Bureau Veritas, FACCI lead Perth reconciliation roundtable

Bureau Veritas Australia and the French-Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry launched a Perth executive roundtable on June 2 to advance practical reconciliation, with Melbourne and Brisbane events to follow.

The first of three executive roundtables in Boorloo (Perth) on June 2, drew senior leaders to focus on reconciliation, Aboriginal business engagement, procurement and employment outcomes.

The event was held at the Noongar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and aligned with National Reconciliation Week 2026’s theme, All In.

Key Points

Positioned as the first in a national C‑Suite series to be delivered across Australia —the Perth roundtable gathered senior business leaders, Aboriginal organisations and industry stakeholders to explore practical approaches to reconciliation. Organisers described the format as a confidential forum for executive-level dialogue and peer learning, designed to strengthen relationships and surface opportunities for meaningful collaboration.

The event, delivered in partnership by Bureau Veritas and FACCI, centred on the theme “All In for Reconciliation – Achievements and Lessons Learnt.” With that framing, participants examined how organisations can move beyond public commitments and embed reconciliation into everyday business practice. The roundtable offered a structured space for leaders to compare experiences, discuss measurable progress and identify continuous improvement opportunities in governance, employment, procurement and broader business partnerships with First Nations communities.

According to organisers, the Perth session emphasised the importance of respectful engagement with Traditional Owners. Discussion reinforced the value of long-term, trust-based relationships that support economic participation, employment pathways and sustainable business growth. The approach was designed to connect strategic intentions with operational practice, and to link relationship-building with tangible outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Focus areas and participating organisations

Facilitated by FACCI and sponsored by Bureau Veritas, the Perth roundtable focused on a set of core discussion topics that bridged strategy and implementation:

• Lessons learned through RAP implementation and reconciliation initiatives
• Moving from intent to impact by embedding reconciliation into core business operations
• Building genuine governance, procurement, employment and business partnerships with First Nations communities
• Strengthening relationships between corporate Australia and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Participants shared their Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) journeys, outlining successes, challenges, and lessons learned. Leaders compared what has worked within their organisations, where barriers have emerged, and how governance mechanisms can be strengthened to maintain momentum. The discussion encouraged practical steps—such as integrating reconciliation objectives into operational plans and aligning procurement with Aboriginal business engagement—to ensure initiatives translate into sustained outcomes.

Participants and setting

Attendees included representatives from the Noongar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Technip Energies, OEM Group, Sixense, Benang, Kooya Fleet and other industry leaders committed to advancing reconciliation outcomes.

Hosting the event at the Noongar Chamber of Commerce and Industry underscored the importance of working in partnership with Aboriginal organisations and grounding business conversations in local context.

Workplace initiatives

As part of National Reconciliation Week, Bureau Veritas also hosted its internal panel discussion, “All In: Building Culturally Safe, Empowering Workplaces for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.” Aboriginal employees shared personal experiences and insights on creating workplaces where First Nations peoples feel culturally safe, respected and empowered to succeed. The internal forum highlighted lived experience and underscored how culturally safe practices can be supported by leadership, policy and day-to-day behaviours.

Together with the roundtable, the internal panel reflected Bureau Veritas Australia’s commitment to delivering its Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan. The program’s pillars, as described by the company, are grounded in:

• Relationships
• Respect
• Opportunities
• Governance

Organisers linked these pillars to concrete organisational actions such as strengthening partnerships, supporting employment pathways, and embedding culturally informed decision-making across governance structures. The emphasis on innovation and continual learning placed equal weight on outcomes and the quality of relationships that make those outcomes possible.

Momentum and next steps

The Perth event marked the beginning of a three-part national series aimed at equipping executives with peer-tested practices and opening channels for collaboration. With subsequent roundtables scheduled in Melbourne and Brisbane, the Bureau Veritas–FACCI partnership seeks to maintain momentum by convening leaders who are prepared to share practical experiences and identify areas for joint action. The format is intended to normalise transparent, executive-level dialogue on reconciliation and to promote a culture of accountability.

The underlying message across the series is that reconciliation requires action, accountability and collaboration. In practice, that means ensuring every organisation, leader and individual plays a role in building stronger relationships and creating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The forthcoming Melbourne and Brisbane roundtables will extend the conversation and continue to build a national network of executives engaged in practical steps toward reconciliation.