The Dhawura Ngilan Business and Investor Initiative brings together First Nations, business, and investor communities to create a shared vision for strengthening Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage laws and standards in the private sector. The Initiative seeks to ensure that business practices uphold the human rights of First Nations Peoples, in line with international agreements and community expectations.

The Initiative is led by the First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance, in partnership with the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) and the UN Global Compact Network Australia (UNGCNA).

Our Principles for Working Together

• Supporting the intent and integrity of Dhawura Ngilan (Remembering Country)
• Being First Nations-led, guided by representative organisations
• Ensuring long-term legitimacy and credibility among our key stakeholders — Traditional Owners (as primary stakeholders), UNGCNA participants, and the responsible investment community

First Nations-Led

Being First Nations-led is central to how the Initiative operates.

• The First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance leads the Initiative, with the Secretariat hosted under the National Native Title Council (NNTC).
• The Alliance appoints three First Nations members to the Steering Committee and one Secretariat position, while RIAA and UNGCNA each appoint two members.
• The Steering Committee is chaired by a First Nations leader, ensuring decisions are grounded in community priorities.