Oula Ghannoum was born in Tripoli, Lebanon, and is currently a Professor of Plant Biology at Western Sydney University. An internationally renowned expert in plant photosynthesis, her research addresses the twin challenges of food security and climate change. She has published over 100 scientific articles. Beyond science, Oula is passionate about Sufism and storytelling as integrative forms of knowledge. She is currently working on a trilogy exploring her own and her family's migration to Gadigal Land, Australia. Loubna Haikal was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and migrated to Australia as a teenager. A trained medical doctor, she worked as a GP before turning to writing. She is the author of Seducing Mr. Maclean (Picador, 2002), along with several short stories and plays. A mother of three sons and a grandmother, Loubna lives on the land of the Gadigal people in Merro-berah.