Great Southern Aboriginal Leadership Conference
November saw the third ever Great Southern Aboriginal Leadership Conference be held in Albany; an event planned for and by Aboriginal people of the region.
The Great Southern Aboriginal Leadership Conference is an initiative created by the Aboriginal Emerging Leadership Group with the vision of empowering emerging leaders, connecting them with respected Elders, and building robust and enduring leadership networks for the benefit of the Great Southern’s Noongar community.
MC Laurence Riley’s opening address.
The third conference took place at the Albany Entertainment Centre over 2 days, with representatives from community services, education, industry, indigenous tourism, Aboriginal community groups and more taking part in the event.
Highlights of the program included an Elders panel, cultural performances by local indigenous students, and a series of breakout sessions. Topics covered by breakout sessions included restorative practice with Laurence Riley, Capital Readiness with First Nations X, Danjoo Koorliny on social impact, and place-based reconciliation presented by Jade Thompson.
Kent Matla from First Nations X delivers breakout session on capital readiness.
Other speakers included Karl Millard from WAITOC, Johani Mamid covering indigenous entrepreneurship, Wagyl Kaip, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and other inspirational leaders from the region.
The Great Southern Aboriginal Leadership Conference was fully subscribed and attended by emerging leaders in Noongar communities from across the south-west corner of the state, as well as allies in business, government and community.
GSDC’s Jarrad Gardner, Aliesha Adams, Karen Petty and Ashleigh Ellis with event organiser Briony Arnold (centre).
The GSDC were a proud sponsor of this event alongside Lotterywest, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Reconciliation WA, Danjoo Koorliny, H+H Architects and Kadadjiny Aboriginal Corporation.