John Maynard is a Worimi historian, researcher and commentator from the Port Stephens region of New South Wales. He has worked with urban, rural and remote Aboriginal communities. His previous 15 books explore Aboriginal political and social history, and Australian race relations and include Aboriginal Stars of the Turf, Fight for Liberty and Freedom, The Aboriginal Soccer Tribe, Aborigines and the Sport of Kings, True Light and Shade Living with the Locals and Socceroos a World Cup Odyssey Vol 1 & 2.

He has held several major positions and served on prominent organisations and committees, including Deputy Chair of the Executive Committee of the Australian Historical Association. He was the recipient of the Aboriginal History (Australian National University) Stanner Fellowship 1996, and the New South Wales Premier’s Indigenous History Fellow 2003, University of Newcastle Researcher of the Year 2008 and 2012. He is a member of the Australian Social Sciences Academy and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities..