Building upon local knowledge, exploring Aboriginal economic development in remote Australia

1. Building upon local knowledge, exploring Aboriginal economic development in remote Australia Mark Ashley General Manager Commercial Development Ninti One Ltd We acknowledge the Larrakia people as the traditional owners of this land where we meet today.

2. Created in 2003: Conduct financial transactions and manage IP for DKCRC partners Independent organisation required to sign Commonwealth agreement for CRC-REP Ninti One constitution changed in 2010 to: Allow for broader context of work Contract for Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation (CRC-REP) Enable change of board size and selection procedure Ninti One origins and purpose

3. Ninti One objectives A not-for-profit organisation established to • address social and economic disadvantage of people in remote regions of Australia • find solutions to economic exclusion • increase economic participation of peoples • improve understanding of Australia’s remote regions • increase the skills and capacity of people • enhance and protect the natural environment • understand the impact of climate change on environment and people

4. Business Development 20 projects involving IP management and commercialisation Tenders and consultancies Business Innovation Research and research training CRC for Remote Economic Participation x 20 Essential Partner organisations x 34 Project Partner organisations 2010-2017 20 Projects across: Australian Feral Camel Management Project Australian Collaborative Rangeland Information System 4 Community Service Evaluations Business Surveys Contract Surveys 4 Commercialisation projects Business Realisation Contracts management Communications Program Financial and Audit Human Resource Management IT management Monitoring and Evaluation Shareholder in RemoteBiz P/L Shareholder in Precision Pastoral P/L Ninti One Business structures and relationships Ninti One Ltd Board of Directors (x10) Author: CDJ – v2, 30Oct 10

5. CRC-REP Partners

6. Ninti One and CRC-REP Partner network

7. Enterprise development opportunitiesAboriginal Art industries • Opportunities • Improvements in IT based marketing, virtual interactive galleries • Improved supply chain processes with whole of industry scalability • Better positioning of high end “fine art” • IP Protection and licencing of “Electronic Designs”. • Background • No data on size of Aboriginal art industry, estimates range from $50m - $500m • Potential to grow substantially and benefit artists and communities • Parallel with Australian Wine industry 15 years ago.

8. Enterprise development opportunitiesNative Plant Products • Opportunities • Plant selection and/or breeding offers potential to improve yields and “seasonality” of production • Promote greater participation in the value chain by Aboriginal people • Develop appropriate models for the commercialisation of bush food plants • Compound identification & development of low-cost diagnostic tests for better ongoing quality assurance for producers of bush tomatoes • Background • Mostly small scale production around “localised” species • Supply chains not well developed and reliant upon limited market opportunities • Diversity of production species is often limited • Often seasonal supply limits capacity for growth through inconsistent supply

9. Enterprise development opportunitiesAboriginal benefit from mining • Opportunities • Work with communities to define what is “community benefit” and how it can be translated into enduring value • Planning for structures and organisations that function after mine decommissioning • Case studies on how communities manage risk and become more resilient • Background • Aboriginal approval rights associated with mining enshrined in the NT Land Rights Act • Traditionally Aboriginal benefit derived through employment, subcontracting, and creation of Aboriginal Benefit Trusts.

10. Enterprise development opportunitiesCultural based tourism • Opportunities • Cultural visits provide significant value add opportunities – what will premium will tourists pay? • Further quantification of demand will provide a stronger framework for tourism enterprise development planning. • Cultural tourism is not place based – cultural tourism is relocatable = taking culture to the overseas market may offset • Background • Aboriginal tourism is often based upon unique landscapes or country • Cultural experience is often citied as a key “product” by tourists, both domestic and international. • Demand centred tourism enterprises are often hard to plan for. • Current global economic downturn may affect tourism market.

11. Enterprise development opportunitiesCarbon economy • Background • Carbon has an increasing value globally • Both regulatory and voluntary market. • Expected carbon will be worth $25t in 2012, $40 - $74t in 2025, (AEMO 2011) • Significant tradeable commodity for much of Aboriginal land across Australia that is not suitable for traditional agricultural enterprises. • Opportunities • Managing feral herbivores • Managing vegetation - desert as well as the current endeavours in tropical savannas • Crop / plant production in areas cleared prior to 1991 • Transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energies for remote community power supplies.

12. New enterprise and employment opportunities • Competitive advantage based around location and local knowledge • Knowledge can lead to better information – which can translate into more efficient services, or more appropriate infrastructure • Increasingly service and support agencies are looking at how to engage Aboriginal people, but often do know how, do not have relationships with communities, nor have the staff capacity or resources to do it in a meaningful way……… • This gap leaves a knowledge niche for local Aboriginal people – it’s an emerging enterprise and employment opportunity that should be taken advantage of before it is lost to Aboriginal communities

13. New enterprise and employment opportunities – RemoteBiz • RemoteBiz is an emerging network of Aboriginal community researchers. • Ninti One employs Aboriginal researchers and provides training, research and administrative support. • Ensure Aboriginal people are employed equitably in research process as researchers and not just participants • Currently 30 Aboriginal researchers across five communities (RSD and ROC communities) • Outcomes include employment, identifying enterprise opportunities, and stronger engagement in regional governance processes Initially supported by NOL and Fachsia but growing commercial partnerships • Potential formal career path - Aboriginal owned consultancy enterprises at larger Aboriginal communities through partnerships

14. New knowledge based enterprise and employment opportunities – some examples • Facilitation in infrastructure development consultation, design, and approval. Think health service buildings, community planning, telecommunications infrastructure, transport infrastructure planning and maintenance – or just about anything that needs to built within the community government lease areas. • Requires a formal process of engagement to enable it to be rolled out by Aboriginal community members • Requires governance and business planning support, similar to “mainstream” business services.

15. In summary........ There are significant opportunities to develops small specialist Aboriginal knowledge enterprises that either build upon Traditional knowledge or use expert local knowledge as a competitive advantage. It not about we can’t do this because……..its about we should try this because……….

16. Check us out at www.nintione.com.au