🎙️ 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 gap between promises and practice. We discuss the parallels between RAPs and other non-financial reporting regimes like climate and modern slavery, and outlines a future where RAP compliance is no longer optional, but expected.

This conversation invites listeners to imagine a legal and governance environment where First Nations rights and perspectives are structurally embedded into how companies operate.

📍 A First Nations Affairs × Tyson McEwan collaboration
 Based on: Holding Corporations to Account for their Supplier Diversity Commitments in Reconciliation Action Plans — Australian Journal of Corporate Law (2025) 

#CorporateLaw #FirstNationsGovernance #RAPAccountability #Disclosure #ShareholderActivism #ProtectCountry #FirstNationsAffairs

www.firstnationsaffairs.com

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🎙️ Episode 2 When Commitments Don’t 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 don’t 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 explore how supplier diversity can be a vehicle for economic justice and unpack the risks of relying on goodwill over governance.

Drawing on legal analysis and real-world examples, Tyson outlines the gap between symbolic commitments and tangible outcomes, and reflects on how organisations can take a more accountable and embedded approach to reconciliation.

📍 A First Nations Affairs × Tyson McEwan collaboration
 Based on: Holding Corporations to Account for their Supplier Diversity Commitments in Reconciliation Action Plans — Australian Journal of Corporate Law (2025)

#CorporateAccountability #RAPs #SupplierDiversity #FirstNationsEconomics #Governance #EconomicJustice #FirstNationsAffairs

www.firstnationsaffairs.com

[email protected]

🎙️ 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 legacy of historical exclusion, and the structural significance of supplier diversity within Reconciliation Action Plans. We discuss why corporate commitments must move beyond symbolic gestures and what meaningful accountability looks like when grounded in First Nations values and economic self-determination.

📍 A First Nations Affairs × Tyson McEwan collaboration
 Based on: Holding Corporations to Account for their Supplier Diversity Commitments in Reconciliation Action Plans — Australian Journal of Corporate Law (2025)

#TwoWorlds #FirstNationsGovernance #CorporateLaw #SupplierDiversity #EconomicJustice #CulturalProtocol #FirstNationsAffairs

www.firstnationsaffairs.com

[email protected]

🎙️ 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 their RAP commitments. He calls for institutions that are First Nations-led, not just First Nations-facing and lays out a blueprint for economic reform grounded in self-determination and equity.

This episode is a call to rethink what support means and who gets to define it.

Read the article here.

 📍 A First Nations Affairs × Ben Ainsworth collaboration

#SystemReform #RAPAccountability #SelfDetermination #FirstNationsPolicy #ShareholderAction #InstitutionalChange

www.firstnationsaffairs.com

[email protected]

🎙️ 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 aren’t just acknowledged, they’re 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 culturally grounded economies define success differently, prioritising community wellbeing, continuity of culture, and connection to Country.

This episode challenges conventional thinking about productivity, return on investment, and economic “growth” and offers a compelling case for redesigning the system from the inside out.

Read the article here
📍 A First Nations Affairs × Ben Ainsworth collaboration

#CulturalCapital #ProductivityReframed #IndigenousEconomies #FirstNationsLeadership #SystemicChange

www.firstnationsaffairs.com

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🎙️ 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 “economic participation” doesn’t always mean joining the mainstream. Instead, Ben dives into the core differences between First Nations and settler economies, from values and motivations to what constitutes success, and lays out a vision for coexistence that doesn’t rely on convergence.

Read the article here.
📍 A First Nations Affairs × Ben Ainsworth collaboration

#TwoEconomies #CulturalCapital #SelfDetermination #IndigenousLeadership #ESG #FirstNationsAffairs

www.firstnationsaffairs.com

[email protected]

🎙️ Episode 1 Title: Why Social Programs Alone Won’t 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 relationship between society, law, and economy. Through it, he explains why current approaches fail and what it would take to build real pathways to economic participation for First Nations people.

This episode sets the stage for a bold rethinking of how systems, structures, and value are defined in Australia.

🔗 Read the accompanying essay: [HERE]
📍 A First Nations Affairs × Ben Ainsworth collaboration

#FirstNationsEconomics #ClosingTheGap #SystemicReform #IndigenousBusiness #EconomicJustice

www.firstnationsaffairs.com

[email protected]

Indigenous affairs is a billion-dollar sector in Australia—yet 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:
📌 Why First Nations rights can’t be trapped in short-term political cycles
📌 How Indigenous funding disappears into bureaucratic overhead and PR spin
📌 Why corporate accountability and measurable data are essential for real impact
📌 The need for systemic reform, including independent institutions that ensure transparency, accountability, and long-term impact

Without clear governance structures, the cycle of political commitments, administrative costs, and consultancy-heavy spending continues—often with little measurable benefit to First Nations communities.

www.firstnationsaffairs.com

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Wealth isn’t just about money—it’s about power, control, and who makes the decisions. First Nations economic sovereignty isn’t just about being included in the economy—it’s 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 “progress,” like the Noongar Boodja Trust. We explore the challenges of external control over Indigenous wealth, the need for real decision-making power, and what a future of First Nations economic leadership could look like. The First Nations Strategic Alignment Framework (FNSAF) provides a roadmap for shifting from participation to ownership, ensuring capital flows in alignment with First Nations values—not external interests.

🎧 What you’ll learn:
✅ Why GDP is an outdated measure of success and how First Nations economies offer a better model
✅ The challenges of external control in Indigenous wealth management, with insights from the Noongar Boodja Trust
✅ How First Nations investment funds and sovereign wealth strategies are changing the financial landscape

www.firstnationsaffairs.com

[email protected]

Strong governance is more than a compliance exercise—it’s 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 Strategic Alignment Framework (FNSAF) offers a pathway for businesses to elevate their governance standards beyond the performative and drive real, industry-led change. 

🎧 What you’ll learn:
✅ Why effective governance drives transparency, accountability, and long-term success
✅ The consequences of weak governance, with real-world examples from Theranos to WeWork
✅ How embedding strong governance mechanisms can mitigate risks and build trust with stakeholders 

www.firstnationsaffairs.com

[email protected]