After five and a half years serving as Chief Executive Officer of Reconciliation WA, and on the eve of my departure, I have been reflecting on what this work has taught me, not just as a leader, but as a person. These are the ten key reflections I would offer to all of those on the journey and to anyone who wants to contribute to reconciliation with courage, discipline and care.
Some of these reflections are strategic. Others are deeply human. All of them have stayed with me because I have seen, time and again, that reconciliation is built through relationships, humility, persistence and a willingness to keep learning.
1. Leadership must lead
One of the clearest lessons for me is that leadership really does matter. Reconciliation gains momentum when leaders are visible, continuously learning, and personally invested. I have seen the difference it makes when CEOs, executives and boards do more than endorse the work when they ask questions, show up, listen, educate themselves and take responsibility for progress. More importantly, leaders need to be brave. The greatest impact occurs when leaders stand alongside Aboriginal leaders, not in front of them, and when reconciliation becomes part of an organisation’s DNA rather than a side project.
2. Embed reconciliation into strategy and KPIs
I have also learnt that reconciliation cannot rely on goodwill alone. It needs structure, governance and accountability. When reconciliation deliverables are embedded into executive KPIs and strategic plans, they become visible, measurable and owned. A Reconciliation Action Plan does not gather dust by itself; like any plan, it requires diligence, oversight and accountability. When leaders know where each deliverable sits and who is responsible, reconciliation becomes a living practice rather than a document on a shelf.
3. Move from symbolism to systems change
I have come to appreciate that symbolism can be a powerful doorway into deeper understanding. Artwork, dual place / room naming, truth-telling, cultural visibility and public recognition can help people pause, ask questions and understand why reconciliation matters.
But symbolism is only the beginning and provides the foundations for something far more important. The work must move from symbolism into systems change, shared decision-making power, data transparency, self-determination and voice, Aboriginal leadership holding seats of influence. There are some excellent examples of community led change, we just need to learn from those cases and lean into this powerful work that is overdue.
4. Be anti-racist and monitor it
One of the harder but most important lessons is that it is no longer enough to be against racism in principle. We have to be actively anti-racist. That means calling racism out, reporting it, monitoring it and addressing it, in workplaces, community organisations, sporting clubs, families and around dining room tables. I have learnt that these conversations can be uncomfortable, but discomfort is not a reason to step away. If anything, it is often a sign that the
conversation matters.
5. Recognise the power of place-based reconciliation
Place-based reconciliation has been one of the most powerful parts of our work. Relationships happen in place, on country, in community, through local stories, histories, responsibilities and aspirations. The Great Southern place-based reconciliation journey has shown me what is possible when local government, Aboriginal organisations, community leaders and allies commit to deep listening, uncomfortable conversations, co-design, co-decision and in turn codelivery. It has reminded me that reconciliation is not abstract; it becomes real when people ask what is happening in their own backyard and what responsibility they are prepared to take and share. I believe it is the key to our future, and one Reconciliation WA is deeply focused upon.
6. What gets measured get done and changes lives.
I have learnt that what gets measured does tend to get done, but I have also learnt that data is only part of the story. Baseline data matters because it helps organisations understand where they are starting from, demonstrate progress, identify gaps and make better decisions. Reconciliation data should be visible to executives and boards and reviewed regularly. But the numbers need to sit alongside stories of change, lived experience and relationships, because those are often what help people understand the human impact of the work and changes both heads and hearts.
7. Think long term and act short range
This work has taught me to hold two timeframes at once. Many of the challenges reconciliation seeks to address are longstanding, structural and intergenerational. They cannot be solved through short political cycles or purely Western problem-solving models. We need to think beyond immediate timelines and consider the impact of today’s decisions on future generations. At the same time, long-term thinking cannot become an excuse for waiting or inaction. Progress must persist over perfection. Reconciliation requires practical, courageous steps now, guided by Aboriginal voices and co-designed with Aboriginal communities.
8. Use both formal and informal influence
I have learnt that influence is not only formal. Reconciliation happens through boards, strategies and partnerships, but it also happens through conversations, friendships, invitations and everyday choices. From a Western perspective, engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is often formalised, yet some of the most powerful learning I have experienced has happened informally: through a yarn, a cup of tea, a shared event or a moment of listening. Reconciliation moves at the speed of trust, and trust cannot be rushed. Invest in your relationships and ensure you have a yarn when you don’t have a request but use the time to nurture the relationship.
9. Prioritise truth-telling, education and truth-listening
One of the most profound lessons for me is that Aboriginal people have always told truth, through art, song, dance, story, language and cultural practice. The challenge has often been that non-Indigenous people, myself included, have not always listened deeply enough. I believe the next era must be one of truth-listening as much as truth-telling. That means accepting that there can be more than one version of truth, that different histories can sit alongside one another, and that education systems hold a powerful key to intergenerational understanding and unity. The state bicentenary in 2029 provides a unique opportunity to prioritise reconciliation and truth and prepare the next generation to walk in two rich worlds that link 65,000+200 years of stories and connection.
10. Practise reciprocity, respect and relationships
What I come back to, again and again, is that reconciliation is ultimately about unity, built through reciprocity, deep respect and long-term relationships. These principles do not always fit short project timelines, political cycles or organisational deadlines, but they are essential to meaningful change. Aboriginal knowledge systems offer wisdom that can benefit all of us if we are willing to listen, learn and act with humility. I remain deeply grateful for the generosity of Aboriginal people who continue to fight for unity and respect, even when the burden of that work has too often fallen unfairly on them. Whilst this reflection is weighted on organisational commitment, it comes down to the individual. The conversations that happen around the kitchen table, at sporting clubs, in classrooms, at book clubs, in the workplace, in community – showing up and contributing our component part to build unity.
Closing reflection
As I reflect on this chapter, and the giants that have led and are leading the Reconciliation movement, I know there is much work still to do and much history still to understand. But I also carry a deep sense of gratitude for the people, communities and leaders who have shaped this journey. There has been good work done, and more focused work is crucial. But the statistics are stubborn and we must collectively take ownership of creating the fertile ground to change those. We can and we must be better.
If we keep returning to leadership, Aboriginal voice, systems change, anti-racism, place-based solutions, inter-generational thinking, truth-listening, reciprocity, respect and relationships, reconciliation will be stronger, not only for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but for all of us – and we will be a culturally richer and a more equitable Western Australia and nation as a result.
Thank you for the honour of being amongst equals in the reconciliation movement in Western Australia. I commit as an ally to the future to drive change until the doors of Reconciliation WA can be closed.
