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PowerMakers 2023

Our inaugural delivery of PowerMakers took place between 23-27 October 2023 in Cairns, Queensland.

Following a competitive process, 32 First Nations participants (see below) from communities across Australia were selected for PowerMakers from over 100 applicants.

Participants spent five days in an immersive experience learning about clean energy, community energy planning, advanced energy systems, project ownership and negotiation, and business management.

Find below short films from PowerMakers on why they joined the program, their photos and testimonials, and an overview of the PowerMakers program.

PowerMakers 2023

Scotty McDimy - Yanyuwa/Garrawa
Scotty McDimy
Yanyuwa/Garrawa
          
Lolin Motto - Darumbal/Juru
Lolin Motto
Darumbal/Juru
Donna-Lea Krause - Kabi Kabi/Butchulla
Donna-Lea Krause
Kabi Kabi/Butchulla
Charles Prouse - Nyikina/Bardi
Charles Prouse
Nyikina/Bardi
Mareshah Bowie - Jirrbal
Mareshah Bowie
Jirrbal
Levi Lovett - Gunditj Mara
Levi Lovett
Gunditj Mara
Rikka Lamb - Yuwaaliyaay
Rikka Lamb
Yuwaaliyaay
Nathan Douglas - Eastern Arrernte
Nathan Douglas
Eastern Arrernte
Tegan Miller - Wiradjuri
Tegan Miller
Wiradjuri
Keicha Day Gunditjmara/Yorta Yorta
Keicha Day Gunditjmara/Yorta Yorta
Russell Bruce - Ngullingah Jugun
Russell Bruce
Ngullingah Jugun
Cameron Donald Smith - Bujiebara
Cameron Donald Smith
Bujiebara
Vanessa Mene - Kulkalgal
Vanessa Mene
Kulkalgal
Aaron Matthews - Ngarinyin/Gurindji
Aaron Matthews
Ngarinyin/Gurindji
Matthew Cavanagh - Arrernte
Matthew Cavanagh
Arrernte
Rebecca Halliday - Birpai
Rebecca Halliday
Birpai
Neil Purcell - Wajarri/Nanda
Neil Purcell
Wajarri/Nanda
Kaneya Poudal - Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi
Kaneya Poudal
Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi
Allison Hoolihan - Gugu Bahun
Allison Hoolihan
Gugu Bahun
Leon Filewood - Ugar Umle, Moalgal, Kuku Yalanji, Koko Mini, Girramay
Leon Filewood
Ugar Umle, Moalgal, Kuku Yalanji, Koko Mini, Girramay
Nadine Brown - Wajarri/Nunda
Nadine Brown
Wajarri/Nunda
Desmond Mongoo - Yamatji Nanda/Wajarri Yamaji
Desmond Mongoo
Yamatji Nanda/Wajarri Yamaji
Leslie Schultz - Ngadju
Leslie Schultz
Ngadju
Eddie Newchurch - Narungga
Eddie Newchurch
Narungga
Antonia Burke - Yanyuwa/Garrwa
Antonia Burke
Yanyuwa/Garrwa
Jason Field - Walbunja/Yuin, Bidjigal/Dharawal
Jason Field
Walbunja/Yuin, Bidjigal/Dharawal
Kerry Colbung - Kokatha Mirning
Kerry Colbung
Kokatha Mirning
Douglas Milera - Narungga
Douglas Milera
Narungga
Shirley McPherson - Yamatji/Widdi
Shirley McPherson
Yamatji/Widdi
Lawford Benning - Mirriwoong
Lawford Benning
Mirriwoong
Gerald Bowie - Black pearl
Gerald Bowie
Black pearl

Why I joined PowerMakers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Testimonials

This is some of what our PowerMakers had to say about the program:

PowerMakers is really powering our mob to drive change and self-determination – and key to that is policy change.

Magic is happening. It's just great to be in a room with brilliant minds carving out ideas for our First Nations mob to harness our land and to learn better ways to access power from the sun and wind that travels across our country reminding us of our connection to this ancient landscape. Thanks you to the team who are punching way about their weight on the topic of Indigenous involvement in renewable energy.

I had an incredible week soaking up all the information. When you get a group of Indigenous people in the room, you come out with Black Magic. This is a very complex journey – we must reach out and share it.

In the aftermath of the referendum, I am even more grateful to be a part of the First Nations Clean Energy Network’s inaugural PowerMakers Program because renewable clean energy projects, if done ‘proper way’, will see Traditional communities as equity partners (not stakeholders), will promote self determination, create local sustainable economic opportunities AND in turn, help close the gap. Saying I’m very excited, proud and pumped to be here is an understatement!

I felt the need to send you guys a note of appreciation and great respect for the opportunity to be part of this project. Your ability to create such a wonderful friendly cultural learning environment is a testament of your strengths. Thank you.

A wonderful lived experience! Learning so much. PowerMakers is one of the best events I’ve been to for a long time.

Proud to be considered as a PowerMaker amongst these deadly brothers and sisters!

I had a deadly week. The knowledge sharing was really powerful. A key takeout? Don’t accept beads in negotiation.

You learn from people in their journeys. It was a privilege and honour to hear some of your stories.

The best thing for me from this week is learning we’re powerful as one. I don’t have to ask anyone for my sovereignty. Our journey in clean energy is exercising our sovereignty.

Enabling change means having the right people in the room. My key learning from PowerMakers was about community engagement and bringing community along. We can set the foundation for the next ones coming through.

Ridiculously inspired! That sums up the week. I can’t wait to keep working together.

I had an unbelievable week. Everyone is motivated to the right cause. We need partnerships and ownerships to start our own power – this is the way to go. I never thought I’d learn any of this stuff. I don’t think I’ve ever learnt so much in a week.

I wanted to get negotiation skills out of this. I got it.

I’m sure we’re going to take back to our communities what we’ve learnt here.

 


Program Overview

PowerMakers is a 5-day immersive experience dedicated to providing practical and applied learning in renewable energy, including project ownership and negotiation, community energy planning, business management, and advanced energy systems.

Our goal is to equip First Nations participants with the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to spearhead clean energy initiatives and make a positive impact both within their communities while also taking First Nations leadership of the clean energy transition in Australia to the next level. 

During this program, participants have the opportunity to engage with industry experts, passionate mentors, and like-minded peers. The curriculum combines theory with real-world applications, enabling participants to become leaders in the clean energy transition and progress clean energy projects successfully. 

Over the five days, we explore community energy landscapes, delve into energy engagement, planning, and the practical steps to bring renewable energy projects to life.

Participants also learn about maximising benefits for community, building strong partnerships, mastering negotiation tools, and mapping out project financing with equity in mind. We also dive into effective lobbying techniques that can make a real impact.

The PowerMakers program provides an opportunity to unite as First Nations people, to combat climate change.

Our ancestral ties to the land and deep understanding of its balance make us acutely aware of the threats posed by climate change.

Embracing renewable energy is crucial to preserving our culture, heritage, and environment.

By harnessing sustainable energy sources, we can honour our traditions and ensure a resilient future for generations to come.

PowerMakers provides First Nations participants with:

 


Background

We delivered our inaugural PowerMakers program in 2023 in collaboration with our Canadian kin, Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE).

Similar to the First Nations Clean Energy Network, Canada’s Indigenous Clean Energy is a network of Indigenous leaders, clean energy experts, partners, and a dedicated team coming together to drive clean energy solutions for people and communities.

Canada’s Indigenous communities began seeking clean energy sovereignty and the development of community-led projects over 20 years ago. The vast potential of Indigenous participation in clean energy projects began to be acknowledged by government and organisations, utilities, and renewable energy companies alike.

Since then, First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities of Turtle Island (also what is known as Canada) have built on their rights and sovereignty to become some of the most powerful clean energy change agents in the country. They have developed, and own or co-own, hundreds of major renewable energy projects, and thousands of smaller, community based installations.

As the national platform for this First Peoples leadership, ICE has been sharing the clean energy experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Part of this experience includes ICE’s intensive Indigenous clean energy capacity-building program, 20/20 Catalyst, which ICE has delivered over the past eight years and which has produced over 140 clean energy leaders.

In the last decade alone, this First Nations leadership in Canada has fostered 200 medium to large renewable energy projects which have helped to generate $1.5 billion in Indigenous business and employment contracts.

Our Relationship

Though we dwell on different continents, our homes in northern and southern ecosystems, we, the First Nations Clean Energy Network and Indigenous Clean Energy have forged a bond.

A union to walk together on a journey to strengthen our collective capacity to catalyse Indigenous clean energy opportunities that embody and advance a Just Transition that is: respectful of the rights of Original Peoples; economically inclusive for a fairer society; and which accelerates clean energy projects that help address climate change.