Adopt ‘real’ partnerships, mining sector told

Compliance-driven “engagement” with First Nations communities in the mining sector needs to adopt a co-ownership plan with shared risk and long-term partnership a conference in Sydney has been told.

Indigenous Business Australia chairman Darren Godwell told the International Mining and Resources Conference that while engagement was good and had been the standard for community relations, partnerships need to mature into something more, with a model adopted similar to what is already common in the USA, Canada and Chile.

“The real opportunity over the next 20 or 30 years is where we see Indigenous peoples move into the role of co-investors—taking on some of the risk with developers, joining capital raisings and taking equity positions,” Mr Godwell said.

Indigenous Business Australia chairman Darren Godwell

Proactiveinvestors.com.au reported several speakers at the conference calling for more ‘genuine’ partnerships.

Derek Flucker, chairman of Aboriginal Enterprises in Mining, Energy & Exploration, said Australia remained well behind other countries.

“We’re still taking a ‘crumbs’ approach, handing out little bits here and there. We have a lot of catching up to do,” he said.

And Mr Godwell warned that treating Indigenous communities as a box-ticking exercise “invites disruption and delay”.

He added that shifting towards models where trust, shared decision-making and tangible long-term benefits defined success.

“We are going to see Indigenous people involved earlier—often at design—and more often as co-owners or co-investors,” he told the conference.

“Other jurisdictions are a long way in front of Australia in adopting common standards built around free, prior and informed consent. Operators who adopt this standard see it as a way to de-risk by bringing traditional owners in early—we’re seeing that in Canada, Alaska and Chile.”

The panel, Beyond Engagement: Global Best Practices in Building Trust and Providing Shared Prosperity, was chaired by Rebecca Blurton, Managing Director of First Nations Affairs, who said leading mining companies were aligning governance procedures.

“They are embedding shared decision-making and treating Indigenous leadership as critical infrastructure. This meets regulatory expectations, strengthens institutions and delivers sustainable outcomes for communities and investors,” Ms Blurton said.

“The conversation has moved well beyond ticking the engagement box—true partnership is built through co-governance, clear decision-making and respect for Indigenous definitions of success.”