William J. Byrne grew up in the regional towns of southern New South Wales, on Wiradjuri and Ngunnawal country. His formative years were shaped by a traditional working-class family on one side and a family with systemic disadvantage on the other. A lifelong reader, with a passion for storytelling, William has been intrigued by the ways history and circumstance shape people’s lives and opportunities. This interest in the social sciences led William to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Communications (Social Inquiry) and a Graduate Diploma in Government Administration. He now lives in Northern Sydney on the lands of the Darramurragal people with his wife, daughter, and Border Collie.