North Queensland Bulk Ports, NRL Cowboys celebrate National Reconciliation Week in Bowen
One of North Queensland’s largest employers has hosted an event in Bowen to share its commitment to working with traditional landowners.
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A National Reconciliation Week celebration at Bowen has showcased inspiring examples of collaboration between North Queensland’s traditional landowners and business leaders.
An ongoing partnership between North Queensland Bulk Ports and Juru Enterprises Limited was the focus of the ‘Reconciliation in Action’ event, with the CEOs of both organisations sharing details of progress achieved to date, and how they planned to build on this into the future for the benefit of everyone involved.
NQBP CEO Nicolas Fertin highlighted improvements in the company’s rate of employment of Indigenous Australians, spending with Indigenous-owned businesses, and ongoing land management and conservation projects designed around both environmental and cultural heritage protection.
He encouraged more businesses to adopt Reconciliation Action Plans, as Ports did in 2020, to drive “impactful actions”.
“I’ve learned more about Australia in the past two years [since adopting the plan] than I have in my 25 years living here,” Mr Fertin said.
“We’re working on the land and seas of traditional owners, so it’s all about increasing knowledge and understanding, and identifying direct and indirect opportunities to work with Indigenous people.
Here are some photos from the night>>>>
“We’ve made good efforts we want to celebrate but we plan to do even more,” he said.
Ricky Dallachy of Juru Enterprises described NQBP as a “leading light” in the reconciliation space, and well deserving of their nomination in the Premier’s 2021 Queensland Reconciliation Awards.
“I’ve seen first hand the work they do in helping Indigenous organisations develop as a business and move forward – they’re definitely doing the right things,” Mr Dallachy said.
Coinciding with the North Queensland Cowboys’ annual ‘Blitz’ of Bowen schools, the event also featured appearances from NRL stars Matthew Bowen and Reuben Cotter, and the presentation of a signed Cowboys jersey to Bowen State School to help raise funds for its Yarning Circle project.
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