Simon Forrest is a Whadjuk Ballardong Nyoongar with kin connections to Badimia and Wongutha peoples. He trained as a teacher in his early years and taught primary school students in several different settings in Western Australia, including remote Aboriginal communities, small rural towns, and regional cities.

He has also worked in the public sector in senior positions in Aboriginal education and curriculum and Indigenous affairs policy and implementation and worked in the university sector from 1983 until his retirement in 2019.

As a Whadjuk Elder Simon has performed Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremonies at various events including; international, national and state conferences, West Coast Eagles and Western Force Indigenous Round games, various Curtin University events such as Graduations and building openings, school assemblies and many other events.