Cultural Learning Session for the Australian Institute of Company Directors Board

June 2026

In June 2026, Professor Kerry Arabena facilitated a bespoke cultural learning session for the Board and executive of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), held during the Board’s meeting in Naarm. AICD asked for a session that would move beyond foundational cultural training and lift the thinking of a highly experienced governance audience to a current and future-focused level.

Kerry led a conversational, strategic session on the state of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander economic empowerment, the Closing the Gap economic targets, what world-class governance means in a First Nations context, and the value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people bring to boards. Directors were invited to reflect on Treaty and what it may mean for organisations like AICD and for directors more broadly, and on the history of Coranderrk as a story of Aboriginal self-determination and governance on Wurundjeri Country.

The conversational style created space for thoughtful reflection, and since the session there has been genuine interest among Directors in applying what was shared in their roles. To support this, Kerry provided the presentation for Directors’ personal reference and a board paper on First Nations governance, offering prompts for AICD to carry the learning forward through its leadership and influence. AICD plans to return to the conversation in a follow-up session, building on this work and exploring where AICD fits and what comes next.

Key words

Board cultural learning, corporate governance, First Nations governance, economic empowerment, Closing the Gap economic targets, Treaty, board diversity, executive education, Wurundjeri Country