On 13 May 2026, the Dhawura Ngilan Business and Investor Initiative joined Uniting Business LIVE Australia: Sustainability in Action conference for a panel discussion on Embedding Respect for Country and Culture in Australia’s transition.
Moderated by Will Leak, Senior Sustainable Investment Analyst at Mercer, the session focused on how businesses and investors can embed First Nations-led cultural heritage standards into transition-related governance, operations and risk management.
Anirudha Nagar, Director of Clean Energy and Finance at the National Native Title Council, spoke about the origins and purpose of the First Nations-led Dhawura Ngilan (Remembering Country) Business and Investor Initiative, established following the destruction of Juukan Gorge to support organisations in moving beyond minimum legal compliance and towards approaches grounded in self-determination, meaningful engagement and respect for Country.
Roger Cameron, Investment Director at Silva Capital, shared practical examples from Silva Capital’s participation as a pilot partner in the Initiative, including how the organisation has sought to embed cultural heritage protection into project origination, due diligence and on-Country engagement.
This included examples from Silva Capital’s Cooplacurripa Environmental Planting Project on Biripi Country in New South Wales, developed in partnership with the Purfleet-Taree Local Aboriginal Land Council. Through its “Working on Country” program, the project combines landscape restoration with cultural heritage protection, on-Country training and employment pathways for Aboriginal Rangers, demonstrating how carbon projects can support both environmental outcomes and Traditional Owner-led stewardship of Country.
The discussion reinforced that achieving a just and sustainable transition requires approaches that are collaborative, practical and led by respect for Country and Culture.
