Zhanae is a proud Ghungalu, Birri, Widi and Kaanju woman from Rockhampton, Central Queensland. In 2021 she was named Queensland Youth Premier and Youth Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships. Zhanae is a Court Support worker and Case Manager with Darumbal Community Youth Services Inc., where she also established the After-Hours Service and Drop-In Centre. She is establishing her own small business, Groove Co., an advocacy, professional development, consultancy, and program delivery service focused on empowering Indigenous people. 

Zhanae studies a Bachelor of Agriculture in 2022 at Central Queensland University. She recently joined the Queensland Family and Child Commission Youth Advisory Council in 2022 and is also a board member for Gumbi Gumbi Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation. 

She is passionate about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocacy, specifically self-determination, understanding and addressing intergenerational trauma and lateral violence, reducing over-representation in government systems, and promoting cultural safety and truth-telling. Zhanae was recently selected as an Australian Delegate for The Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Program, organised by the U.S. Department of State.