Presenting Leadership Victoria’s new Inclusion Cup
03/12/2024
On Wednesday, 12 March, Swanston Hall at Melbourne Town Hall was alive with discussion as Leadership Victoria hosted the return of the highly regarded Leadership Oration.
This year’s topic, “Can we live with the future?”, brought together the wisdom of Dr Paul Briggs AO, Elder of the Yorta Yorta Nation and Executive Chair of the Kaiela Institute, alongside his daughter, Belinda Briggs, an elected representative of the First People’s Assembly of Victoria, Co-Chair of Kaiela Arts, and Curator at the Shepparton Art Museum. Their intergenerational conversation, guided by Professor Christine Nixon AO, APM, Leadership Victoria Board Chair, explored leadership, legacy, and the responsibility we hold to the future.
Following a powerful Welcome to Country by Uncle Bill Nicholson, thought-provoking insights were shared by the speakers, reflecting on leadership as a lifelong responsibility and the enduring strength of cultural identity. Dr Briggs set the tone with his vision for a brighter tomorrow, reminding us, “As a community, we can't step back into the past, we have to have a vision of what the future looks like for our families and our kids and our grandkids and great grandkids.” His call to look forward inspired the room to imagine a collective future built on shared purpose.
During his address, Paul Briggs passionately emphasised the need for First Nations Peoples to reclaim a central role in shaping the future of Australian society, stating that in order to ensure sustainability, the First Nations communities must be build into the cyclical economy. He challenged the audience to think about the plan ahead, declaring, “We can’t live along the fringes. We’ve got to find our way in and make a contribution to regional priorities”.
Belinda Briggs added her unique perspective, emphasising that “leadership isn’t a title, it’s how people show up, share and look out for each other”. She reflected on how the heritage of her ancestors is a living resource, one that not only informs decisions today but also fuels the creative transformation necessary for community-led change stating, "Our life stories are not just against the backdrop of this country but centred on it. This is our way of being”.
The evening was a not just a space for listening and learning but also a clear call to action so that First Nations voices, rights, and self-determination play a key role in forming truly inclusive future. On what the future holds, the statement “Whatever it is, we must do it together. What role will you play?”, challenged each of us to commit to collective action, working towards a equitable, inclusive and sustainable society.
