BURBUGA

What is Burbuga?

Burbuga is a Dharug word meaning rise.

It's the name of our first alumni Gathering. Around 100 First Nations leaders, 3 days on Gadigal Country, all of them people who have come through an FPL leadership program. They arrive from remote communities and capital cities, from government, community-controlled organisations, corporates and their own businesses. More than 550 people have now completed a program, and this is the first time the whole community has been brought together in one place.

Most leadership events put a speaker on the stage and an audience in front of it. Burbuga runs the other way. Day 2 belongs to the alumni, with their keynotes, their yarns and their wicked problems put on the table for the room to work on. The experience is already in the room, so the Gathering is built to use it rather than talk over it.

The 3 days are built on the First Nations framework of Knowing, Being and Doing. Each one sets up the next, moving from foundation to identity to action.

• Day 1, Wednesday 4 November. Knowing. New leadership tools and practices, brought by the FPL team.

• Day 2, Thursday 5 November. Being. Led by alumni. Keynotes, yarns, roundtables and partner hackathons.

• Day 3, Friday 6 November. Doing. Optional. Out with local First Nations organisations around Sydney, giving back through grassroots community work.

For managers and employers

Burbuga is professional development, not a few days off. Backing someone to go grows the leadership in your own team and strengthens your connection to First Nations networks.

• It's practice, not a conference. 2 days of applied leadership work you would usually pay a provider to run.

• It's evidence against your commitments. If you have a Reconciliation Action Plan or Indigenous strategy, backing a First Nations staff member to lead is a concrete step under it.

• It comes back to the role. They return with tools, contacts and thinking that show up in their work.

Tickets are for FPL alumni

Burbuga is a closed Gathering. Everyone in the room has completed an FPL program, and that is what makes the conversations work.

Tell us your name, email and which program you came through, and we'll take you straight to the program, travel and ticket information.