deposits, revealing adaptive subsistence strategies and continuity in trade and domestic life during periods of environmental stress.
Nadia works closely with Aboriginal knowledge-holders across Queensland, particularly with Jagera, Yuggera, and Ugarapul People around Brisbane, as well as the Gudjala, Warrgamay, and Gugu Bahun People of north Queensland.
Nadia has a passion for historical research with an Honours project, linking stencil rock art and sensory knowledges, which aims to incorporate the historical and cultural dimensions of sensory experience to give us a deeper understanding of the cultural landscape.
She has developed Turnstone’s environmental sensing program, which provides a holistic understanding of place, and a more accessible record for community while also creating environmental baselines for future monitoring.
Additionally, she undertakes volunteer work with the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology as the Public Programs Manager and is a Coordinator with the Abbey Medieval Festival. In 2023 was appointed President of the Abbey Museum Friends and became a member of the Abbey Museum Association.
Qualifications
BA Majors (History & Sociology) Minor (Indigenous Studies)
BA Honours 1st Class
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAA40104)
Professional Associations
Member, Australian Archaeological Association Inc.
Member, Abbey Museum Association
President, Abbey Museum Friends
Member, USC Futures Collective
Awards
USC University Medal for Academic Excellence 2022
Sunshine Coast Council Cultural Heritage Prize 2021
Recent Keynote Projects
Grandchaester Conservation Estate 2025
Visual assessment and survey of the landscape values for Ipswich City Council
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services & Partnerships Warrgamay Aboriginal Corporation (RNTB) 2024
Cultural heritage survey of Wallaman Falls camping ground for Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services and Warrgamay Aboriginal Corporation
Mount Fullstop Quarry & Gugu Badhun Aboriginal Corporation (RNTB) 2024
Cultural heritage study for Gugu Badhun Aboriginal Corporations.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services & Ngrragoonda Aboriginal Corporation (RNTB) 2024
Detailed rock art study and cultural heritage management report for Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services Gudjala (Ngrragoonda) Aboriginal Corporation.
Flinders Peak and Mount Goolman Conservation Estate 2023-2024
Visual assessment and survey of the landscape values for Ipswich City Council
CleanCo Qld 2023
Visual assessment of the former Swanbank power station
Brisbane Airport Corporation 2022-2023
Heritage management plan and successful meetings with interested Aboriginal parties for Brisbane to widen the involvement of Indigenous representation.
White Rock – Spring Mountain Conservation Estate 2022-2023
Visual assessment of rockshelters and landscape features for Ipswich City Council
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services & Ngrragoonda Aboriginal Corporation (RNTB) 2023
Major scoping study for Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services Gudjala (Ngrragoonda) Aboriginal Corporation, which resulted in significant discoveries of cultural sites.
Greenvale Defence Project 2022 ongoing
Major scoping study over 450,000 sq km for the Department of Defence on behalf of the Gudjala (Ngrragoonda) Aboriginal Corporation.