The full program for The Next Era is here
In August we shared the program snapshot for The Next Era. The full program is now live for 2026, download the full conference program here.
Day 1: Wednesday 4 November
Opening Keynote: Country as Foundation
Albert Wiggan
Albert Wiggan opens the conference with a blend of performance and story. He grew up on a remote island on the Dampier Peninsula and built a ranger program from scratch, and his path since has taken him from touring the world with John Butler to acting, hosting television and founding the Albert Wiggan Institute. His keynote sets the relationship between Indigenous people, Country and the ecosystem as the foundation for both days.
Session 1: Local Kimberley Context in Resources
The Kimberley Project Pipeline: $5.4 Billion on Country, presented by Broome Chamber of Commerce
Session 2: Rights, Compensation and Commercial Opportunity
From Compensation to Commercial Opportunity, hosted by the National Native Title Council, with Jamie Lowe (CEO, NNTC) and Michael Woodley (CEO, Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation)
Session 3: Innovation, Tech and Policy
Innovation Tech with Rex Evans and Bazil Roberts (Guardian Infrastructure) and Mikaela Jade (Indigital), and a policy breakout on the BlakPrint Report facilitated by NTIBN
Session 4: The Capability, We Are Ready
Indigenous business stories from Marlon Cooke (TIAD) and Amanda Healy (Altura), a fireside chat with Mika McLennon (MDM Mining and Civil) and AEMEE CEO Jyi Lawton, and a small business panel led by Morrgul
Session 5: Next Gen, The Leaders Coming Through
Emerging Indigenous leaders in a panel facilitated by Adele Peek
Session 6: Indigenous Women Leading in Resources
Women at the Front, facilitated by Naomi Anstess (CEO, NTIBN) with Tania Stevens (Eastern Guruma), Adele Peek (Cultural Intelligence Project), Mikaela Jade (Indigital) and Desarai Shibosado (Djarindjin), sponsored by Australian Energy Producers
Day 1 Closing Keynote: Coming Home
Cara Peek
Cara Peek is a Yawuru woman, lawyer, entrepreneur and founder of Saltwater Country. Her story runs from corporate law to the courage to walk away, return to Country and build something entirely on her own terms. She closes Day 1 in Rubibi, on her own Yawuru Country, speaking to identity, ownership and what it means to build a life and a business grounded in place.
Evening: Saltwater Cowboy Networking Night
Mangrove Hotel, from 6:30pm
Day 2: Thursday 5 November
Keynote: The Barra King
Sam 'Birchy' Birch (Birchy's Fishing Tours)
Sam 'Birchy' Birch is a Traditional Owner of Balanggarra Country in the East Kimberley and the founder of Birchy's Fishing Tours, and many know him as the Barra King. He speaks openly about the hard road that eventually led him home to Country and purpose, and he now supports others through his work with men's groups. His keynote opens Day 2 by taking delegates past the usual business conversations and into how we respond to adversity, and how Country and culture can help us find our way forward.
Session 7: The Pressure, Forces We Cannot Ignore
Crisis, Fuel and More, facilitated by James Curran (MOEC Group) with Nathan Duruea (Kuranya Fuel) and Simon Bini (WRL Shipping), and an HR and Workforce breakout with AEMEE's Derek Flucker and Dwayne Good
Session 8: The Architecture of Wealth
Ownership with Purpose with Nathan McIvor (Djarindjin), Building the Model with Darren Godwell (Chairperson, IBA) and Jyi Lawton, and Setting the Standard, facilitated by Darren Godwell, supported by Indigenous Business Australia
Session 9: Partnerships, Told by Both Sides
How engagement becomes partnership, including From the Outstation to the Big Stage with Garry Jaffry and Greg Hutchinson (KCU JV)
Session 10: Mine Closure and Critical Minerals
Mine Closure with Gelganyem Group and CRC TiME, and Critical Minerals sponsored by Tivan
Conference Closing Keynote
Neville Poelina
Neville Poelina is a Niijiama and Nyikina man from the Kimberley. He has worked as a pearl diver and an actor, was the founding Chairperson of WAITOC and co-founded the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance. Along the way he has negotiated deals on the Silk Road in Kazakhstan and built a business model rooted in cultural integrity through Uptuyu. His closing keynote is a story of what genuine ownership looks like when it is lived every day.
