Building cultural capability and awareness
barpangu yurpangu Speaker Series
The barpangu yurpangu Speaker Series is a calendar of speaker events created for the purpose of fostering greater awareness of First Nations culture and communities, First Nations experiences and viewpoints on agriculture and self-determination.
The events provide opportunities for people involved in agriculture to build their awareness of First Nations narratives and thought leadership and to provide a platform for First Nations people to contribute and engage in narratives around agriculture and self-determination.
Our speaker events
A range of topics discussed in our speaker series include:
- Aboriginal culture
- Aboriginal self-determination
- Aboriginal interests in agriculture
- Aboriginal people participating in agriculture.
Our webinars are free for anybody to view.
How to participate in our webinars
There are 3 easy steps to participate:
- Register for the webinars that interest you before the RSVP date.
- Once registered, an email confirming your selected webinar will be sent to you.
- One or 2 working days prior to each webinar you will receive an email with a unique URL link and step-by-step instructions on how to log in.
Coming events
March
Professor Andrew Gunstone, Leading international authority in reconciliation
Professor Gunstone will providing key insights towards defining organisational substantive reconciliation and how working alongside First Nations peoples benefits the Australian ecosystem.
He will cover:
- his knowledge and experience within the reconciliation sector
- witnessed and experienced substantive versus performative approaches to reconciliation from organisations
- examples of how organisations and individuals can engage in substantive reconciliation practices,
The importance for organisations to respect the self-determination of First Nations peoples, and how this has already supported – and continues to support – the Australian environment and ecosystem.
Professor Andrew Gunstone – speaker session
5 March 2025, 12 pm
Professor Andrew Gunstone is a leading international authority in reconciliation. He is Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor Reconciliation and Professor Indigenous Studies at Federation University, where he leads all reconciliation matters, including the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice, which he established in 2023, and is the leading national academic think tank on reconciliation.
His current research, funded by academic, industry, government, and philanthropic funding, explores a broad range of areas, including substantive and performative reconciliation, community attitudes to reconciliation, multicultural engagements with reconciliation, national and regional truth-telling, effectiveness of RAPs, place-based reconciliation, and international reconciliation movements.
He is also Co-Chair of Reconciliation Victoria, Foundation Editor of the Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues, an Advisory Board member with the Canadian National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and a member of several national and regional reconciliation committees. He regularly provides advice on reconciliation and RAPs to corporates, industry, community, governments and academia.
Register for the eventPast events
February
Joshua Gilbert, Indigenous consultant, agriculturalist and innovator
Josh is a socially and commercially focused Worimi (Aboriginal) man with extensive experience in Indigenous affairs, the environmental sector and sustainable agriculture.
Josh works across government, corporate and social organisational levels to develop and lead change by sharing the narration of Indigenous identity through agricultural and environmental truth-telling in light of modern contexts. Josh is a deep, strategic thinker and manages business change effectively through empathy. He is passionate about creating change through effective investment and societal understanding.
Josh is undertaking a PhD at Charles Sturt University, focused on the concept of Indigenous modernity through agriculture. He was recently recognised internationally for his work, announced in the inaugural 50 Next: People Shaping the Future of Gastronomy cohort.
Josh is on the board for Indigenous Business Australia, the NSW Aboriginal Housing Office, KU Children's Services and the Australian Conservation Foundation and is the Aboriginal Co-Chair of Reconciliation NSW.
Joshua Gilbert – speaker session
13 February 2025, 11.30 am
Truth-telling and engaging with Indigenous peoples is pivotal to the success of Australian agriculture. Indigenous people own over 60% of Australia’s landmass today, with great potential in incorporating Indigenous knowledges with land ownership for local self-determination. From bushfoods or native foods to modern agriculture, realising Aboriginal culture as fluid unlocks conversations within the farming section and beyond.
This presentation seeks to unpack opportunities for Indigenous agriculture, sharing some of the historic elements of importance, unpacking the current state and providing an understanding of opportunities for the future.