A brave conversation

IBA’s CEO on Reconciliation Week: If you do nothing, then you’re accepting it. It’s all about being bold and taking action.

Reconciliation is everybody’s responsibility and Indigenous Business Australia’s CEO, Kirsty Moore, is calling for more to be done in efforts to achieve reconciliation and she knows that starts with her. ?

In this Q&A, Galambany Network* Co-Chair and proud Torres Strait Islander woman, Mishalia Birch, asks Kirsty about her cultural journey, how this impacts her decision making at IBA, and what reconciliation means to her.

*(IBA’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff network)

What does this year’s theme – ‘Be Brave. Make Change.’ – mean to you?

Kirsty: John F Kennedy once said, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing,’ and that really resonates with me when I think of this year’s theme.

You may be a good person, with good values but if you’re standing by and doing nothing then you’re accepting the standard.

It’s time to BE BRAVE. If you see something isn’t right, you need to say, ‘Stop. This isn’t right. Let’s do something.’ It’s all about being bold and taking action. ?

Mish: Exactly. I think now more than ever it’s being demonstrated that you don’t have be in a leadership position to do that either. We as individuals all have the power to speak up and actively create change.

This year’s Reconciliation Week artist, Tori-Jay Mordey, talks about how we can make change, but we can’t do it alone and she encourages people to start the conversation. How do you start a conversation about reconciliation?

Kirsty: I think conversations need to start at the top. It’s about demonstrating the importance of reconciliation and making your commitment clear. Which is something we’ve seen from Prime Minister Albanese already, that the commitment is there.

For me, it’s about creating the space for the conversations and getting the right people to the table. I’m not an expert but I believe we need to start with acknowledging the hard truth of the past before we can move forward. Then it’s about having clear actions to take away from these conversations. It’s one thing to talk and to listen, but then what? It’s through demonstrated action that you can show that you’ve listened and that’s how I believe we can move forward.

Since joining IBA, what have some of your key cultural learnings been and how do they guide your decision making?

Kirsty: I knew very little when I started at IBA, and the more I learn, the more I realise I have to learn.

I think culturally, I could keep learning every day for the rest of my life and still there would be lessons to learn. So, that’s probably my main thing, is that I recognise that there is a whole lot to learn, and I’m committed to doing my best to learn as much as I possibly can.

I’m very privileged to have in my network several key external guides and Elders to teach me and tell me if I’m on the right track. I’m so grateful for that because it’s so valuable in my role. I also look to the Galambany Network. They play a massive role in guiding me, the broader executive, board and to the wider organisation.

One of my general lessons has been the importance of being respectful and the power of communication.?

There are certain protocols that you must follow and with that, there are vast differences across the country. While in some ways similar, it can be so different among different groups. This means in my decision-making, I know that I can’t have a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

It’s important to have that grassroots level ownership. Who are we to say we know what’s best for people? For successful decision making, consultation is key.

To finish us off, where’s your favourite place in Australia and why?

Kirsty: I did have a good think about this question. I thought about all the holiday destinations I’ve been to as well as the cities and beautiful regional and remote places I’ve been lucky enough to visit while working at IBA.

And my answer might seem a little bit boring… but it’s right here. At home with my family.

I live on beautiful Noongar country and as someone who grew up in the UK, it feels so special to be living somewhere with such stunning beaches and weather. It’s been so well looked after for tens of thousands of years by First Nations people, and it shows. It’s a privilege to able to live here.

Mish: I think that’s a great answer. Home is where you want to be. The WA coast is something that’s been on my visit list for a long time. Thank you, Kirsty, for your time, honesty and insight. May we all continue our learning and understanding of all First Nations cultures across the country.?