Australia's Agricultural Identity: An Aboriginal Yarn

Yarning across history and into the future, this session will explore a new approach to Indigenous culture and farming, combining ancient knowledge and practices with new technology and insights. It builds upon our joint history and dreams of what incorporating Indigenous history and story provides for agriculture at large. While part of this is to build the opportunity of the Indigenous Estate (over 60% of Australia's landmass) to see Indigenous people selling cattle at top prices, and golden fleece to make thousand-dollar suits, the other part is to develop a truly Australian agricultural narrative. One that acknowledges and respects Indigenous insights and the common story that brings together ideas now for the future.

1. Appreciating the role of Indigenous agriculture in modern Australia
2. Understanding a contemporary definition of Indigenous agriculture
3. How 'Brand Australia' can be expanded to include the Indigenous narrative

About Joshua

Joshua is a Worimi man, whose family ancestors are recorded as having the first recorded birth in a cave in the Gloucester mountains. His connection to the Worimi nation stems through both his parents, tracing back to the Bugg family. He is a socially and commercially focused, Aboriginal man with extensive experience across Indigenous affairs, the environmental sector and sustainable agriculture. Josh works across government, corporate and social organisational levels to develop and lead change through sharing the narration of Indigenous identity through agricultural and environmental truth-telling in light of modern contexts. Josh is a deep, strategic thinker and manages business change effectively through empathy. He is passionate about creating change through effective investment and societal understanding. He is the current Indigenous Co-Chair of Reconciliation NSW and on the Boards of Indigenous Business Australia, the Aboriginal Housing Office, KU Children’s Services and the Australian Conservation Foundation.