đď¸ First Nations Affairs Podcast â Where First Nations Leadership Meets Climate, Finance & ESG
The First Nations Affairs Podcast is your go-to space for deep insights at the intersection of First Nations governance, climate action, finance, and ESG. Hosted by Bec Blurton, this podcast challenges the status quo, driving conversations that move beyond tokenism into real, strategic transformation.
From sustainability frameworks to corporate accountability, we unpack how business, investment, and policy can embed First Nations leadershipânot as an afterthought, but as a fundamental pillar of success. Whether youâre in ESG, impact investing, or sustainability, this is the space to explore what true First Nations economic participation looks like.
Embedding Authority: Outcomes, Accountability, and the Path Forward
đď¸ Episode 3 | Embedding Authority: Outcomes, Accountability, and the Path Forward Podcast Series: Reframing Reef Governance: Traditional Owner Leadership in Practice Episode Description: In the final episode of the series, Bec Blurton and Gugu-Badhun man Ben Gertz turn to outcomes â what six years of genuine co-design produced, where the process fell short, and what long-term accountability requires once a program of this kind concludes. Over the life of the Reef Trust Partnership, $35 milli...
19 Apr 2026
Historical Settings and the Limits of Consultation
đď¸ Episode 1 | Historical Settings and the Limits of Consultation Podcast Series: Reframing Reef Governance: Traditional Owner Leadership in Practice Episode Description: In this opening episode, Bec Blurton sits down with Gugu-Badhun man and Deputy Chair of the Healthy Water Traditional Owner Technical Working Group, Ben Gertz, to examine the historical landscape of Traditional Owner engagement in reef conservation â and the structural conditions that made reform necessary. A desktop review ...
19 Apr 2026
Operationalising Co-Design Across Institutions
đď¸ Episode 2 | Operationalising Co-Design Across Institutions Podcast Series: Reframing Reef Governance: Traditional Owner Leadership in Practice Episode Description: In this second episode, Bec Blurton continues her conversation with Gugu-Badhun man and Deputy Chair of the Healthy Water Traditional Owner Technical Working Group, Ben Gertz, moving from historical context to the practical realities of what genuine co-design required to function. The Healthy Water Committee began its work in 20...
31 Jul 2025
Tools For Change
đď¸ Episode 3 Tools for Change Podcast Series: Accountable to Country: Rethinking Corporate Law Through a First Nations Lens Episode Description: In the final episode of the series, Tyson McEwan turns to the legal tools already available, and those yet to be built, to hold corporations accountable to their reconciliation commitments and responsibilities on Country. From shareholder activism to disclosure obligations, we explore how corporate law can be strategically leveraged to bridge the g...
29 Jul 2025
When Commitments Donât Deliver
đď¸ Episode 2 When Commitments Donât Deliver Podcast Series: Accountable to Country: Rethinking Corporate Law Through a First Nations Lens Episode Description: RAPs have become the go-to model for corporate reconciliation, but what happens when commitments donât deliver? In this episode, we examine the structural weaknesses of Reconciliation Action Plans, focusing on the voluntary nature of their commitments and the lack of enforcement that leaves First Nations businesses exposed. We ex...
27 Jul 2025
Walking in Two Worlds
đď¸ Episode 1 Walking in Two Worlds Podcast Series: Accountable to Country: Rethinking Corporate Law Through a First Nations Lens Episode Description: In this episode, Tyson McEwan explores what it means to walk in two worlds and how this lived experience informs a First Nations perspective on corporate law, governance, and accountability. Drawing on his recent article published in the Australian Journal of Corporate Law, Tyson reflects on the role of cultural protocol in business, the ...
19 May 2025
What Happens When You Put Culture Inside the Economy
đď¸ Episode 3 Title: What Happens When You Put Culture Inside the Economy Podcast Series: First Nations Economics Episode Description: In this third episode, Gija man and First Nations economist Ben Ainsworth explores what shifts when First Nations cultural values arenât just acknowledged, theyâre embedded directly into economic decision-making. Ben breaks down how Western models of productivity and value creation often miss the mark when applied to Indigenous business. He explains how cultu...
19 May 2025
Two Economies, Two Value Systems
đď¸ Episode 2 Title: Two Economies, Two Value Systems Podcast Series: First Nations Economics Episode Description: In Part 2 of the First Nations Economics series, Ben Ainsworth explores what happens when we stop asking First Nations businesses to conform to Western models and start valuing Indigenous economic systems on their own terms. This episode unpacks why âeconomic participationâ doesnât always mean joining the mainstream. Instead, Ben dives into the core differences between First Nat...
19 May 2025
Rethinking the System: What Real Government Support Looks Like
đď¸ Episode 4 Title: Rethinking the System: What Real Government Support Looks Like Podcast Series: First Nations Economics Episode Description: In the final episode of the series, Ben Ainsworth outlines what real support for First Nations economic development should look like and why the current approach continues to fall short. From shareholder resolutions to Indigenous data sovereignty, Ben maps out the structural mechanisms that could hold corporations and governments accountable to thei...
18 May 2025
Why Social Programs Alone Wonât Close the Gap
đď¸ Episode 1 Title: Why Social Programs Alone Wonât Close the Gap Podcast Series: First Nations Economics Episode Description: In this opening episode, Gija man and First Nations economist Ben Ainsworth reframes inequality through an economic lens. For too long, First Nations issues have been treated solely as social challenges but economic exclusion and structural barriers have played a central role in the persistent gap. Ben introduces a foundational model to guide this series: the relati...
12 Mar 2025
Why Is Indigenous Affairs the Only Billion-Dollar Industry Without Accountability?
Indigenous affairs is a billion-dollar sector in Australiaâyet it remains one of the few industries without clear governance, financial oversight, or regulatory accountability. Unlike finance, healthcare, or environmental compliance, there are no mandated reporting standards to track outcomes, no independent oversight bodies to ensure funding effectiveness, and no structural mechanisms to enforce transparency. In this episode of the First Nations Affairs Podcast, Bec Blurton explores: đ Why ...
2 Mar 2025
Who Controls the Capital? First Nations & the Future of Wealth
Wealth isnât just about moneyâitâs about power, control, and who makes the decisions. First Nations economic sovereignty isnât just about being included in the economyâitâs about leading it. In this episode, we unpack why GDP fails to measure real prosperity, how First Nations-led investment strategies are reshaping financial systems, and the critical gaps in so-called âprogress,â like the Noongar Boodja Trust. We explore the challenges of external control over Indigenous wealth, the need for...
24 Feb 2025
Governance for Decision Making: The Backbone of Long-Term Value
Strong governance is more than a compliance exerciseâitâs the foundation for ethical decision-making, risk management, and lasting impact. In this episode, we unpack what separates good governance from bad, why poor decision-making leads to self-imposed barriers, and how strong governance can unlock opportunities. We discuss high-profile governance failures, the importance of informed, inclusive frameworks, and why First Nations governance must be more than an afterthought. The First Nations ...
11 Feb 2025
Why Existing ESG & Indigenous Engagement Frameworks Arenât Working
Part two of three. Many organisations have Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs), Indigenous Procurement Policies (IPP), or sustainability initiativesâyet these frameworks arenât delivering meaningful First Nations economic participation. In this episode, we break down where existing approaches fall short, why corporate Australia must move beyond performative commitments, and introduce you to the First Nations Strategic Alignment Framework. đ§ What youâll learn: â Why RAPs often fail to drive lon...
11 Feb 2025
The Missing Piece in ESG â Why First Nations Economic Participation Matters
Part one of a three part series. The ESG space is growing, but First Nations economic participation remains an afterthought. In this episode, we explore why First Nations governance and economic leadership must be embedded into ESG strategies, the gaps in existing frameworks, and why industry transformationânot just government policyâis needed. đ§ What youâll learn: â Why First Nations governance is missing from ESG strategies â The limitations of RAPs, Indigenous Procurement Policies (I...
11 Feb 2025
Beyond Policy: How Business Can Lead First Nations Economic Transformation
Part three of three The future of First Nations economic inclusion doesnât sit in government policyâit sits with business, investors, and ESG leaders. In this episode, we unpack the opportunities for companies that take the lead, the investment risks of inaction, and why the First Nations Strategic Alignment Framework is positioned to drive industry-wide change. đ§ What youâll learn: â How First Nations economic participation reduces corporate risk and enhances ESG credibility â Why companies ...
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