First Nations Reference Group

Purpose

The First Nations Reference Group provides guidance to:

• Inform content development on Understorey including learning offerings and opportunities for First Nations entrepreneurs.
• Identify knowledge and practice gaps experienced by First Nations enterprises.
• Support increased participation and representation of First Nations people and social enterprises within the broader Australian social enterprise sector.
• Contribute to the ongoing evolution of the SEDI Education and Mentoring program to ensure it effectively reflects the strengths, knowledges, expertise and aspirations of First Nations enterprises and communities.

Guiding Principles

This guidance is:

• Grounded in identity and lived experiences.
• Informed by cultural protocols, relational systems, values, and histories.
• Offered from a position of cultural integrity and informed perspective.

Accountability

Accountability for enacting this advice rests with Social Enterprise Australia with trust in its commitment to steward this work responsibly.

Decision-making about First Nations content inclusion, attribution and representation rests with Social Enterprise Australia. Any errors, omissions or misunderstanding in this regard are the responsibility of  Social Enterprise Australia. They do not reflect and should not affect the integrity, standing, or work of group members.

Social Enterprise Australia appreciates the group’s deep experience in relational business, community and systems work that is good for people and planet, and is grateful for the strength, stamina, patience and wisdom of group members.

 Social Enterprise Australia is privileged to work with and learn from the leadership and expertise of:

Gaala Watson

Co-Chair

 

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Gaala is a Gangalu and Birri-Gubba (Wiri) woman, born and raised in South Eeast Queensland. A graduate of the Murri School, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Australian History from Deakin University’s Institute of Koorie Education, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Griffith University, a Professional Certificate in Indigenous Research from the University of Melbourne, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Queensland. Since 2018, Gaala has been actively involved in Queensland’s social enterprise sector. She was appointed a Fellow of the Griffith University Yunus Centre in 2019 and has served as Chair of the Food Connect Foundation and Co-Chair of the Queensland Social Enterprise Council. Gaala currently lectures at the University of Queensland Business School, where she continues to grow her research portfolio. Her recently completed doctoral research theorised Aboriginal governance, and her broader academic interests span Indigenous knowledges in business, Aboriginal economics, and impact enterprise.

Tiarne Shutt

Co-Chair

 

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Tiarne Shutt is a proud Worimi woman of the Gathang language group. With over a decade of cross-sector experience, she works at the intersection of First Nations self-determination, systems change, and finance. Her diverse portfolio of experience reflects her passion for pushing boundaries, shifting mindsets, and facilitating conversations that lead to meaningful, lasting change. Tiarne previously led the First Nations and & Finance program at the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute and served as Director of Business Development at First Australians Capital, where she managed investment-readiness support and capital strategies for Indigenous businesses.

Adam Gowen

Member

 

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Adam is a Wiradjuri man who has cultural connections to Yuin Country, culture and community. He is currently employed as the Centre Manager of Country Universities Centre (CUC) Southern Shoalhaven in Ulladulla on the NSW South Coast, leading a small and dynamic team providing support to students engaged in higher education. CUC Southern Shoalhaven has created The Hive – a vibrant social enterprise that supports the organisation’s primary work in the educational equity space. Adam volunteers widely including as a firefighter with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS). For his service in the Black Summer Bushfires of 2019/2020, Adam was awarded the National Emergency Medal and the NSW Premier’s Bushfire Emergency citation. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD) and has governance experience with not-for-profit organisations in the justice, education, and homelessness spaces. Adam has a first-class honours degree in Indigenous studies (UOW) with a thesis focused on issues of Indigenous identity, sovereignty, and settler colonialism. He also has a post-graduate degree in theology from Indigenous perspectives (University of Divinity/NAIITS/Whitley College). He is a published academic researcher and a member of the Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Research Ethics Committee (REC). Adam is a sought-after speaker, panellist and presenter and has addressed international and national audiences at conferences, and guest lectures on a wide range of themes including leadership, relational connection, education, and community engagement.

Binowee Bayles

Member

 

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Binowee is a distinguished Koori woman with deep roots in the Gadigal Country of Redfern, Sydney. As the second youngest of eight sisters, Binowee’s heritage is a rich tapestry woven from her mother’s Eora, Wonnarua and Bundjalung Nations of NSW lineage and her father’s Birri Gubba, Gungalu, Wakka Wakka and Wulli Wulli Nations from South East to North Queensland. Her family's advocacy for equality and lLand rRights since the 1960s has profoundly influenced Binowee's career. Most recently, she served as the Head of Indigenous Programs at AMP Limited, where she has been instrumental in advancing the organisation's Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Her role involves overseeing cultural initiatives across AMP promoting inclusion and fostering economic participation. Over her seven-year tenure at AMP, Binowee has spearheaded numerous initiatives, including cultural competency training for employees, sponsorship of significant events like the First Nations Super Summit, and the development of Indigenous design strategies. Binowee is a passionate advocate for reconciliation, believing in the power of collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. She aims to apply ancient wisdom to contemporary challenges, promoting harmonious coexistence and meaningful change. With over two decades of experience in the finance sector, state government, and community organisations, Binowee has built a robust career that includes roles at NRMA/IAG, Credit Union Australia, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, and various non-government organisations. Her qualifications span financial services, hospitality, tourism, media, and community services, complemented by her Cert IV in Training and Assessment. Notably, she represented Australia’s First Nations Peoples at the United Nations Climate Change Assembly.

Patricia Adjei

Member

 

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Patricia is a Wuthathi, Mabuiag Islander and Ghanaian woman from Sydney, Australia. She is the Director leading standalone legislation at the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts. Previously, Patricia was the Head of First Nations Arts at Creative Australia. She has a Bachelor of Arts and Law from UNSW and was the 2022 UNSW Alumni winner for her contribution to art and culture. She was also a 2018 Churchill fellowship recipient, investigating the practical application of laws in the USA and Panama that protect Indigenous cultural rights. Patricia has served on the City of Sydney Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisory panel, the Beyond Blue RAP advisory committee and as a Board member of the Contemporary Pacific Arts Festival, Sunshine Coast Council Art Committee, and the Moogahlin Performing Arts Board. She is currently on the RAP advisory committee for Intrepid Travel. Trish also previously worked as a lawyer at the Copyright Agency, Arts Law Centre of Australia and National Indigenous TV. Patricia was the 2010 World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Indigenous intellectual property law fellow. She is also a published author, having written several articles and a chapter on Indigenous cultural intellectual property rights.

Rebecca Blurton

Member

 

Bec is a strategic force in governance, investment, and First Nations leadership. A former Westpac Group Sustainability executive turned national thought leader, she is the founder of First Nations Affairs (FNA), a high-impact advisory reshaping how business, finance, and policy engage with Indigenous rights, risk, and sovereignty.