Woolworths Group’s First Nations Advisory Board will guide the retailer as it seeks to improve engagement with Indigenous communities and make meaningful contributions towards Closing the Gap and Reconciliation.
The eight-member advisory board is made up of Woolworths Group team members and Indigenous business leaders; 75 per cent of the board are Indigenous. Board members are:
- Adam Bray – a proud Iman man and Woolworths Group’s general manager of Indigenous Strategy and Affairs following his appointment in November 2021. Adam has significant experience in Indigenous affairs roles spanning Shell, Telstra, Australian Human Rights Commission and Royal Australian Navy.
- Adam Goodes – a proud Adnyamathanha and Narungga man and co-founder of Indigenous scholarship program GO Foundation. Adam is CEO of The Indigenous Defence and Infrastructure Consortium and director of the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Fund.
- Alex Holt – Woolworths Group’s inaugural Chief Sustainability Officer since 2020. Alex leads teams dedicated to improving social and environmental sustainability across the pillars of People, Product and Planet.
- Claire Peters – Woolworths Group First Nations Advisory Board chair and B2B and Everyday Needs managing director. Claire was previously the managing director of Woolworths Supermarkets.
- Courtney Palmer – a proud Worimi woman and BIG W state manager for Queensland and Northern Territory, leading a team of more than 4000 people across 48 stores. Courtney is a passionate advocate for First Nations team members and the role of broader society in closing the gap.
- Kristal Kinsela – a proud Jawoyn and Wiradjuri woman and supplier diversity expert who works closely with corporate and government leaders to influence procurement, organisational culture, and engagement with Indigenous businesses. Kristal is a director of Many Rivers and Uniting.
- Lauren Smith – a proud Kamilaroi woman and store manager of BIG W in Newcastle West, New South Wales. Lauren has been part of the Woolworths Group for 15 years and is a leader in Indigenous cultural awareness activities at Big W.
- Sean Gordon – a proud Wangkumarra/Barkindji man and managing director of Indigenous business consultancy Gidgee Group. Sean has been advising the corporate sector for more than 10 years on Indigenous affairs and is the independent chair of the Barkly Regional Deal in Central Northern Territory, and a council member of the University of Newcastle.
The First Nations Advisory Board was formed in August last year with the mandate to provide ‘frank and fearless’ advice to the wider business on matters related to Indigenous affairs, reporting directly to the Woolworths Group board and engaging with the group’s executive committee and sustainability committee.
The Advisory Board provides counsel on matters including internal policies, advocacy positions, informing commercial and partnering decisions and Indigenous community engagement and empowerment.
B2B and Everyday Needs and Advisory Board
chair Claire Peters.
Woolworths Group managing director of B2B and Everyday Needs and Advisory Board chair, Claire Peters, said the board provided collective expertise and informed insights that Woolworths could draw upon to make meaningful changes.
“Since we launched our first Reconciliation Action Plan in 2011, we have done a lot of good work, but we do not shy away from the fact that we did get some things wrong. We’re listening and learning from those mistakes,” Peters said.
Woolworths Group recently publicly acknowledged failings in engaging with Indigenous communitites and adequately considering local views regarding a proposed development of a Dan Murphy's megastore near three dry Aboriginal communities in Darwin.
Reconcilliation Australia considered severing ties with Woolworths Group over the Darwin development.
An open letter signed by more than 30 health and community organisations called for the supermarket giant to have its Reconciliation Action Plan scrapped, describing the construction of the mega-store as the “wilful and deliberate destruction of the health and lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples”.
In April 2021, Woolworths Group announced it would not proceed with the proposal following an independent panel review. Following this was the demerger of Woolworths Group's liquor business under Endeavour Drinks.
Peters said: “As supporters of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, we believe that Indigenous people should have a voice in decisions that affect them. Decisions we make should be made with – and not for – Indigenous peoples.
“This Advisory Board plays a critical role providing counsel and guidance on key issues and challenges of importance to Indigenous team members, customers and communities across Australia.
“NAIDOC Week is a reminder of the proud histories of First Nations peoples and a time to think about how together we can deliver a better tomorrow by elevating Indigenous voices – and making sure they’re heard.”
Woolworths Group is one of the largest employers of Indigenous Australians with more than 5000 First Nations team members working across the group.
Advisory Board member and BIG W store manager Lauren Smith, said Woolworths was on the journey towards reconcilliation.
“The creation of the advisory board and its dense representation of diverse First Nations voices shows the real authenticity the business wants to achieve in supporting and advocating for First Nations peoples – in Woolworths Group and in the community,” said Smith.
