Kia Dowell Gaicd Email & Phone Number

Australia

Australia

My role as Chair of Gelganyem is one close to my heart. As a representative of my family group (Tiltuwam daam) and community, I have been charged with ensuring that the work of those that have gone before is carried through with positive and sustainable outcomes for Traditional Owners now and into the future.Gelganyem Trust was established in April 2005 as a charitable trust and marked the end of three years of negotiations which showed a new way forward for self-determination of Traditional Owners of the lands on which sits the world-renowned Argyle Diamond Mine. Of significance is the closure of the mine and the important role Gelganyem is playing to ensure a more culturally appropriate governance model that positions Traditional Owners as experts in the long and arduous journey towards relinquishment. My aim is to share our experiences in hopes that it creates long-term change in the Australian mining sector and other parts of the world where mining interests are at odds with the rights and interests of Traditional Owners, Native Title holders, and Country.

Gelganyem Limited is a founding partner organisation with the new Australian Research Council Training Centre for Healing Country based at Curtin University. The university has recently been awarded $5 million from the Federal Government to get the Training Centre up and running and it aims to be a ground-breaking employment and business development hub for First Nations Australians.I am immensely proud to be involved as a member of the Board, sharing and adding to the knowledge that those involved in the Gelganyem Trust have worked so hard to establish. The ARC Training Centre for Healing Country (‘Healing Country’) aims to be a world-first On Country capability, employment and business development Training Centre for Indigenous Australians. Led by a fully Indigenous Board, an expert Research Advisory team and 19 Partner Organisations, the Centre aims to achieve cost-effective restoration solutions that grow and strengthen Indigenous enterprises, expand and bolster diverse training pathways, while conducting innovative research to support the advancement of a diversified Indigenous-led Restoration Economy. Healing Country will fuse Indigenous culture in a cooperative vision where science and traditional approaches to land management and rehabilitation will create and nourish an economy that supports healthy land and transform Indigenous restoration businesses into a major employer of On-Country regional jobs.

Broome, Western Australia, Australia

I recently concluded a fulfilling career chapter with IBA as Head of Strategy and Impact. IBA serves, partners and invests with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the provision of home and business loans, access to capability and capacity development and wealth building opportunities.Accountable for the establishment of, and uplift in, IBA's strategic, performance and impact model. Responsible for the design and delivery of two five-year national strategies for the organisation aimed at achieving IBA's vision.I oversaw my team’s work in the development, implementation and performance of IBA’s strategic and corporate planning and performance, market research and insights, impact measurement and evaluation, thought leadership, advocacy and strategic policy.

Australia

A role I felt incredibly privileged to contribute to and more important to me than words can adequately express. Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women's Voices) is a multi-year systemic change project which sets out to capture and respond to the rights, needs and aspirations of First Nations women and girls. Many of those who have been involved over the years have been part of my family and these and other magnificent female leaders have shaped my life’s passion to vastly improve the lives of our girls and women. As part of my previous role with IBA, I was supported to participate in and guide the critical completion of the report and its recommendations.The project was led by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar AO and seeks to elevate the voices of First Nations women and girls, knowing that they hold the solutions to drive transformative change. The Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women's Voices) Securing our Rights. Securing our Future Report, published in December 2020 is a once in a generation report, providing a well overdue gender-lens across all aspects of life, showing that women are doing the backbone work of society.

As a Commissioner with Tourism WA, I thoroughly enjoyed and embraced a steep learning curve. The focus of my tenure was on increasing funding for greater investment into West Australian Aboriginal tourism experiences, improving stakeholder relationships and developing a renewed approach towards incorporating a First Nations worldview into as many aspects of tourism in our beautiful state as possible. With my ability to transform goodwill and intention into executed and measurable outcomes, I am proud of my contribution to initiatives involving a sizeable expansion of funding to improve visitor experiences through the lens of Aboriginal tourism products and services.

Perth, Australia

I co-founded Codeswitch, an Aboriginal strategic advisory and consulting firm, in 2011. Identifying a gap in the provision of consulting services that catered for First Nations organisations with a mix of traditional management consulting and Aboriginal knowledge and neuroscience, we delivered a fresh approach to creating long-term partnerships, frameworks and strategies to achieve tangible results.Codeswitch worked collaboratively with business leaders, policymakers and key organisations to influence and sustain economic and social change in First Nations communities and corporates across Australia. We devised innovative ways of working collaboratively together to reduce complexity and add real value – saving money, resources and time for everyone involved. I am proud of what Codeswitch achieved for the organisations and stakeholders we worked with and am grateful for the network of amazing people working in this space it gave me.

Perth, Wa

Ensured the broader business was supported in meeting obligations and commitments under the 2011 suite of Claim Wide Participation Agreements, Indigenous Land Use Agreements and the Regional Framework Deed with several Pilbara Traditional Owner groups.Key accountabilities:• Developed systems and processes to deliver specified commitments in our agreements• Delivered on agreement obligations• Transparent and compliant reporting to auditors and stakeholdersKey projects:• Cultural Awareness Training Improvement project - Designed and implemented new strategy focussing on process improvement, increased engagement with Cultural Educators, clear communication tools and schedules, significantly improved reporting across the business on performance, consistent contract management and overall increased awareness of business targets across all sites.• Implementation of Communication Strategy - Designed website map, including suggestions for interactive tools and understanding who our target audience/s were.• Project managed design and completion of initial compliance framework to track performance against commitments 2011 suite of Agreements and Regional Framework Deed included: - Collaboration with CSETS and IODMS champions - LAORS Compliance project • Involvement with Baseline Community Assessment project

Perth, Wa

Supported the Manager Agreement Negotiations and Implementation to ensure the transition from negotiations into Agreement Implementation with Pilbara Traditional Owners were successfully achieved.

Kununurra, East Kimberley Wa

Key achievements:1. Developed a Community Development module for 2nd and 3rd year graduates to increase understanding of the impact of mining had on surrounding Aboriginal communities and the broader East Kimberley region. This partnership continues with Jawun formerly Indigenous Enterprise Partnerships.2. Implemented an Employee Volunteer Programme aimed at raising the profile of Argyle employees who volunteer in the region and to match their contribution by rewarding them with special leave. 3. Spearheaded an initiative with the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley aimed at increasing the availability of child care services resulting in two new businesses in an 18 month period.4. Delivered the Cultural Awareness Training packages with the Gidja and Mirriuwung traditional owner groups.

Creating Collaborative Solutions, International/Global Studies, Passed

Creating Collaborative Solutions: Innovations in Governance is a one-week intensive executive program, undertaken as part of my.

Graduate Diploma, Community Relations In The Resources Sector

The Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM) is a leading research centre committed to improving the social performance.

Master Of Business Administration - Mba, International Business, 3.5/4.0

Activities and Societies: Studied and worked full-time as the Assistant Director of the UTEP Athletics Marketing Department

Bachelor Of Science, Business Management

Activities and Societies: President Rotaract Club, Optimist Club and Member International Ambassadors Program UTEP Women's Basketball team.

Education record

The Make Me A Leader™ Program is a new, exciting, initiative aimed to equip young women with real leadership skills. This program is.