NAIDOC Week 2025, Honouring Legacy, Shaping the Future: Aboriginal Women in Business and Leadership.

By 2025 Leah Armstrong Scholar, Angelina Hickey

As NAIDOC Week celebrates its 50th anniversary, it serves as a meaningful reflection on the strength, resilience, and vision of First Nations people. For me, this week is more than just a celebration of our past; it’s a moment to recognise how far we’ve come and the steps we still need to take to ensure that our communities and cultures continue to thrive. As a young Aboriginal woman navigating fields such as economics, finance, and governance, the legacy of NAIDOC Week gives me the courage to face the challenges that come with stepping into underrepresented spaces.

The path I walk as an Indigenous woman in these fields is shaped by many obstacles. At university, I often find myself navigating spaces that were not originally designed for someone like me. The structures and systems can feel foreign, and at times, it’s easy to feel like I’m standing outside looking in. The social barriers I encounter in education and the workplace, where I’m often one of the very few Aboriginal people, can feel isolating. But rather than seeing these challenges as setbacks, I view them as an opportunity to honour the legacy of the women who have paved the way before me.

In particular, the women who came before us have left an invaluable mark on our journey. Their stories, sacrifices, and unwavering commitment to our people have made it possible for me to take my place in spaces where we’ve historically been underrepresented. These women didn’t fight for recognition; they fought for the future of those who came after them. Their strength and resilience serve as the foundation for everything I do. They taught us that while our communities may have been overlooked, our voices are powerful and deserve to be heard.

I’m not trying to be the first. Instead, I want to be part of a generation of Aboriginal women in business, governance, and finance, where it’s no longer unusual for us to take up space. I want future generations of Indigenous women to feel that stepping into these fields is normal, not exceptional. This vision isn’t about individual success; it’s about creating an environment where we, as Indigenous women, can succeed and thrive without having to prove ourselves time and time again.

This vision is deeply influenced by the legacies of those before me, women who made their mark not through loud confrontation, but through quiet persistence, strength, and the wisdom of knowing that change takes time. The impact of their work can be seen in the spaces that are now opening for Indigenous voices, and I hope to contribute to continuing this progress.

For me, this is not just about ensuring Aboriginal women have opportunities to lead in business and governance; it’s about creating spaces that are inclusive, equitable, and respectful of our communities. I am working towards a future where young Aboriginal women can walk into universities and workplaces, feeling not just accepted but celebrated for who they are. We carry with us the strengths and traditions of our communities, and it’s those very qualities that can shape a new way of doing business and governing in a way that honours the past while being forward-thinking and inclusive.

NAIDOC Week’s legacy challenges us to reflect on the progress we’ve made and the future we are building together. For me, it’s about using that legacy to fuel the next steps in our journey, ensuring that the next generation of Aboriginal women doesn’t just follow the path we’ve carved; they continue to shape it with pride, respect, and a deep sense of connection to our culture.

Gurminder Saro

Interim Chair

Associate Professor Rick Macourt is a proud, queer Gumbaynggirr man, lawyer, and economic specialist. He leads First Nations Economics as Managing Director of Strategy and Foundation and serves as Associate Dean of First Nations Strategy and Services at the University of Sydney.

With over 15 years of experience spanning government, corporate, and not-for-profit sectors, Rick is deeply committed to advancing the economic development of First Peoples. As the former Director of First Nations Expenditure and Outcomes at NSW Treasury, he spearheaded the state’s inaugural Indigenous expenditure reporting processes and established the groundbreaking First Nations budget process in 2021/22. Previously, Rick held an executive role at the Westpac Group, overseeing First Nations affairs, and has a rich history in government, monitoring, evaluation, and negotiation, with senior positions at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, City of Sydney, and Standards Australia.

Rick is a published author with Oxford University Press, a member of the First Nations Advisory Board of Siemens Australia, and a Non-Executive Director on the board of Barnardos Australia.