Leadership Programs
Tailored for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
First Peoples Leading Programs
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NEXT GEN
Our Next Gen program is for First Nations people who are aspiring people leaders.
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IMPACT
FPL Impact is designed for First Nations people who are experienced team and people leaders.
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CHANGEMAKERS
Changemakers is tailored for First Nations people who are experienced senior leaders and executives.
What You Can Expect
Face-to-face
workshops
Expert-led online Workshops
1 to 1 coaching
sessions
Extensive online
learning materials
Networking
events
What our participants say
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![Sienna Coleman | NSW Government Program Manager – Microsoft]()
Sienna Coleman | NSW Dept Planning, Industry & Environment
"I was incredibly lucky to be selected by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to take part in the Thirriwirri First Peoples Leading program. Over the past three months I had the privilege to share and learn from other First Nations leaders from both private and government sectors. We laughed, we cried, and we learnt an almighty lot about how to lead with purpose, resilience and authenticity. It was an experience that I will take with me through the rest of my career.”
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![Taylah Griffin]()
Taylah Griffin | Aerospace Engineer – Boeing Defence
"As an early career professional, I feel like I'm ahead of the pack having done FPL. This course gave me the skills and confidence that will be foundational to my success as an Indigenous leader. And not only that, I have now created a strong network of mob from around the country who are all amazing leaders in their own right. I couldn't recommend FPL higher.”
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![Jason Darney]()
Jason Darney | Executuve Director TAFE NSW
“Changemakers provided an inspiring few days of sitting in this space thinking and learning about not just the what and how, but understanding the why. Thanks Thirriwirri for creating this space and look forward to continuing these thoughtful discussions with some amazing colleagues.”
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![Charlie Trindall]()
Charlie Trindall | Operations Manager – MLAHMC & Chair ACHIA
“I found the First Peoples Leading Program to be very empowering and informative, having access to the resources and other like minded leaders through the network and the coaches has helped me to aim to be the best leader I can be.”
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![Frances Rings]()
Frances Rings | Assoc. Artistic Director & Co CEO – Bangarra Dance Theatre
“Thanks to the coaches and facilitators of FPL for guiding us through an experience that at times was confronting and revealing, while always ensuring we were in a safe and trusted environment. I feel so much more aware of not only my own strengths and operating style but how I can best use this to service my role at work and my family.”
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![Alice Beddoes | Qantas]()
Alice Beddoes | Quality Assurance Advisor – Qantas
The content was unique and was not information I have come across anywhere else before. Overall, I loved the course and was so happy to be involved. I will definitely refer to the e-zine a lot.
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![Bree Davidson]()
Bree Davidson | Snr Advisor, Group People Programs – Qantas
I thought the topics were chosen well and pitched at the right level. The presenters did a good job in teaching the concepts and facilitating the discussion and engagement of the group. I also felt they (along with the other participants) created a safe space for sharing thoughts. Starting with the purpose topic was very engaging. Finding your purpose can be an overwhelming task, especially if you read different articles on it, but I really appreciated how simple the program made it.
Our Vision
“Our aspiration is not just to create great First Nations leaders, but to create great leaders, full stop! Purposeful leaders, equipped with the agility and confidence to respond adaptively and with dignity to the unprecedented complexity and pace of change currently experienced by our communities and organisations.”
David Major, Jason Ardler & Glenn Ball — First Peoples Leading Co-Founders
First Peoples Leading is a partnership of
Executive Central and Thirriwirri
Thirriwirri is a 100% Aboriginal owned and operated organisation formed for the purpose of supporting First People communities and others to build the confidence, capabilities and connections to work together differently to achieve improved outcomes. The Directors of Thirriwirri have a combined 40 years senior executive experience, leading multi-disciplinary teams, strategy and reform across a range of complex policy areas.
Executive Central is at the forefront of leadership development, executive coaching and business consulting in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. We partner with leaders in the corporate, public and not-for-profit sectors to work through their biggest challenges and realise their greatest opportunities. Executive Central was formed in 2004 to deliver pragmatic leadership, coaching and consulting solutions designed and delivered by experienced consultants from C-suite backgrounds.
Some of the organisations we work with
Acknowledgement of Country
We pay our respects to Elders and community leaders, and those leaders that came before us, who for millennia have maintained the world’s oldest surviving cultures and who have made it possible for us to do what we do. We acknowledge the strength and innovation of our young people, the leaders and Elders of the future.
We acknowledge our families, who have always supported us to dream big and who continue to support us as Thirriwirri evolves.
We also pay respect to the non-First Nation people we work with who share our vision for an empowered, prosperous and culturally assured First Nations Australia.