The First Nations UNLIMITED Leadership Summit recently brought Aboriginal leaders, business owners, government figures and allies together on Whadjuk Noongar Country to discuss leadership, economic self-determination, health, culture and community-led change.
Held in Boorloo / Perth and online from 13 to 14 May, the summit used keynotes, panel yarns and networking sessions to examine how First Nations leadership is being practised across workplaces, families, communities and systems.
The program included discussions on culture as a leadership strength, Aboriginal health in Aboriginal hands, mental health and wellbeing, language revival, procurement, Aboriginal business philosophy and pathways from frontline work into senior leadership.
Wongi and Yamatji woman Rowena Leslie, chief executive of Kai Rho Contracting, joined a panel yarn on Aboriginal procurement and investment alongside Ballardong and Whadjuk man Dennis Kickett and Wongutha man Judd Harris.
Ms Leslie said the summit showed First Nations leaders they were not working in isolation.
"Being able to learn from other Indigenous people and seeing that I'm not alone," Ms Leslie said.
"So the hope that I have for my people in achieving economic independence, I'm not alone in thinking that."
Ms Leslie said events like the summit gave community leaders new energy to take back into their work.
"When you come to events like this, you get to hear different ideas, innovation that's happening in the community and it's like coming to get warm around a fire," she said.
"You're all chatting and you're like 'I can do this', and then you head back in the cold and it gives you more energy to go forward."
Mr Kickett, a Ballardong and Whadjuk man spoke about his work as director of Aboriginal engagement across the Main Roads WA transport portfolio.
His role includes supporting contractors to work with Aboriginal businesses, create employment pathways and build Aboriginal participation in the broader economy.
Mr Kickett said leadership needed to be grounded in authenticity, relationships and decision-making.
"Leadership to me, I think about this a lot. It's being an authentic leader," he said.
"You've got to listen, you've got to build good relationships, and I believe you've got to have confidence to make good decisions."
He said leaders also needed to be prepared to take risks when setting targets and pursuing change.
Mr Harris, a Wongutha man from the northern Goldfields, brought experience from chemical engineering, mining and sustainable development to the procurement discussion.
He said leadership could come from people prepared to push against barriers and influence systems around them.
"The things that I see is people that are willing to remove their red tape," Mr Harris said.
"They push for change, they don't follow the rules, they do things differently and they also influence the people around them to make the changes within their organisations."
The summit closed with further yarning sessions and reflections on leadership across land management, health, business, domestic violence recovery, addiction, incarceration and purpose.
