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Ancient Wisdom from the Lands: Nancy's Plea
May 31, 2024
Thomas Williams had only recently been appointed CEO of ËÄÉ«AV Council after 17 years with the organisation when one of our community members stopped him in his tracks.
Nancy Tjungupi Carnegie is an artist and preserver of bush medicine. Nancy was born near Patjarr at a place called Pandaltjarra where she lived a traditional life into early adulthood. She is a prolific painter and avid hunter, often leaving Patjarr on foot to pursue tinka (goanna) in the remote Pila Nature Reserve. Nancy is currently the chairperson for Patjarr community and represents Patjarr’s interests as a director with Warakurna Artists.
As Thomas visited communities in the ËÄÉ«AV group, he met with Nancy.
“Nancy predominantly speaks in the ËÄÉ«AV dialect with an occasional English word, so I generally communicate with her through a translator. On this occasion, Angelica McLean was with me and helping us to have a conversation together,” Thomas recalls.
“Nancy was kindly congratulating me on my appointment, but it was one word that was familiar to me that stopped me in my tracks and caused me to ask Angelica to get Nancy to repeat what she had just said,”
“I heard the words SILOS,”
“My first thought was, ‘How does she even know this word as a woman living on these lands for many years’”
“Angelica repeated what Nancy had said: ‘Now you have the opportunity to remove the silos - do it’,” Thomas said.
It wasn’t an ultimatum, but it was undoubtedly a strong invitation. Even Nancy, removed from the politics and machinations of an Aboriginal Corporation, could spot something evident to her: silos within an organisation are a recipe for dysfunction.
Silos are contained areas of function that stand alone and apart from other functions within an organisation or system. Integration is necessary for there to be a free flow of information, collaboration and the ability to identify opportunities and efficiencies. Silos are often the product of institutional insecurity as people within a system seek to ‘protect their turf’, but they’re also one of the most significant obstacles to progress in an organisation.
“So obvious were some of these silos that Nancy could spot them from thousands of kilometres away. I found that sobering,” Thomas said.
“As I have navigated the early stages of my role as CEO of ËÄÉ«AV Council, Nancy’s words have been among those that have fuelled my work,”
“We’ve already accomplished plenty, yet there’s so much work ahead of us because when some of that work is addressing the silos that thwart progress, that’s not always simple or comfortable,”
“But our mission is to see Yarnangu leading lives filled with purpose and agency, thriving in a culture-rich environment—for their aspirations to stay on country be realised,”
“Every time we make a decision that moves us closer to this, whether it’s in the area of CDP, employment, housing, community development, company culture and values, or bringing our brand into alignment across the Council, we move one step closer to ‘removing the silos’ and realising the aspirations of Yarnangu on the lands,” Thomas said.
Silos can thwart progress, no doubt, but confronting them in any institutional setting is complex, sometimes slow, work.
“Sometimes people like Nancy can spot the silos from thousands of kilometres away that we can miss from the trenches. Her plea has been life-giving for what we’re trying to accomplish day-by-day at ËÄÉ«AV Council,” Thomas said.
Thanks, Nancy.
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The ËÄÉ«AV Council Group's Leadership Team recently convened for two half-day workshops to initiate a comprehensive change management process across the organisation. The Council’s vision of 'Helping Yarnangu remain strong on Country' drives our commitment to building a more resilient and effective organisation. To become an efficient, high-performing organisation that sets a benchmark for Aboriginal agencies, the Council recognises the need to break down existing silos, restructure our operations, streamline processes, and enhance service delivery. This is not a small or short-term assignment—it’s a vision that encompasses the entire organisation. The two half-day sessions were facilitated by Change Management specialist, Tracy Cooper , who helped our managers become comfortable with sharing, interacting, and discussing change with one another. Tracy highlighted the challenges and possibilities of leading change, equipping our leaders with tools to navigate the process of change effectively. The workshops identified the economic, social, and organisational opportunities and challenges we face collectively. They also addressed the often-overlooked costs of maintaining the status quo, which can be difficult to communicate broadly. “We understand the significant consequences of maintaining the status quo,” said Thomas Williams, the Council’s Chief Executive Officer. “These consequences, along with some prevailing challenges, are often difficult or inappropriate to communicate widely. However, we recognise that the current economic climate, which is impacting all industries, also affects the Council,” Thomas said. “Many of the opportunities and challenges identified through this change management process must be addressed to ensure that our foundations and processes are robust, enabling us to fulfil our core vision of helping Yarnangu remain strong on Country,” Thomas said. This transformative journey is vital for supporting Yarnangu and the future of our communities. By engaging in this change process now, the Council is confident it will emerge stronger and more resilient than ever before. “Our goal is to enhance service delivery in education, health, and employment, ensuring the sustainability of the ËÄÉ«AV Council Group. Our collective efforts will contribute to the flourishing of our communities and the preservation of our cultural heritage,” Thomas said. “We recognise that any change of this sort requires mindful and strategic planning and communication across the organisation—we’re progressing through the equipping of our Leadership Team for this change management process. Established in 1981, the ËÄÉ«AV Council Group (NCG) represents the interests of Yarnangu across 11 communities in the Central Desert region of Western Australia. With over 450 employees across city and remote locations, the Council provides a wide range of services, including health, utilities, construction, employment, community development, shops, roadhouses, art centres, and land services. It is one of the largest and most successful Aboriginal agencies in Australia.
The ËÄÉ«AV Board of Directors, together with the Council Group's Leadership Team, gathered in Warburton earlier this August to undertake the initial phase of the 'Foundations of Directorship' program offered by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Our Board is a unique blend of community-elected chairpersons from each of the eleven communities in ËÄÉ«AV lands, four female-elected women directors, two non-member directors, and Chairperson Richard Kanari. During the two-day workshop, the group completed the 'Governance for Directors' training, which focused on deepening their understanding of governance obligations, the roles and responsibilities of directors and management, and best practices for board meeting protocols. A key focus of the workshops was understanding and respecting the significant role of traditional culture, law, and practice, alongside the legislated requirements for Aboriginal Corporations. With directors from most communities in attendance, we ensured a safe and inclusive learning environment in each session. Content was translated into language, and ample time was allocated for questions and feedback, fostering open communication and a culture of continuous learning. As Australia's leading body for director education, AICD provides essential training that the Board and Council are eager to embrace. This program equips us with the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out crucial governance work for the communities we serve. This Director Training is a vital part of the broader change management efforts within the Council, aligning with our vision of helping Yarnangu remain strong on Country.
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