In Australia's fast-growing renewable energy sector, meaningful engagement with First Nations communities is becoming a critical benchmark for ethical development. Few embody this commitment better than Ngemba and Ualarai man John Allison, the First Nations Engagement Lead at Squadron Energy.

Born in Brewarrina, John's journey has taken him from the close-knit community of his childhood to a national leadership role in First Nations engagement. After relocating to the Illawarra region in his youth, he navigated cultural shifts and societal challenges that shaped his perspective on representation and equity. His career began in banking before he transitioned into the Australian Public Service, where he spent 33 years working to amplify Aboriginal voices in policy, employment, and community-led initiatives.

He joined Squadron Energy in 2023, one of the country's leading renewable energy companies, which is investing heavily in wind, solar, and battery storage projects across the country. With a clear mission to drive Australia's clean energy transition, Squadron is also demonstrating how major corporations can lead in Indigenous engagement—not just as a regulatory requirement, but as a core principle of its operations.

For Allison, the challenge and opportunity lie in ensuring that First Nations voices are not only heard but embedded in decision-making.

"From day one, I haven't had any constraints in how we engage with First Nations communities," he says. "It's about real representation, real places at the table. The skepticism I had when I started quickly disappeared when I saw the quality of people here who genuinely want to do good."

One of the most pressing issues facing First Nations community engagement within large-scale developments is the concept of consent.

"Australia is a signatory to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which commits to ensuring First Nations voices are part of decision-making. But because it's not legislated here, the responsibility falls to developers like us to ensure it happens in a real and meaningful way," Allison notes.

Squadron is taking a place-based approach—tailoring engagement to the specific needs and decision-making structures of each community rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model. "Every First Nations community is different. The first step is listening and learning, not dictating," Allison explains. "That's the difference between ticking a box and actually delivering something that benefits everyone."

Beyond consultation, Squadron is working to increase economic participation through Indigenous procurement and employment. The company is embedding First Nations business Indigenous stretch targets in contracts and ensuring Aboriginal businesses have a pathway to meaningful participation.

"We don't just want First Nations businesses to be subcontractors," Allison says. "Our vision is to see First Nations business to become tier-one contractors, leading major projects."

One example of this place-based approach in action is at Squadron's Clarke Creek site in Queensland, where a sensitive cultural heritage issue arose. Rather than pushing ahead, the company paused construction to work through solutions in true co-design with traditional owners. "It's the best example in my career of how to properly work with traditional owners," Allison reflects.

The broader lesson from Squadron's approach is clear: meaningful engagement with First Nations communities isn't just about avoiding disputes; it's about building stronger, more sustainable projects that benefit everyone involved. As the renewable energy industry grows, companies will be judged not only on their environmental credentials but on their ability to deliver economic and social benefits to the communities on whose land they operate.

Squadron Energy, with John Allison at the helm of its First Nations engagement, is setting a benchmark for how to do this the right way. And in doing so, they are creating a model for how the corporate sector can—and should—work with First Nations people in Australia's energy future.