Conference Program

Deborah Cheetham

Master of Ceremonies:

Deborah Cheetham, Indigenous Soprano, actor and author of the internationally acclaimed play, White Baptist Abba Fan, has established her place as an artist in great demand.

Since her international debut in 1997 Ms Cheetham has performed in the theatres and concert halls of United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and throughout Australia.

Maryanne Sam

Master of Ceremonies - Welcome Reception & Gala Dinner

Maryanne Sam is a proud Torres Strait Islander from Erub (Darnley Island) who has lived in Melbourne all her life. She is a writer, actor, singer, production manager, events manager and a founding member of Ilbijerri Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Theatre Cooperative. Maryanne has numerous professional theatre acting credits behind her including: Stolen by Jane Harrison, Up the Ladder by Roger Bennett, and her one woman cabaret show Oh My God I'm Black, devised with Patricia Cornelius and Irini Vela. Maryanne's plays have been work shopped and performed locally, nationally (Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Darlinghurst Theatre Sydney, National Australian Playwrights Conference), and internationally (New York).

Maryanne received the inaugural Uncle Bob Maza Award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Indigenous Theatre and the Centennial Medal for her Services to indigenous Arts.

Keynote Speakers

National Chief Phil Fontaine

National Chief, Assembly of First Nations, Canada

National Chief Phil Fontaine is a dedicated and highly respected leader in Canada. He has been instrumental in facilitating change and advancement for First Nations people from the time he was first elected to public office as Chief, at the young age of 28. He is a proud member of the Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba and still plays an active role in the support of his community.

Phil is the youngest son in an Ojibway family of ten brothers and two sisters. As a child he remembers that he wanted for nothing, as his father and mother were hard working providers for their children. When he was six years old, however, his Father died suddenly. As a result of this tragedy, the family experienced poverty for the first time. But while their home may have lacked electricity, running water and sometimes adequate food, it was still a place of refuge, happiness and love. Agnes Fontaine, Phil’s mother, was a tenacious hardworking women who wasn’t about to let her family fall apart. Known as the best cook in the community, she catered many weddings and other social events to make ends meet when she wasn’t cleaning homes in the nearby community of Pine Falls or taking her family in the bush to pick blueberries while she worked as a cook in logging camps. continued... 

Professor Marcia Langton PhD, AM, ASSA

Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies, The University of Melbourne

Marcia Langton, AM, is currently Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies at the University of Melbourne. Her doctoral fieldwork was conducted in eastern Cape York Peninsula during the 1990s, and her experience of the statutory land claim and native title system in this region was informed by a decade of administration and fieldwork pertaining to Aboriginal land rights in the Northern Territory of Australia. She was awarded a PhD from Macquarie University in 2005. She is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences of Australia and a member of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS). She is Chair of the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership.

The Hon Dr Pita Sharples

Minister of Maori Affairs, Associate Minister of Education, Associate Minister of Corrections

Pita Shaples, of Ngati Kahungunu, Ngai Te Kikiri o te Rangi and Ngati Pahauwera, was born in Waipawa in 1941 and grew up on farms around Takapau in Hawkes Bay.

He went to Secondary School at Te Aute Maori Boys College, where he developed his skills in kapa haka, and a passion for Maori language and culture.

He studied at Auckland University and trained as a teacher. In 1976 he was awarded a PhD from Auckland University in anthropology and linguistics.

For eight years he headed the Office of the Race Relations Conciliator, then became Director of Culture at the Department of Maori Affairs. He has also been a Professor of Education at Auckland University.

Living in West Auckland, he helped establish Hoani Waititi Marae in the late 1970s, and has been actively involved there ever since. He has belonged to numerous Maori, community and education organisations, and been a consultant to many government agencies and professional boards.

In 2004 he became Co-leader of the Maori Party, and was elected as MP for Tamaki Makaurau in in 2005. He is currently Minister of Maori Affairs and Associate Minister of Education and Corrections.

Romeo Crow Chief

President and Executive Director, Aboriginal Financial Officers Association Alberta, Canada

Romeo Crow Chief is a member of the Siksika Nation. He worked for the Nation for 21 years including two years as a council member. He is trained in the areas of financial management, administrative management, strategic planning, conflict resolution and community development. As a certified mediator, Romeo had the opportunity to assist and mentor the Community Safety Mediation Centre in Iasi, Romania for a month. He currently runs his own business “Crow Chief Consulting and Mentoring Services”. As President/Executive Director of Aboriginal Financial Officers Association, Alberta he won the 2005 Deputy Minister’s Pride and Recognition Award for “ Excellence in Leadership”. In 2006 Romeo was invited by the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines to conduct workshops for Indigenous people on “Financial Literacy” and “Building Bridges between an Indigenous Community and Mining Companies”. He also went to Taiwan to deliver a workshop on “Economic Development and Diversity of Aboriginal Communities”. Romeo has conducted workshops across Canada and the United States to First Nation and to the Corporate World.

Damein Bell

Manager, Lake Condah Sustainable Development Project

Damein Bell is the Manager for the Lake Condah Sustainable Development Project in the far southwest of Victoria. Damein is also the Chairman of the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC. The Lake Condah Sustainable Development Project’s objective is to develop the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape into a major heritage park based on the Gunditjmara cultural landscape values that includes one of the world’s oldest and largest aquaculture system for eels and other fish. An important component of the LCSDP is to create and maintain employment and economic opportunities for the Indigenous and broader community in the tourism, caring for country and education industries.

For further information please visit www.lakecondah.com.

Malcolm James

Chief Executive Officer, Australian Employment Covenant

Mr James is a business graduate of RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia with over 25 years experience in merchant banking, engineering, manufacturing and financing. Over the last 15 years he has played an active role in identifying, exploring, financing and developing a number of significant natural resource and energy projects in Australia, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and USA.

Mr James is Chairman of the Australian Securities Exchange listed company Lefroy Resources Ltd and Non-Executive Director of ASX listed Peninsula Minerals Ltd. Mr James is also a director of AIM listed Cue Energy Plc.

Mr James has recently taken the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Employment Covenant, a national, industry led initiative to secure 50,000 sustainable jobs for Indigenous Australians and a project with the full commitment and financial support of the Commonwealth Government.

Mark Leibler AC

Co Chair of Reconciliation Australia and the senior partner of law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler

Mr Mark Leibler AC is Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia, the senior partner in the Melbourne legal firm Arnold Bloch Leibler and a prominent leader of the Australian and international Jewish community. A specialist in taxation, Mark has served in various advisory capacities on tax matters, including to the Taxation Commissioner, and regularly lectures and writes on taxation and related subjects. Mark is a former director of Coles Myer Ltd and also serves on other company boards.

An activist in the area of social justice and public affairs, Mark is a tireless supporter of Indigenous rights. Since 1993, Arnold Bloch Leibler has acted on behalf of the Yorta Yorta in their native title claim and the firm continues to provide pro bono services to a range of Indigenous and charitable organisations. In March 2008, Arnold Bloch Leibler became the first law firm in Australia to launch a Reconciliation Action Plan.

Wayne Kayler-Thomson

CEO of the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Wayne Kayler-Thomson is the Chief Executive Officer of VECCI, Australia’s largest Chamber of Commerce.

Wayne is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) and the Victoria Events Industry Council (VEIC) Victoria’s peak industry organisations which provide advocacy, representation and industry development services for the tourism and events industry.

Wayne is also currently Chairman of the Australian Regional Tourism Network, Chairman of the Management Board of the Australian Regional Tourism Research Centre and a Hotel Motel and Accommodation Association (HMAA) National Board member.

Wayne has over 26 years tourism industry experience, including 12 years with Tourism Victoria as Deputy Chief Executive and General Manager, an inaugural Board member of Tourism Victoria and previously as Chairman of the Tourism Industry Advisory Board and founding President of the Country Victoria Tourism Council.

He has also owned and operated a Motel and Tour business, managed a Visitor Centre and Travel Agency and been the Executive Director of a regional economic development organisation in the Grampians region of Victoria. Wayne’s earlier career was in Executive Management in the manufacturing sector.

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Julie Andrews

Lecturer within the Anthropology Program in the School of Social Sciences, La Trobe University

Leah Armstrong

Executive Director, Yarnteen

Ms Armstrong, a Torres Strait Islander born in Mackay, Queensland, is the Executive Director of Yarnteen. As Executive Director, Leah is assisting Yarnteen to expand its commercial ventures and encouraging further economic opportunities for associate organisations.

Ms Armstrong actively promotes the need for Indigenous communities to be much more pro-active in ensuring the establishment of successful economic ventures within communities.

Leah has been a member and director of numerous government boards:

• 2001 - Current Director Indigenous Business Australia – IBA
• 2003 - 2005 Director Board of Vocational Education and Training NSW
• 2002 - 2004 Chairperson Aboriginal Business Roundtable NSW
• 2000 - 2001 Panel member Indigenous Small Business Fund
• 2000 - 2001 Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business
• 1998 - 2000 Member Hunter Area Consultative Committee
• 1997 - 1999 Director Hunter Economic Development Corporation

Leah has been a Foundation Member of Yarnteen since 1991.

Representatives & Speakers – Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce, Canada

Darrell Brown

Darrell Brown is a member of the Métis Nation of Canada and has been an active entrepreneur for over 12 years. Darrell has worked extensively with Canadian and international Aboriginal communities and organizations over the past several years in business planning, resource access negotiations, tourism product development and global marketing, market research, procurement and many other areas of economic development.

Darrell is President of Kisik Marketing & Communications Ltd, This Aboriginal consulting firm was formed in 1999 to serve the marketing needs of the Aboriginal tourism industry in Canada.

Darrell is also President of Kisik Inc (est. 2003). This is a full service Aboriginal Office Furniture Dealership based in Winnipeg. The company supplies office and residential furnishings, electronics and window treatments to the Aboriginal market as well as the Federal and Provincial Departments in the Manitoba, Saskatchewan and North Western Ontario regions.

Darrell is Past President and current Ex Officio Board of Directors for the Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce, as well as Ex Officio Board of Directors for the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. Darrell holds an Advanced Diploma in International Business from Red River College and currently resides in Winnipeg, Canada.

Alyssa Reid

Alyssa Reid graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Manitoba majoring in Economics and Business in 2004.

Alyssa began her career working in the Banking Industry when she was 15 years old, through a summer student program offered by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. Throughout her banking career Alyssa assisted many businesses with their start up and growth but was happiest when working with Aboriginal youth.

For seven years Alyssa was involved with E-Spirit Aboriginal Youth Business Plan Competition that brought Aboriginal Youth from all across the country together for presentation of their business plans.

For the last two years Ms. Reid has served on the Board of Directors for the Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce. Alyssa has been active with the Chamber in a number of different roles prior to being elected to the Board. Previously she was a Board of Director for the Winnipeg Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Alyssa makes every effort to live by the Seven Sacred Teachings both in her business or personal life. As an independent consultant Ms. Reid is fortunate to work with Educational Institutions, First Nation Communities and various Organizations.
She is a member of the Wabauskang First Nation that is located in Treaty 3 territory in North Western Ontario

Geoff Dane

Assistant Director of the National Centre for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Statistics

Geoff Dane is an Assistant Director with the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics in the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). He has worked with Indigenous statistics since 1992, initially with ATSIC and since 2004 with the ABS.

He was heavily involved with the development of both the first National Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Social Survey in 1994 and the first Community Housing and Infrastructure Needs Survey in 1999.

His current major project is the development of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Framework.

Jason Eades

Co Chair, Victorian Aboriginal Economic Development Group

Jason Eades is a Gunnai man from Orbost, South Eastern Victoria, Australia. Jason’s professional career started in a managerial role at his local Aboriginal Cooperative. From this experience he progressed into a number of senior management positions including CEO of Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation, Executive Manager at Mirimbiak Nations Aboriginal Corporation – the then Victorian Native Title Representative Body, Senior Policy Officer at Aboriginal Affairs Victoria before becoming the Chief Executive Officer of the Koorie Heritage Trust – one of Victoria’s leading Indigenous Cultural Centres in January 2004.

Indeed, Jason jumped at the chance to become CEO of the Koorie Heritage Trust as he saw it as a great opportunity to blend his management skills with his passion as an Indigenous artist. Being CEO of the Trust allows him to have a direct advisory role in the development of the Victorian Indigenous arts community. He is particularly interested in promoting the diverse and distinctive identity of his culture and one of the great ways to do this is through the unique style of Koorie art.

Jason’s career has seen him work in a number of different fields but always with a focus on Indigenous issues. He is passionate about his community and in particular about providing opportunities to young people to learn about their culture and identity and the role the arts plays in supporting the wellbeing of community.

Jason is a director of Indigenous Leadership Network Victoria, the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages, member of the Vic Health Indigenous Advisory Committee, member of VicUrban’s Art Panel, Chair of the Aboriginal Community and Philanthropy Partnership Project, Co-Chair of the Victorian Aboriginal Economic Development Group and the Chair of the Koorie Records Taskforce.

Mick Harding

Wurru Wurru Ngarga Warendj

Mick Harding belongs to the Yeerun-Illam-Baluk clan of the Taungurung people. He lives with his family in the rolling foothills of Gippsland’s Strzelecki ranges, a short drive from Morwell National Park, and is an active member of the Taungurung, local and Victorian Indigenous communities. From a very young age, Mick demonstrated a strong talent as a sketch artist. Through a journey of discovery about his own heritage and many years of honing his artistic talents, Mick has become a skilled artisan creating high quality works in his purpose built studio-workshop on the family property.

After learning about his Indigenous heritage, Mick set out on a journey of discovery that continues to this day. Through working closely with his own Taungurung people, he has developed a strong understanding of Indigenous culture, and has learned to appreciate the ties between the land, its flora and fauna, and man’s responsibility to protect the land and maintain the intricate and delicate relationships that exist there. This learning can be seen in the artworks Mick creates, each linked to a legend and challenging the viewer to understand their place in the story.

Professor Kevin Hindle

Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship, Swinburne University of Technology

Charles Jia

President, South East Queensland Indigenous Chamber of Commerce

North Queenslander, Charlie Jia has worked in private and public positions at local, state and national levels. His drive, commitment and passion are with his community, its people, friends and family.

His professional journey commenced as a Community Development Officer in Mackay.

He worked as a Senior Project Officer with the Queensland Community Services and Health Industry Training Council, before his role as the National Executive Officer for the Australian Indigenous Training Advisory Council set up by the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA).

He worked with Queensland Health, the Greater Brisbane Area Consultative Committee and South Bank Corporation before returning to his family owned business ‘Karma Lifestyles’.

Charlie sits on various committees representing his immediate community and is a founding member of the South East Queensland Indigenous Chamber of Commerce and the inaugural President since 2006.

He recently relocated to the beautiful North Stradbroke Island where he is establishing a number of new ventures with his wife Michele.

Bob Kayseas

Department Head and Assistant Professor of the School of Business and Public Administration at the First Nations University of Canada

Bob is a member of the Fishing Lake First Nation, a Saulteaux community in east central Saskatchewan. Bob obtained a degree in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Regina. He is presently enrolled in a PhD (Enterprise and Innovation) program at the Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship, Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia.

Bob has been employed, first as a Lecturer and currently as an Assistant Professor, at the First Nations University of Canada, School of Business and Public Administration since the fall of 2000. Bob was appointed to the Department Head position in April of 2007. Bob teaches economic development, entrepreneurship, small business management, and marketing courses. He also provides services as a consultant in all of the areas he teaches to primarily Indigenous governments, organizations and entrepreneurs. 

Maori Business Facilitation Service

Philip Broughton

Partner, Business and Consulting Services, Polson Higgs Business Advisors

Philip specialises in the development of strategic plans, business plans and conducts a Maori business mentoring programme. He also has extensive experience in training including course development and presentation.

From a business services background, Philip is one of the consulting partners of Polson Higgs. Philip is of Ngai Tahu / Kahungunu descent, and is married with three children. He is the proud owner of an immaculate 1959 Morris 1000, and is a keen golfer. He is actively involved in a number of professional, community and iwi organisations.

Philip is a graduate of the University of Otago, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1975 and a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1980. Philip has a favourite quote which he applies to all his dealings with clients: "Businesses don't do business ... people do business."

Richard Marles

Member for Corio

Richard Marles has an honours degree in Law and a Bachelor of Science from Melbourne University. In 1994, Richard commenced work as the federal legal officer for the Transport Workers' Union and in 1998 he was elected their Federal Assistant Secretary.

Richard became ACTU Assistant Secretary in February 2000. In 2001/2002 he ran the Working Hours Case which resulted in workers having, for the first time, the right to refuse overtime which would lead to unreasonable hours of work.

From 2002-2007 Richard was a member of the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission and led the ACTU's work on Occupational Health and Safety.
Richard also led an innovative program of co-operation between the Australian and Papua New Guinea union movements.

In 2007 Richard was elected as the Member for Corio in the House of Representatives. In February 2008 Richard was elected Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Committee.

Warren Mundine

Chairman of the Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce

Warren Mundine is the Chief Executive Officer of NTSCORP Ltd., and an advocate for empowering Indigenous people to break the poverty cycle and building a strong Indigenous economy.

Warren is a Doctor of the University (honoris causa) (Southern Cross University) and a member of the Australian Institute of Management, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Chairman of the Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, the Chair of NSW Labor’s Indigenous Policy Committee, Executive Member of the National Native Title Council, a Director of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation, a member of Southern Cross University Foundation, Board member of NAISDA Limited and Ambassador for the Song Room. Warren has been appointed by the Prime Minister to the Australian Government’s National Policy Commission – Indigenous Housing Committee.

Recently as a steering committee member of the new initiative, The Australian Employment Covenant, he has been involved in the development of its strategy to facilitate the engagement of corporate Australia in working towards breaking the welfare cycle of Aboriginal people. This new initiative aims at using targeted training and workplace mentoring to achieve full time employment for at least 50,000 Aboriginal people.

Previous roles held by Warren include the National President of the Australian Labor Party, Chair of NSW Country Labor and member of the NSW Attorney General’s Juvenile Crime Prevention Committee, NSW PCYC State Board and IAG’s Expert Community Advisors Committee. Warren has also had considerable involvement in local government through a number of roles including Deputy Mayor of Dubbo, President of the NSW Local Government Aboriginal Network, Executive member of the Local Government Association of NSW and as a commissioner with the NSW Local Government Grants Commission.

Annette Sax

Yarn Strong Sista

Yarn Strong Sista is an Indigenous education consultancy that provides a range of culturally appropriate resources and services to all levels of the education system (pre-school to post-secondary) services include story telling, face painting, festivals, murals, cross cultural training and education resources.

Skills Victoria

Speaker to be confirmed

Neil Willmett

Managing Director of Willmett Consultants and author of ‘How to Start a Successful Aboriginal Business in Australia’

Neil Willmett is the owner of the Willmett Group, a consortium of Aboriginal businesses that operate in the business services, media and recruitment sectors. He is an established business advisor and human resource management consultant.

In 2008 Neil wrote ‘How to Start a Successful Aboriginal Business in Australia’ – Australia’s first Aboriginal small business book. He will soon launch ‘The Australian Guide to Aboriginal Employment’ and a career advice guide called ‘More Than a Sporting Star – 100 Jobs for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander School Leavers’.

In April 2008 Neil was selected to participate in the Commonwealth Government ‘Australia 2020’ Summit in Canberra. One of his Indigenous economic development recommendations led to the national ‘Developing Indigenous Enterprises in Australia’ inquiry that was conducted by the Commonwealth Government in late 2008.

Neil is an executive committee member of the South East Queensland Indigenous Chamber of Commerce (SEQICC), the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council (AIMSC) initiative and the soon to be launched Aboriginal Human Resource Council (AHRC). All of which focus on creating business and employment opportunities for Aboriginal people.