Six years after the destruction of Juukan Gorge, First Nations leaders, investors and industry representatives gathered at the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) Conference in Naarm (Melbourne) on 27–28 May 2026 to examine what meaningful action on First Nations cultural heritage protection requires.
Held during National Reconciliation Week and the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, the conference reinforced that cultural heritage protection is central to responsible investment practice, with the Dhawura Ngilan guides a practical tool to help investors put that into action.
Keynote: investor risk and responsibility
Kado Muir, the Chair of the National Native Title Council (NNTC), delivered a powerful keynote on investor responsibility and the legacy of Juukan Gorge. “The destruction of Aboriginal culture is ongoing…. the deafening silence from the investor landscape is apparent.”
Kado stressed that cultural heritage protection presents a material financial risk for investors, pointing to the Federal Court compensation ruling involving Fortescue and the Yindjibarndi people as a clear example of the financial consequences of failing to respect First Nations rights. He also urged investors to move beyond managing risk and direct capital into First Nations businesses.
NNTC CEO Jamie Lowe then led a panel session with Justin Welfare (QIC), Allan James (BHP) and Laura Osmetti (Silva Capital), who shared insights from their organisations’ work as Dhawura Ngilan pilot participants, including how they are applying the principles across governance, due diligence and engagement. Speakers acknowledged that implementation is an ongoing journey requiring learning and improvement.
Workshop: from principles to practice
On 28 May, the DNBII hosted an interactive workshop on embedding the Dhawura Ngilan principles into investment decision-making.
Co-facilitated by Anirudha Nagar (NNTC), Dr Terri Janke (Terri Janke and Company), Dean Parkin (Westpac), Moana Nottage (Alphinity Investment Management) and Justin Welfare (QIC), the workshop brought together investors, fund managers and practitioners, including some engaging with the Initiative for the first time.
Using a practical case study exercise, participants applied the Dhawura Ngilan guidance to assess whether the principles were being met and considered how they would respond as investors where gaps emerged.
