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Agenda

Day One | Tuesday| October 15

8:15

Registration and Welcome Coffee

8:50

Welcome to Country

9:20

Chairperson's Opening Address

Adam Williams, Chairperson, Murri Chamber of Commerce

GENERATING EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

9:30

Keynote: Realising economic self-determination while strengthening the Indigenous business sector

  • Painting a picture of what the future can look like five, ten, and twenty years into the future

  • Promoting individual businesses and employees while also looking after the idea of a First Nations sector with mutual benefits

  • Understanding how you can contribute to First Nations economic development, either as an aspiring Indigenous leader or an ally managing a team

Naomi Anstess, CEO, Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network, Chairperson, National Indigenous Business Chambers Alliance

10:00

Supporting the career progression of First Nations staff through professional development opportunities and mentoring

  • Ensuring that there are ample opportunities for career progression for First Nations employees

  • Creating opportunities that are accessible and appealing to First Nations employees

  • Offering culturally relevant mentoring for First Nations employees to prepare employees for career progression opportunities

Darren Hammond, Indigenous Engagement Manger, IAG

10:30

Introduction and Explanation of Forum's Live Podcast

Esteemed podcaster and founder of BlakCast Podcast Network, Mundanara Bayles, will be onsite streaming a live, behind the scenes broadcast that will share the personal stories of some of our deadly First Nations business and employment leaders.


Presenter: Mundanara Bayles, Founder, BlakCast Podcast Network

10:40

Morning Tea

Stream A: First Nations recruitment, employment and retention

11:25

Panel: Fostering inclusive workplaces with strong cultural safety policies

  • How can workplaces be held accountable to cultural safety and First Nations representation through enterprise agreements?

  • Developing First Nations governance and leadership teams to ensure self-determination within the workplace

  • What can be done if a workplace is not upholding a commitment to cultural safety?

  • Troubleshooting possible reasons that companies may continue to struggle with recruitment and retention of First Nations employees despite devoting resources to improve cultural safety

Richard Hurst, Indigenous Employment and Engagement Consultant

Sharlene Leroy-Dyer, Director, Indigenous Business Hub, The University of Queensland

12:10

Fostering a workplace culture that is attractive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees to improve retention rates and employee satisfaction

  • What are the most common factors leading to either low or high retention rates for First Nations employees in a workplace?

  • Identifying alternative indicators of employee satisfaction, besides retention rates, for First Nations employees

  • Ensuring that First Nations employees are listened to and that feedback is implemented

Fallon Wanganeen, First Nations Employee Journey Expert, ANZ

Kaylee Hipwell, First Nations Employee Journey Expert, ANZ

Stream B: First Nations entrepreneurship

11:25

Panel: Elevating Indigenous business through improving supply chain diversity

  • Underscoring the “why” of including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in corporate business

  • Highlighting the mutual benefits and far-reaching economic impacts of including First Nations businesses in supply chains

  • Advocating for your business and building networks to maximise your engagement

Hayden Heta, Managing Director, Wamarra

Isabella Birtles, Senior Social Procurement Advisor, Laing O’Rourke

Sara Stuart, Managing Director, Mob Jobs

Debbie Barwick, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce

Gordon Cole, Chair, Noongar Chamber of Commerce and Industry

12:10

Yarpa Grow Case Study: Nurturing the growth and prosperity of Indigenous entrepreneurs through an innovative business accelerator program

  • Building the business acumen of budding Indigenous entrepreneurs to set them up for success

  • Connecting Indigenous businesses to procurement opportunities across NSW

  • Partnering with Western Sydney University to grow the value of the program by having it recognised as a micro-credential

  • Unlocking opportunities for participants to pitch their businesses to corporate and industry leaders

Shannon Mallison, Acting Director, Yarpa

12:40

Lunch 

ENHANCING RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND ENGAGEMENT

1:50

Improving recruitment and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the mainstream health industry

  • Highlighting the “why” of prioritising a health industry workplace that is attractive to First Nations people – that it’s a matter of saving lives

  • Building pathways for First Nations students from all educational backgrounds to consider careers within a healthcare institution, even if it’s not as a health worker

  • Improving cultural safety within all levels and departments of healthcare institutions

Christopher Delamont, First Nation's Recruitment Coordinator, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne

2:20

Ensuring self-determination and community consultation are a vital aspect of the Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) Program

  • Collaborating with government and community leaders to design the RJED Program

  • How is the government ensuring that self-determination is a key part of the RJED Program?

  • Addressing the ways in which remote employment services will continue to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to facilitate employment opportunities in remote Australia

  • Who is the RJED Program for and how can employment services assist CDP participants and others to participate in the RJED Program?

Lara Watson, Indigenous Officer, First Nations Workers Alliance

2:50

Delegates to move to yarning circles and connection activities

2:55

Yarning Circles and Connection Activities

Yarning Circle A: How do we measure the performance of our First Nations employees?

Clynton Munns, Coordinator - Indigenous Employment Program, Glencore


Yarning Circle B: Starting your business from scratch - what are the first steps to set you up for success?

Marc Harbrow, Founding Director, Harbrow Mentoring


Yarning Circle C: Making the business case for investment workplace wellbeing for First Nations staff

Dr Clinton Schultz, Director, First Nations Strategy and Partnerships, Head of First Nations Research, Black Dog Institute


Connection Activity A: Weaving and Art Workshop


Connection Activity B: Guided Meditation

3:40

Afternoon Tea

4:05

How can mainstream organisations improve their recruitment processes to attract First Nations talent?

  • Rethinking key aspects of the recruitment process to attract Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants, from job advertisements to the interview process

  • Effectively communicating the cultural safety and appeal of a workplace to First Nations applicants

  • Ensuring the appeal of a workplace to First Nations applicants and new employees is apparent

Sara Stuart, Managing Director, Mob Jobs

4:35

Engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in education and employment through on-Country programs

  • Outlining the benefits of on-Country activities on the self-esteem and engagement levels of First Nations young people

  • What impact does improved self-esteem and connection to Country have on educational and employment outcomes?

  • Designing culturally appropriate strengths-based programs for First Nations young people to improve employment outcomes in communities

Marc Harbrow, Founding Director, Harbrow Mentoring

5:05

Chairperson’s Closing Address 

5:15

End of Day One

Day Two | Wednesday| October 16

9:00

Chairperson’s Introduction

Adam Williams, Chairperson, Murri Chamber of Commerce

ELEVATING SELF DETERMINATION

9:10

Enhancing the economic development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through First Nations-led international partnerships and dialogue

  • Highlighting the opportunities that arise when economic development opportunities are approached with genuine self-determination

  • What role can the international community play in strengthening local-led solutions?

  • Exploring international trade and partnerships opportunities as a First Nations business or employee

Jesse Martin, Chairman, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander International Engagement Organisation, National First Nations Strategy and Impact Lead, Neami National

9:40

Panel: Identifying the goals and purpose of the National Indigenous Business Chambers Alliance

  • How does the National Indigenous Business Chambers Alliance support the economic development and employment outcomes of First Nations communities across Australia?

  • What are the Alliance’s national priorities for economic reform and how does the Alliance plan to ensure these priorities are implemented?

  • Getting involved in your local First Nations Chamber of Commerce – what are the benefits for small and large business?

Donald Betts, CEO, Kinaway Chamber of Commerce

Naomi Anstess, CEO, Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network, Chairperson, National Indigenous Business Chambers Alliance

Adam Williams, Chairperson, Murri Chamber of Commerce

Debbie Barwick, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce

Gordon Cole, Chair, Noongar Chamber of Commerce and Industry

10:20

Morning Tea

10:50

Case Study: First Nations Traffic Management - Creating employment pathways and a culturally safe workplace environment for First Nations people who are ex-offenders or have never been in employment 

  • Establishing mentoring programs that are tailored to the goals and requirements of attendees

  • Facilitating opportunities for training and upskilling to people with limited or no employment experience to reduce rates of unemployment among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

  • How can the measures being implemented at First Nations Traffic Management to create a supportive workplace environment be adapted to other workplaces?

Lionel Dukakis, Managing Director, First Nations Traffic Management

11:20

Prioritising the psychosocial safety of First Nations employees when devising a First Nations employment or business strategy

  • Using national psychosocial protection legislation as the starting point for First Nations engagement

  • What does the national legislation not include that matters to the safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

  • Linking occupational wellbeing to employment, retention, and your bottom line

Dr Clinton Schultz, Director, First Nations Strategy and Partnerships, Head of First Nations Research, Black Dog Institute

11:50

Delegates to move into streams

Day 2

Stream A: First Nations recruitment, employment and retention

11:55

Driving an inclusive and equitable environment for First Nations employees through indirect employment programs

  • Assessing the results of Transurban’s programs on First Nations employment, retention, wellbeing, and job satisfaction

  • Understanding how and why indirect programs can sometimes have the best outcomes on employment

  • Celebrating how First Nations employment is benefitting Transurban as a whole

Gael Duff (Gamilaroi ), First Nations Program Manager, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability, Transurban

12:25

Empowering Aboriginal businesses through procurement by saying no to Black Cladding

  • Identifying manipulative joint venture proposals

  • Maintaining a strong sense of “why” Aboriginal business and self-determination in business is essential

Matthew Karakoulakis, Founder and Principal Solicitor, AMK Law  (VIRTUAL)

Stream B: First Nations Entrepreneurship

11:55

Developing Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) and Fake Art Legislation as a way of protecting First Nations economic development 

  • Outlining the current status of ICIP and Fake Art Legislation

  • What are the gaps in Australian legislation around ICIP that fail to protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowledge sharing and storytelling?

  • How does developing new ICIP and Fake Art Legislation have the potential to positively impact First Nations economic development?

Patricia Adjei, Director, Standalone Legislation, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

12:25

Growing an Indigenous business by operating within a network of First Nations suppliers

  • Assessing the mutual benefits of operating within a closed ecosystem of First Nations businesses

  • Recognising the opportunities and limitations to First Nations procurement

  • Involving yourself in Indigenous economic development whether you are a big business or small operator

Tim Sculthorpe, Consultant,
Narakupa Co

12:55

Lunch

FUTURE READY EMPLOYMENT AND BUSINESS

1:50

Maximising Indigenous business opportunities in light of increasing focus on biodiversity, ESG and carbon credits

  • Working with Government, Aboriginal Corporations, and Private enterprise to ensure all stakeholders are ready for immediate climate investment opportunities

  • Finding ways to care for country and community while also operating a sustainable business

  • Identifying first steps to becoming a sustainable First Nations business

Thomas Holden, CEO, Nirrwara Global

2:20

Delegates to move to yarning circles and connection activities 

2:25

Yarning Circles and Connection Activities

Yarning Circle A: How do we measure the performance of our First Nations employees?

Clynton Munns, Coordinator - Indigenous Employment Program, Glencore


Yarning Circle B: Starting your business from scratch - what are the first steps to set you up for success?

Marc Harbrow, Founding Director, Harbrow Mentoring


Yarning Circle C: Making the business case for investment workplace wellbeing for First Nations staff

Dr Clinton Schultz, Director, First Nations Strategy and Partnerships, Head of First Nations Research, Black Dog Institute


Connection Activity A: Weaving and Art Workshop


Connection Activity B: Guided Meditation

3:15

Afternoon Tea

3:50

Case Study: Generating First Nations employment opportunities and economic benefits through renewable energy projects such as the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project

  • How did the partnership between Australian Training Works and Genex Power arise and what elements of this partnership make it conducive to generating employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?

  • Creating a culturally appropriate and supportive working environment for people working on the Kidston hydro project

  • Engaging in meaningful consultation, collaboration and partnership

Tony Martens, Managing Director, Australian Training Works

4:20

Panel: Improving cultural safety for First Nations employees in fast paced industries like the mining and construction industry

  • Prioritising cultural safety in mining and construction industries, even when employees might stay at a workplace because of financial benefits

  • How can culturally appropriate mentorship programs improve attendance, engagement and employee satisfaction?

  • Keeping the “why” of employing and retaining First Nations employees front of mind in the mining and construction industries

  • What is the future of employment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in mining and construction in light of the move towards environmentally friendly technology?

Andrew Craig, (Yuwaalaraay/Gomeroi), National First Nations Engagement Manager, Fulton Hogan

Clynton Munns, Coordinator - Indigenous Employment Program, Glencore

Ronald Jones, National Aboriginal Engagement Manager, UGL

5:00

Chairperson’s Closing Address

5:10

End of Day Two

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